Causes Of Dry Skin In Pregnancy
The skin may become drier during pregnancy due to surging pregnancy hormones which can make the skin produce more oil, leading to acne.
Attempting to resolve this by washing more often will contribute to having dry skin.
At times the contrast can also be the case when the hormones cause the skin to produce less oil which causes dry skin and lack of elasticity.
Dry skin can also occur in pregnancy when as a result of loss of body fluids. Pregnancy requires more fluids, as usual, to keep up with the increased blood supply and the developing baby’s requirements, insufficient intake of fluids therefore can contribute to having dry skin.
Why Is My Face So Dry During Pregnancy
If youre expecting, you may suddenly experience dry skin patches on your face during pregnancy, itchy feet, and an itchy belly. These are common side effects of pregnancy, starting as early as the first trimester and continuing on through all nine months.
Dry and dehydrated skin is common throughout pregnancy due to major hormone changes. Pregnancy hormones may cause your skin to lose moisture as well as tighten as your bump grows. This can all lead to dry, flaky, dehydrated, and itchy skin, which may feel uncomfortable and irritating.
Dry and itchy skin in pregnancy may not be restricted to your face you might get the itch all over. Using the right creams and lotions will help soothe irritation and replenish moisture for balanced and healthy skin.
Skin Changes & Pregnancy
As a Certified Nurse-Midwife, I see pregnant women all the time who find it difficult to feel beautiful when pregnant. The skin changes, feeling constipated, and having a bowling ball pressing on their bladder cast doubt on how they think about themselves. It is critical to work to embrace the new you! You are a strong, beautiful woman who is growing your sweet baby, and these changes are normal. Hold space for your emotions during this tumultuous time, but understand that you and your body are amazing.
Editor’s Note:
We understand how frustrating it can be to see your skin change so much during pregnancy. We hope this article provides you with some answers and ideas on how to get through it. If you found this article helpful, we hope you will share it with other moms who could use the information.
Medically Reviewed by
Read Also: Can I Donate Plasma While Breastfeeding
What Changes Happen To The Skin During Pregnancy
Although we often forget, the skin is also an organ. The skin is constantly working to protect the body and keep it functioning smoothly just like the heart and lungs do!
When pregnant, the body works overtime to provide enough blood and nutrients to the developing baby. And as the body grows along with the pregnancy, the skin tries its best to keep up with the changes. Sometimes, the growth occurs too quickly, leading to stretch marks and scarring along the abdomen, thighs and chest.
There is also increased blood flow to the skin during pregnancy, responsible for achieving that pregnancy glow.
Treating Skin Problems During Pregnancy
Pregnant women should not use some skin medications. They can cause birth defects in babies.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, avoid using the following:
- retinol or retinoids – these are tablets or creams made from vitamin A
- salicylic acid
- antibiotics like lymecycline and minocycline
If you want to try for a baby, wait a month after stopping these medications. Always talk to your GP before trying for a baby if you have been taking medication.
Treatments for skin problems that are safe to take during pregnancy include:
- glycolic acid – you can buy products containing glycolic acid at a pharmacy
- azelaic acid creams – your GP can prescribe these
- antibiotics like erythromycin
Tell your GP or pharmacist you are pregnant before asking about skin medication
Don’t Miss: Pregnancy Side Effects By Week
The Top Pregnancy Skin Changes You Need To Know About
The top pregnancy skin changes to expect, plus how to treat them.
During your pregnancy, you may notice various alterations in your skin tone, condition and colouring.
Skin changes are common in pregnancy and are due to the effects of hormones, increased blood circulating in your body and your expanding body as your baby grows.
The top pregnancy skin changes to expect, plus how to treat them.
During your pregnancy, you may notice various alterations in your skin tone, condition and colouring.
Skin changes are common in pregnancy and are due to the effects of hormones, increased blood circulating in your body and your expanding body as your baby grows.
Read on to find out what pregnancy skin changes to expect, how to manage them, and when to contact your doctor.
How Do I Treat Varicose Veins
Compression stockings are a common treatment for varicose veins. They are a special type of stocking or sock that improves your blood circulation.
There are many different styles of compression stockings. Some cover the feet, some only go up to the knee, and others are simply tubes that wrap around the calves. Your OB provider can provide insights on what type of compression stocking will work best for you.
Make sure to stay off your feet and elevate your legs regularly if you are experiencing varicose veins. Blood pools more easily in your limbs when you are on your feet. As your belly grows larger, it becomes harder for the blood to circulate to your heart.
Read Also: When Can I Find Out If I Am Pregnant
How To Stay Hydrated While Pregnant
Drinking plenty of water helps reduce dry skin. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends drinking up to 12 cups of water daily during pregnancy.
