Acne Treatment During Pregnancy
One of the most challenging tasks that come in the way of pregnant women is acne treatment during pregnancy. This is a problem related to skin where the skin is flared all of a sudden. Women who already have acne before are obvious to have the problem during pregnancy. Also the women who always have had a clear skin are likely to have the acne breakouts during pregnancy. Though a common occurrence yet, it is annoying and may stay even after the pregnancy especially if you are breastfeeding.
Acne usually breaks out in the first trimester of pregnancy and may last till delivery or even after that as well. It is caused due to the increased level of progesterone and alteration in hydration. Progesterone, an androgenic hormone, stimulates the oil glands in the body producing more oil which affects the skin by causing acne. Again, if sufficient water is not taken by the body, the hormonal secretions would remain concentrated and would not get out of the body. This also results in acne. You can neither predict nor prevent acne. All you can do is go for acne treatment during pregnancy.
Proper skin care can be helpful in treating acne. Cleansing of face with a gentle cleaner twice a day helps. Nothing rough, like toners or astringents, is to be applied on the skin. It may irritate the skin. You can also make use of skin care products but in consultation with your dermatologist. This is because, during pregnancy, your skin becomes very sensitive and only mild products are better to be applied on the skin. Again, you have to think of your baby as well. Whatever you do has a direct impact on your baby. Hence, restricting certain medications, you can go for safe acne treatment during pregnancy.
If you are not going for any homely measures for checking acne then, may be you have to go for proper medication. But then, you cannot go for just any medicines as some of them are strictly prohibited for the safety of your child. You can use Benzoyl Peroxide and Erythromycin for treating acne. These are comparatively mild in nature and found in many gels, cleansers and lotions. Benzoyl Peroxide and Erythromycin open the skin pores and allows oxygen through the skin and reduces acne caused due to bacterial actions. It is usually recommended to continue this acne treatment during pregnancy even if the acne goes off. This is because it may again breakout if left untreated.
Besides these, there are many other treatments which you must avoid when pregnant. A medicine called Isotretinion is strictly prohibited as it creates complications for the baby. The baby may be born with higher birth defects. Again, more usage of this on skin may increase the chances of miscarriage as well. Topical Retinoids are also available for treating acne but then, they are not allowed especially if the woman is pregnant or breastfeeding. Apart from these, applying high volume of Salicylic Acid is again dangerous as it may cause many complications in pregnancy. As long as it is used in a considerable amount and that too twice a day, it is safe for acne treatment during pregnancy.
The more the skin treatment products are used, the more they are absorbed in the blood stream. Hence there are many possibilities of the baby being affected by such products. Even though applied externally, yet they are equally harmful as would have been if taken orally. If you want to have a peeling treatment on your skin, it is better to let it be done by your skin care provider or dermatologist. They would know the tactics of doing it in pregnancy taking into account all the safety measures.
You can go for the natural or herbal way of treatment with the advice of your doctor as they are not clinically proven. Best way of acne treatment during pregnancy is rinsing the face with lukewarm water after it is cleaned. Care must be taken so that there would not be any soap residue left. Oily soaps or cleansers are better not to be used. Again, one more thing to keep in mind is not to touch the acne affected skin. Being caused by bacteria, it is likely to spread when you touch it. Too much contact with them may cause acne scars.
Finally with all the options in place, acne treatment during pregnancy is easier to be done. All you have to do is take care of yourself. If you are going for any kind of medication, refer your doctor once. But then, regular care taken at home is best option of treating acne!
