Skin Changes in Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a time of joy and anticipation; or, if you are one of the unlucky ones, a long nine months of fatigue, morning sickness and other minor body ailments. No woman really knows how her body is going to react to the roller coaster ride of fluctuating hormones that accompanies pregnancy. Previous pregnancies aren't a very good indicator of future woes or delights either. Each women and each pregnancy is different and unique.

Food cravings, insomnia, abnormal skin conditions, stretch marks, and other seemingly obnoxious health situations bloom out of nowhere as the expanding belly gets bigger and bigger.

Much research has been done on the obvious pregnancy discomforts (like morning sickness), but the topic of irritating and unsightly skin conditions has received less attention in the past. Nonetheless, having a healthy and radiant exterior will certainly help you to feel better about the other changes going on in your body. Here are several skin conditions that you may experience during your pregnancy:

Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions to afflict pregnant women. In fact, if you tend towards acne outbreaks during your normal menstrual cycle when you aren't pregnant, the chances of you having acne while pregnant are higher. Often, acne is at its worst during the first trimester when progesterone levels are elevated. The final two trimesters will usually bring some relief to acne sufferers.

Dry Skin

As your muscles, organs and your little one grow and stretch they push on the skin causing it to expand beyond its normal range. Skin will oftentimes become tight, dry, and very itchy. The most common region for dry itchy skin is directly across the abdomen and along the sides where the majority of growth is occurring.

Stretch Marks

The fast pace at which the abdominal region expands during pregnancy in many women will lead to stretch marks that can remain for years to come. Some authorities claim that whether you get stretch marks or not depend on your genetics while others feel that properly caring for the skin during this fast changing period can lower your potential for stretch marks.

Mask of Pregnancy (Melasma)

Some women report increased pigmentation in the facial region during pregnancy known as the mask of pregnancy. This region of hyper pigmentation can also be blamed on changing hormone levels with the most common areas of affliction being the forehead, upper lip and chin. Melasma most resembles a birth mark several shades darker than the normal skin pigment. The mask of pregnancy usually goes away months to years after the baby's birth although for some women the region will remain long after.

Skin changes during pregnancy are extremely normal although they can be bothersome for some, especially when the areas of change are on easily seen parts of the body such as the face, neck and arms.

Taking care of your skin during pregnancy though proper use of skin care products specifically designed for a pregnant woman's skin along with a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water will minimize the unwanted skin changes you'll experience.