HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN IN PREGNANCY

Beautiful with the Bump
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN WHILE PREGNANT.

How and Why?

The hormones have gone up, and they seem to be taking a toll on your skin, and then, your self esteem.
It's looks bad enough that one has to deal with an unhealthy looking skin but handling it in pregnancy can seem quite challenging since little or nothing can be done to stop hormonal activities which is the major culprit of all that has befallen your skin.

You need to understand why your skin looks the way it does, do what you can and learn to embrace whatever is left that you can't change until after 9months. The truth is what is left and you can't change. The truth is what is left to be embraced. And the truth is: You are beautiful with the baby bump...and your skin too.

You have asked the question Why? anytime you look into the mirror and your observe your skin. You need to be aware that:

1. Estrogen and progesterone levels have gone up, and they are increasing raising the amount of melanin, the dark pigment in your skin. Now you're pregnant, now you're darker. But you're still beautiful.

2. You are easily exhausted now, atimes you don't get enough sleep because there's really no good side to lie on. You get propped up using a pillow and you wake up 21 times in a sleeping experience of 6 hours. Exhaustion has a way of affecting the health of your skin. 

3. The skin changes slowly in pregnancy. The production of sebum on your skin is determined by hormones. Now the hormones have gone up they cause too much oil to be produced beneath your skin. The comedones have invaded. The acne is threatening the beauty of the skin. The hormones can't be stopped because the acne keeps gaining new territories. They move to the back and chest.

4. Your skin is all puffy. It's tempting to keep looking at the size of a single nostril and you can't help but notice a single lip is twice it's normal size.
Your body tissues are retaining extra fluids now.

5. You notice white patches of Tinea Vesticolor encroaching on your skin and they seem stubborn and can't be rid off.
You were told Tinea is a common thing in pregnancy. Infact there are three other women you saw during ante -natal appointment  with it.

Those are the reason WHY your skin look the way they do. And here's how to care for what you have, your skin.
Follow the tips to maintain a healthy looking skin. It's not a difficult thing to keep your glow in pregnancy.

1. Eat lots of fruits rich in Vitamin C  while pregnant. Feed your skin from inside out with lots of oranges and water melon.
Incorporate Vitamin C based ingredients in your skin care regimen. They have a way of brightening the skin.

2. Sun exposure could give you dark patches that are challenging to remove after pregnancy. Avoid  staying under the sun. A seat beside a window is not okay. The fact that you're in a vehicle doesn't mean U. V rays from the sun isn't hitting your skin. Schedule most of your appointments to early mornings or early evenings around 3:30pm.

3. You cannot stop the hormones from producing the oils they want to, but you can always remove the excess oils.
Wash your face regularly. Wash everytime you get home from an an outing. Wash with mild soap that won't tilt the ph of your skin or strip it of excess oil.  Avoid soaps that with heavy fragrance. They tend to strip off excess oil,  and the pregnancy could make you sensitive to some fragrance.

4. Most over the counter products for acne are not okay in pregnancy. Benzoyl peroxide is still under debate as regard safety in pregnancy. Products with Salicylic acid are regarded unsafe for expectant mums. Products with Witch hazel evening primrose which are highly effective are not safe during pregnancy. And Retinoid creams are known to cause birth defects.

Follow basic simple skin care routine without making attempts on over the counter products.

5. Avoid things that will increase water retention in your tissues. Decrease the intake of salts. Engage in minor exercise which will promote blood circulation and reduce swelling.

6. Tinea Vesticolor can be tackled by simply ensuring you don't use cosmetics that will cause tilt the ph of your skin. Make your skin surface a conducive environment for the good bacteria on it to keep of those organisms that cause infection.
Eat balance diet to boost your immunity. Low immunity is associated with Tinea Vesticolor.

While there are numerous and effective things to use to clear off Tinea Vesticolor, the best way to be rid of it while expectant is to work on boosting one's immunity through balanced diet.

Fungi causing this condition may be retained in powder/ foundation sponge,  clothes, and face towel. Ensure to wash regularly.

#fortheloveofsmoothskin

Teju Duru is a beauty consultant and a freelance journalist based in Ibadan