Acne And Pregnancy; All You Need To Know

What is pregnancy acne?

The good news is that pregnancy acne is the same type as regular acne. The bad news is, well, it’s still acne. Pregnancy comes with its own ups and downs and the fact that pregnancy acne is a thing doesn’t make matters easier. It is most common during the first and second trimesters and is caused due to an increase in the hormone called androgens. These cause the glands in your skin to grow and produce more sebum.

Hence, it’s easier for oil, dust and bacteria to clog pores and cause acne. While looking for acne treatment, be careful of ingredients within products. Read labels carefully to ensure everything is safe for you and your baby.

Safe ingredients and treatments

Here is a list of topical drugs that are safe to use during pregnancy:

• Benzoyl Peroxide
• Clindamycin
• Erythromycin
• Fusidic acid
• Clotrimazole
• Mupirocin
• Medications like alpha hydroxy acids, clindamycin, niacinamide, erythromycin, azelaic acid are safe to use

If you are looking to get your face treated, here are some of the treatments that are okay to get:

• Extractions
• Clean ups
• Certain peels
• Certain facials

Safe ingredients you’ll find in your kitchen

If your acne is starting up and you’d prefer to look for ingredients within your kitchen, here are five that are easily available and could help in the treatment of acne.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar – Unfiltered apple cider vinegar mixed with three parts distilled water can act as a great toner. It has alpha hydroxy acids and is rich in naturally occurring enzymes. Ensure you dilute it well though, as apple cider vinegar is extremely acidic on its own and can cause excessive dryness if not administered properly.
2. Baking Soda – Baking soda mixed with water is great for spot treatment. Avoid using this all over your face though, as it is very drying and might irritate your skin.
3. Citrus Fruit – Alpha hydroxy acid found in citrus fruit can act as a great exfoliant. It helps unclog pores and shed dead skin.
4. Honey – Not only is honey very soothing for the skin, it has fantastic antiseptic and antibacterial properties – making it a great option to treat acne naturally.
5. Coconut Oil – Like honey, coconut oil too has antibacterial properties and is soothing on the skin. It is a great antifungal. Use it in small proportions as it might feel too heavy on the skin.

Treatments and ingredients to avoid!

Whilst pregnant, it is best to avoid treatments like Botox, Dermal fillers, skin boosters and lasers.

While looking to buy and use products, we weary of the following ingredients on labels:

•  Salicylic acid
• Hydroquinone
• Adapalene
• Thioglycolic
• Triclosan
• Beta hydroxy acid
• Saw palmetto
• Tretinoin
• Minoxidil
• Mupirocin
• Tacrolimus (category C)
• Pimecrolimus (category C)

Topical treatments whilst pregnant

Some other treatments that are okay to go ahead during pregnancy are:

• Micro needling
• PRP in micro needling
• Facials that don’t have ingredients from the ban list
• All peels except the ones with ingredients of the ban list

Pregnancy Safe Treatments at Isya Aesthetics:

• Silk Love (excluding pore clarifying)
• Good Gene (excluding hydrate serum)
• Infuse me (excluding hydrate serum)
• PRP Infuse Me
• Aqua Gold (excluding botox)
• Bright light
• Instaglow
• Peels – Mandelic peel, Glycolic, AHA15% (Lactic Acid, Glycolic, Hyaluronic, Antioxidant)

How to best prevent pregnancy acne

Understanding that your skin is prone to acne during pregnancy means you can take measures to avoid acne during this time, well before it starts. Here are some good practices you could follow to minimise chances of having to deal with acne.

1. Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser. Speak to a medical professional to ensure the products you are using are safe for you and your baby. However, don’t over wash or use very drying products. If your skin is too dry, it will overcompensate by producing more sebum, which can lead to oily skin and clogged pores. Avoid very hot water which can cause your skin to dry out further.
2. Change your bedsheet and pillow cover often. Dead skin and bacteria can build up there to clog your pores when you sleep.
3. Avoid touching your face, especially idly. We carry a lot of germs and bacteria on our hands which we transfer to our skin when we touch our faces.
4. Wash your hair regularly to avoid an oily scalp, or dandruff. These too can affect the skin around our scalp and clog pores.
5. Clean your phone as often as possible. Our phones are quite dirty so clean them often with antibacterial wipes. It hosts a lot of dirt and bacteria which can come onto the skin when you make a phone call.
6. Avoid certain foods that might disagree with you. Dairy and red meat can cause acne. Steer clear of processed foods and refined sugars. Instead, get plenty of fruit and vegetables into your system. Eat foods with healthy fats. Drink lots of water to keep skin hydrated. Avoid too much caffeine.
7. Engage in activities that target stress and fatigue. These can lead to acne.
8. Don’t use OTC medication without consulting your dermatologist. What might work for others might not work for you. Also, ingredients in common skin care products might not be safe to use during pregnancy.

Remember to keep in touch with your doctor to find out what products are best suited for your skin. Don’t use OTC products without checking with your doctor first.