Although drinking more fluids seems simple enough, if you have been pregnant before, you know it’s not always so easy to guzzle down the necessary amount of water.
Vomiting and aversions may keep you from being able to drink enough at the start of pregnancy. Then, toward the third trimester, your body shifts and compresses your organs to make room for your growing baby.
A squished stomach may leave you prone to vomiting after drinking too much at one time, and a flattened bladder can result in annoyingly excessive bathroom trips.
To stay hydrated, consume foods with a high water content like cucumber, spinach, or watermelon. Sipping small amounts of water, milk, or juice throughout the day also can help you keep fluids down and prevent bladder overload.
Drink something you like the taste of, but avoid consuming caffeinated beverages because you need to watch your caffeine intake when you’re pregnant.
How To Treat Dry Skin During Pregnancy
The best way to combat dry skin is to use rich and emollient creams. Such products not only deliver an instant moisture boost but also lock in hydration all day, so your skin is balanced from day to night. When looking after your skin during pregnancy, its important you use pregnancy-safe products only. Mainstream skincare products may contain harsh chemicals that are dangerous to your and your baby.
-
We always recommend that you consult with your doctor or healthcare professional if you are unsure about any products or ingredients
Don’t Miss: Vagisil Pregnant
Normal Symptoms Of Pregnancy
During pregnancy, dry skin on the face is normal. However, women should take steps to moisturize and add moisture back to their skin. It may be a sign of something severe. If dry skin persists, talk to your healthcare provider about possible causes and treatments. Here are some of the most common causes of dry skin during pregnancy. The first one is water retention. This condition is caused by high vasopressin levels, the hormone that promotes swelling. As water and edema increase, the skin stretches, causing dryness and cracking. The skin loses elasticity and becomes more prone to bruises. As a result, dry skin is often flaky and cracked.
There are several reasons for dry skin on the face. During pregnancy, your body changes, including the production of more sebum and oil. You need more fluids to support the growing baby. Also, pregnancy hormones increase oil production. The skin’s moisture barrier is compromised, resulting in acne.
Additionally, frequent face washing can cause dry skin. Finally, you might experience itchiness in the arms and thighs. Dry skin on the face is a common pregnancy symptom, so you should keep hydrated.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Your skin tends to evaporate the moisture quickly. So, to keep the water on the skin, it’s best to apply a moisturizer three times a day at a minimum. Try to work the use of moisturizer into your daily routine, applying in the morning, the night before bed, and sometime in between.
However, be sure that you’re using a moisturizer that is pregnancy-safe. Starting an excellent moisturizing routine in early pregnancy can help you avoid dry skin more easily, potentially leading to fewer stretch marks and skin irritation.
Don’t Miss: Can You Use Vagisil During Pregnancy
Treat Stretch Marks And Dry Skin Will Stay Away
Stretch marks are another skin concern you have to contend with when you get pregnant. The nice thing about stretch marksif anything about them can be called niceis that treating and preventing them often keeps other skin problems at bay…including dry, itchy skin. So if you focus on keeping your skin healthy and stretch mark free, the dryness will disappear as well.
We recommend products like Mustelas:
Coronavirus Update: How To Contact A Gp
It’s still important to get help from a GP if you need it. To contact your GP surgery:
- visit their website
A GP might prescribe creams, lotions or tablets, depending on what’s causing the itching.
They will look at your skin and ask about your symptoms.
The GP might arrange a blood test, or wipe a cotton bud over the area of itchy skin , or gently scrape off some skin cells, so they can be tested. This can help find the cause of your itchy skin.
A GP may also refer you to see a doctor who specialises in skin problems .
Also Check: When Can I Find Out If I Am Pregnant
The Causes Of Dry Skin
The hydrolipidic barrier is sensitive to all kinds of internal influences. It can also be affected by external factors, but for the most part, the hydrolipidic barrier is controlled from inside your body.
Primarily amongst those internal influences are disproportionate hormone levels. And what is one time in your life when your hormone levels are up and down every day? Pregnancy.
When hormone levels begin to fluctuate, the hydrolipidic barrier can thin, weaken, and even break down in spots. These holes allow moisture to evaporate quickly off the surface of your skin. This results in dry, cracked, itchy skin.
Think of it this way: the hydrolipidic barrier is like a lid on a pot of water. When the water is boiling inside the pot, the lid prevents the steam from boiling off into the air.
But what if the lid has holes in it? The steam escapes through those holes into the air. Thats whats happening when you develop dry skin during pregnancy.
So now that you know what causes dry skin, lets get to the more important part: how to treat and prevent it.
Tips To Deal With Dry Skin During Pregnancy
The following tips can be used while dealing with dry skin:
- Use mild cleansers to clean your skin rather than harsh soaps which can rob the skin of the essential oils. Always remember to pat dry your skin after washing instead of rubbing it.
