I can still remember with great fondness and humour when I was
sitting in my doctors office, 22 years old, shocked in disbelief that I
might be pregnant. I had taken a pregnancy test earlier that day after
my partner suggested I might be pregnant (after a hugely out of
character emotional meltdown – during which I quit my job!). Later that
day I told my mother that I had gotten a positive pregnancy test – to
which she told me that I should go to the doctor to have a blood test
‘to make sure’.
So, off I went, where I found myself sitting there in front of the
doctor, who was trying to convince me that I was indeed pregnant and I
didn’t need a blood test. ’You’re pregnant!,’ he said. ‘What more proof
do you want, you have a positive pregnancy test, you have acne on your
chin…’ at that point I stopped freaking out for a minute and became
really self concious… I replied, ‘Oh its just a bit of eczema, I have
sensitive skin.’ He laughed at me, said it really was a bit of acne.
Then it hit me and I realised that this was it. Yes, I was pregnant.
And, thanks to that, I had a case of acne, which was just as much of a
shock to someone who rarely gets a pimple, let alone acne – and it was
clearly obvious to everyone else around me! So here’s some information I
wish I had when I was a young 22 years old!
Important Things First If You Have Acne While Pregnant
There are quite a few medications that are prescribed for acne which
are NOT safe while pregnant – an example of this is Accutane. They can
cause serious birth defects and complications. Do not take any
medications without speaking to a midwife, doctor or pharmacist, who can
give you important drug safety information. Even with over-the-counter
acne preparations, you should first check that all ingredients are safe
for your baby. Try natural solutions first and escalate if necessary.
What Causes Acne in Pregnancy?
Hormones, hormones, hormones! Just like most side effects during
pregnancy, acne or pimples is a result of increased hormone production
in your pregnant body. In this instance, they cause glands in your skin
to enlarge and boost the production of sebum. Together with dead skin
cells, your pores become blocked and provide a neat little party pad for
bacteria. Acne can vary in severity for each woman and may just be an
early pregnancy thing, or may persist throughout your pregnancy.
Acne during pregnancy is very unpredictable – some women who have
battled acne before becoming pregnant may find that their acne improves,
and others who have never had acne find that they have the most
problems. So it all boils down to looking after yourself if you happen
to get it.
Advice From BellyBelly’s Naturopath on Acne In Pregnancy
Nicole Tracy, BellyBelly’s Naturopath from Nurtured by Nature has this to say about acne in pregnancy:
“Acne can be a very frustrating side-effect of early pregnancy, even
though it is generally a good sign that hormone levels are shifting in
the right direction. Often low zinc levels are an underlying cause of
acne, and low zinc can also slow the healing processes of your skin. The
placenta is the highest source of zinc in the human body, so it is
common for a woman’s reserves to be diverted to where they are most
needed. For this reason, it is important to supplement women with zinc
during pregnancy to ensure adequate reserves. There are a few key signs
that your Naturopath can check, and often a zinc taste test is
undertaken to identify a deficiency. A serum zinc test can also be
conducted through your Naturopath, GP, Obstetrician or Midwife. Vitamin C
is also important to strengthen the immune system and prevent acne from
getting infected, and drinking plenty of purified water is crucial for
flushing out toxins.”
Water is a biggie no matter if you have acne or not. The quality of
the water you drink is more important than you may realise – your body
is around 70% water and every function in your body depends on it –
after oxygen, its the next thing your body would die without. However
most bottled and tap waters are biologically damaged or dead and there
are so many nasties in our water which just add more toxins. If you want
to get seriously good tasting, quality filtrated drinking water thats
loaded with antioxidants, check out Bluezone Water – Jody is super helpful and he lives and breathes water. We’re so glad we switched over.
Coconut Oil Can Clear Pregnancy Acne
Coconut oil is amazing on skin and has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
properties – do not confuse it with other oils! It’s great for your
heart, boosting your immune system and so much more.
Switch your moisturiser to coconut oil or apply a thin layer at least
once a day. For information about how coconut oil clears up acne, check
out this article from the Coconut Research Center. Coconut oil is also great for cradle cap
on babies heads too, which is from a similar thing – overactive
sebaceous (oil) glands, just on baby’s head. Worked really well for us!
Replacing your cooking oils and/or butter with coconut oil is a great
idea too. Too many bad oils and poor diet wont help your acne. I love
the flavour of coconut oil, so its no problem for me to use it to make
delicious stir fries, omelettes, coconut chicken or in smoothies –
yummo!
Tips For Acne While Pregnant (And Non-Pregnant!)
- Don’t pick, scratch or pop acne. It may only serve to spread infection (at a time your immune system is already lowered) and/or or leave scars
- Try natural solutions first, like zinc, vitamin C, coconut oil, probiotics and diet modification
- Don’t go crazy over-washing your face or using harsh soaps. Stripping your skin of oil will only make it produce more, and you could end up with dry or irritated skin too
- Avoid wearing make-up where you can. If you must, avoid clogging, oil-based make-up (opt for water based instead) and ensure you wash it off each day – or as soon as you no longer need to be ‘made-up’
- When washing your face, don’t scrub it or it may become more angry
- Keep your diet in check to reduce and flush out toxins. Cut back foods that contain bad fats, refined sugar (and anything with artificial sweetener) and processed wheat products – white flour, white bread, cake etc. Don’t forget to eat your greens to keep your system clean and healthy – for you and your baby
- Check with your midwife or doctor before using any medicated acne products as a last resort
- Try the Miessence Blemish Gel containing natural, organic ingredients that my pre-teen daughter has found to be very effective.
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