A lot of women suffer from pregnancy acne within the first trimester of their pregnancies. That’s because once pregnant, their hormones decide to go on a roller-coaster ride just like a teenager at an amusement park. And that roller-coaster ride affects their complexion.
You see the sebaceous oil glands in their skin tend to go into hyper drive. When they do, they over-produce the oily substance they’re known for (“sebum”) which is a natural lubricant for the skin and hair. Too much of this lubricant is not a good thing. That’s because the skin can’t expel it rapidly enough and it ends up mixing with dead skin cells to form soft plugs inside the pores. Some of these plugs grow a bit and force their way up and out of the pore – we call them whiteheads. Some stay inside the pore – we call those blackheads. And some mix with skin bacteria and become inflamed and enlarged inside the pore itself – we call the cysts.
Pregnancy acne is a very natural occurrence. Even women who’ve never suffered from any acne in their lives can have acne breakouts during pregnancy. The good news is that after the first trimester the skin eruptions tend to die down. But that’s not to say that they’re guaranteed to go away because they’re not. Whiteheads and blackheads can persist throughout pregnancy and even beyond. So what can you do if you’re experiencing breakouts during your pregnancy?
There is really only one way to proceed – and that’s carefully. Whatever you do in the way of pregnancy acne treatments will have an effect on your unborn child. For instance, any acne cream or gel you use on your blemishes will be absorbed by your skin and some of it will make its way into your bloodstream and from there to your fetus.
This is true of over-the-counter acne treatments and prescription acne treatments as well. Oh and the natural acne remedies that you can pick up at the health food store are in the same boat. This is why you must be very careful.
Make sure to consult your pediatrician before you use any acne cleanser, cream, cover up, or kit. And while you’re at it, don’t stop there. Do your own independent research; double check your doctor and take any questions you come up with or discrepancies you find back to him or her for more explanation.
Keep in mind that pregnancy and acne often occur together but that their marriage is usually temporary. Even though the blemishes may make you feel uncomfortable, they don’t have any bearing on your child. But any acne treatment you undertake will.
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