- Certain lotions such as calamine lotion, unscented petroleum jelly, Vitamin E oil and ceramides are believed to soothe and moisturize the dry skin. You can use those after consulting with your doctor.
- If you are troubled with dry skin, refrain from wearing synthetic clothes as they trap heat which can aggravate the condition. Opt for comfortable cool, cotton fabrics. But, do not starch cotton clothing.
- Resist the temptation to scratch the dry skin no matter how itchy it feels. Scratching can cause small cuts or cracks in the skin leaving it exposed to infections.
- Avoid swimming in the swimming pools when your skin is dry as the chlorinated water of the pool can further distress the dry skin.
Recommended Reading: Kt Tape Pregnancy Round Ligament Pain
Does Linea Nigra Predict Babys Gender
An old wives tale claims the linea nigra can predict your babys gender.
According to this old tale, if you have a linea nigra that extends from your belly button to your pubic bone, youre having a girl. If the line goes above your belly button toward your rib cage, youre having a boy.
There is no scientific evidence to support this claim, but it is fun to think about nonetheless!
How To Treat And Prevent Dry Skin During Pregnancy
It is quite common to hear about pregnancy glow. However, some negative skin changes can crop up too. For example: have you heard that pregnancy can even make your skin dry? While pregnancy is exciting with a life growing inside you, it can also be stressful as your body experiences many changes related to fluctuating pregnancy hormones.
One of the changes that are common yet frustrating is to experience dry skin during pregnancy. And, if you’re facing this issue for the first time, it can come as a shock. But don’t worry. This informative guide on treating and preventing dry skin during pregnancy is just what you need.
Before we dive deeper into the causes, treatment, and preventive measures, let’s quickly get a basic understanding of your skin.
Also Check: Sore Breasts After Mirena Removal
Natural Vita Rich Face Wash
The Moms Co. Natural Vita Rich Face Wash is an enriching, mild cleanser for everyday cleansing for even the most sensitive skin type. It is enriched with Vitamins like C, B3, B5.
Dont steam
Steam sessions should be limited to once a week and only upto 6 minutes. Excessive steam and heat dilates the blood vessels, contributing to redness, and dryness of the skin. Steaming for more than eight minutes can make the skin very dry. Clean your steamer to check bacterial build-up as it can cause skin itching.
Add bath oils to your tub
Bath oils can moisturize the dry skin in pregnancy effectively. Regular use of bath oils improves the barrier protection of the skin and reduces the transepidermal water loss.
Moisturize in the morning and before bed
All natural moisture is good to use multiple times a day in pregnancy. Hydrators in the moisturizer add water to the surface of the skin and prevent moisture loss. Moisturize right after taking a bath when your skin is most receptive to aid. Use a hydrating product for particularly raw patches, with natural lipids like shea butter and for dry, reddish patches look for products that contain sea buckthorn.
The Moms Co recommends using the best moisturizer that is completely safe during pregnancy:
How To Treat Dry Facial Skin
This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 13 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 754,474 times.
Also Check: Can I Get Lasik While Pregnant
Try A Weekly Milk Bath
On the subject of baths, many women find weekly milk baths help soothe dry skin as long as you use lukewarm water.
Mix two cups of powdered milk, half a cup of cornstarch, and half a cup of baking soda. Fill your tub and then pour the mixture in. Soak for no more than 10 minutes. Any longer could make dry skin worse.
Make sure to moisturize afterwards with Delfina Dry Skin Oil.
Wash With Lukewarm Water Instead Of Hot Or Cold Water
Extreme temperaturesbe they air or watercan weaken your hydrolipidic layer and, at the same time, steal the moisture that keeps your skin soft and supple. Thats why its so important to avoid washing with either hot water or cold water.
Instead, adjust your shower or bath water more toward the middle of the scale. For those of you who want more precise numbers, think body temperature .
For those of you with more sensitive skin, five degrees on either side is still considered lukewarm.
Recommended Reading: Can I Use Vagisil Wipes While Pregnant
Discover How To Care For Your Skin During Pregnancy Here
Your body goes through a multitude of changes when youre pregnant. With hormone levels fluctuating and your growing baby taking up a large proportion of daily nutrients skin can become dull and dry, often making that pregnancy glow seem like a complete myth. Dry, itchy skin, and chapped lips often occur throughout these nine months. As the skin stretches during pregnancy, the skin barrier can become compromised which allows for more moisture to escape. This can cause your skin to become thinner and dryer. Fluctuating hormone levels can also have a negative impact on the condition of your skin when pregnant. If youre worried about the causes always consult your doctor who may have suggestions on how to combat them and heres a handy guide to some dry skin issues you may experience while youre expecting.
