7 Skin Changes In Pregnancy

When you think of skin changes in pregnancy most people think of the possibility of stretch marks on the belly. But did you know there are plenty of other skin changes that occur because of pregnancy? It’s important to not only care for the skin over your ever-growing belly but to care for the rest of your skin; head to toe!

Skin changes during pregnancy vary from woman to woman — i.e. when these changes will begin, how long these changes last, what types of changes you could possibly see, etc. Some women notice skin changes within the first trimester, where others don’t notice changes until the second or even third trimester. Again, everyone and every pregnancy is different.

Stretch Marks

Let’s start with the obvious one: stretch marks! All women wonder if they’re going to get these pesky skin marks. The truth is, whenever someone’s body grows at a rapid pace stretch marks are always a high risk. Luckily there are plenty of creams and ointments out there that claim to help with the appearance of stretch marks, maybe even preventing them altogether. My favorite is this one right here. But choose one that’s best for your needs (scent, no scent, thickness, organic, etc). Use a cream at least once a day, if not twice, to help prevent and lessen the appearance of stretch marks.

Pregnancy Glow

The one skin change all women pray for and look forward to: the pregnancy glow! So, what causes this so-called glow? An increase of blood flow and an increase of hormones. Not only can those hormones be responsible for some unwanted emotional battles, but they contribute to that beautiful glow. From your glands producing more oil to your body delivering more oxygen and nutrients to your skin, count yourself lucky if you experience this pregnancy skin change.

Acne

So that increase in hormones and oil may give you that sought after pregnancy glow, but they can also be responsible for causing breakouts. Typically, women who have a history of ance or get those pesky breakouts during their menstrual cycle have a higher risk of developing acne when pregnant. But as always, everyone is different and this may not be the case for you. Treating acne during pregnancy can be tricky. No prescription acne solutions have been deemed safe during pregnancy, and other over-the-counter options can be risky, like benzoyl peroxide. With pregnancy it is always best to waver on the safer side, so try using a natural acne fighting products, like this tea tree oil, designed specifically for breakouts, or try making an apple cider vinegar toner, which has been a lifesaver for me (for years!!).

More Hair

Many women notice changes in their hair during pregnancy — from thickness and texture, to hair growing at a rapid pace and not falling out as often, pregnancy can do wonders for your locks. Typically women do not notice changes in hair until the second trimester. However, these hair changes may not only affect you on the top of your head. From your legs, arms, bikini area, and your face you could notice an increase in hair growth. Don’t panic, this increase of hair will begin to fall out post pregnancy.

Dry, Itchy Skin

As your skin rapidly grows you can expect a loss of moisture, thus expect to have some dry and itchy skin. Moisturization from head to toe is extremely important.  Proper skin care during pregnancy needs to start in the first trimester. When taking a shower or bath, try to use warm water instead of hot. While in the shower, use a gentle exfoliant to remove the dry skin, as well as a hydrating shower gel. Find a daily lotion (body and face) that will help lock in moisture and lessen the dry and itchy skin.

Changes in Skin Color

Dark skin spots, better known as Melasma, is a common skin change in pregnancy. A lot of women notice these dark spots on their face, but some report having them develop on other areas of their body. Don’t worry, Mamas, these dark spots tend to disappear a few months after pregnancy. However, there are a few things you can remember to lessen the appearance and chance of developing these dark spots during pregnancy: limit your sun expose (which can darken these spots) avoid waxing, and use hypoallergenic skin products that won’t cause further irritation.

You may also notice a dark line starting from your belly button (or above) and running down your entire abdomen. This line is called the linea nigra. This line has always been there (surprise!); however, you probably never noticed it because it was always the same color as your skin. This dark line will also fade after pregnancy.

Sensitivity

If it’s not obvious enough already, your skin becomes extremely sensitive during pregnancy. With the chance of pre-existing skin conditions worsening (eczema, acne, redness, rashes, etc), it is important to use products that are made for sensitive skin and aren’t heavy in fragrance and other chemicals. Because your skin is more sensitive you can burn so much easier than before, making it important to wear an SPF every day and limit your skin’s exposure to the sun.

Thanks to Aveeno, I was sent the Positively Radiance Collection. This collection includes the Positively Radiant Exfoliating Body Wash, Positively Radiant Body Lotion and Positively Radiant Targeted Tone Corrector. All three items help to instantly transform dull, dry skin and enhance skin’s natural radiance during pregnancy. Since it’s super important to take care of your skin, head to toe, when pregnant, I use all three products daily.

How do all three products help with skin changes?

• • LOTION: Moisturizes for a full 24 hours to leave skin softer and smooth

• • BODY WASH: Leaves skin healthy-looking, softer and smoother after just one use

  • TARGETED DARK SPOT CORRECTOR: Improves the look of dark spots, discoloration, and uneven tone in just one week.

Give this collection a try, Mamas! Your skin will thank you!

{Follow on Instagram for more}

**This post was sponsored by Aveeno, but all opinions based on pregnancy are 100% my own.