Common Skin Conditions When You’re Expecting

Everyone is talking about that famous pregnancy glow, but what you’re stuck with is pimples and splotches of darkened skin—how’s that fair! It’s not, but it’s just how it is. Pregnancy is a very turbulent time with hormones going crazy and many changes taking place inside and outside your body. However, if you prepare for the most common skin changes, you’ll know not to worry and be ready to tackle them.

Linea nigra

Linea nigra is a dark line that pops up during pregnancy and goes from your belly button to your pubic area. Don’t worry if you notice this mark—almost 90% of pregnant women develop it. This condition can’t really be prevented, but it usually fades away after birth.

Acne

Many women develop acne during pregnancy due to all the hormones which cause a boost in oil secretion and ultimately result in breakouts. To prevent this, use face soap to wash your face twice a day. Most of these soaps are safe during pregnancy, but there is also prescription medication you can try, but consult with a good doctor first.

Mask of pregnancy

Due to increased pigmentation caused by pregnancy hormones, many women develop something called Malasma or the mask of pregnancy. These dark splotches usually appear on the nose and cheeks, but can attack any area of the body with more pigment (some women report darkening of freckles or areolas). The darker your complexion, the more these splotches might be visible. Malasma can’t be prevented, but you can reduce the effect if you use sunscreen, especially if you live somewhere very sunny like Australia. After you give birth, you can also buy Cemoy Australia face mask that will leave it energized, refreshed and hydrated. They are easy to find for a very affordable price and have thousands of satisfied users

Stretch marks

Stretch marks befall almost every pregnant woman, but they are more likely to appear if you gain wait rapidly, so make sure to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. Also, they greatly depend on genetics, which is very unfortunate. After you give birth, these reddish streaks will fade a little bit, but you can’t really go away. To reduce the amount of stretch marks, keep your skin hydrated with cocoa butter or lotion.

Skin tags

Skin tags are small, loose growths of skin that appear on the body, usually in the armpit and under the breasts. They are harmless and can’t be prevented, but they can also be easily removed after you welcome your baby.

PUPPP

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy or PUPPP is a very common pregnancy rash that pops up like itchy, red patches around stretch marks on the belly, but it can spread to arms, legs and booty. This rash is harmless but very annoying. There are steroid creams that can be prescribed for the condition, and they are safe for you and the baby. The rash will go away on its own, but there’s no reason to suffer until the baby comes.

Cholestasis of pregnancy

Itchy skin shouldn’t always be ignored. Cholestasis of pregnancy is a liver disease caused by too much pregnancy hormone, and it can affect the flow of bile. The condition usually occurs at the end of pregnancy and can result in extreme itchiness, especially on the palms and soles of the feet. This very annoying condition can even be accompanied by jaundice or yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes. You can check for this condition with a simple blood test and treat it with medication. It will also go away after delivery.

A woman’s body goes through numerous and severe changes during pregnancy, so it’s not a surprise that these changes affect the skin. Most pregnancy skin conditions are harmless but make sure to consult with your doctor to rule out anything that might endanger your pregnancy and to seek treatment.

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