Pregnancy and your skin

Pregnancy and Your Skin

Please excuse the fact that I have ignored this blog for the past two months.  I think February and March did not exist.  In fact, they went so quickly I am fairly certain that they did not.  I decided to take a personal twist on April’s post though, because I am officially 16 weeks pregnant and feel like I can finally relate to a lot of my pregnant patients who come into the office with concerns about their skin.

A woman goes through a lot of changes when she is pregnant and some of the most dramatic changes involve the skin.  I see a lot of pregnant women coming into the office for numerous reasons.  Some worry that “all” treatments should be avoided during pregnancy, regardless of the ailment, but there is a lot we can do to help pregnant women with skin issues and all of them are perfectly safe.  I’ve dedicated this post to a few of the most common skin problems I see with my pregnant patients.

  1. Acne:  Sad but true, hormonal pregnancy acne is very common.  Many women think because they are pregnant, they cannot be treated, but actually we have a lot of options to help you prevent breakouts.  Due to an increase in hormone levels, especially androgens, which increases sebum production, we see a lot of acne patients during pregnancy.  I usually suggest my patients to use a mild cleanser twice a day.  (For example, Cetaphil, Cerave, or Aveeno.)  If they are feeling especially oily, using a mild (5% or less) Benzoyl Peroxide cleanser once a day would be okay as well.  If you are developing more cystic acne, prescription intervention might be necessary.  Although a lot of acne medications are contraindicated during pregnancy, there are still some topical preparations and even oral antibiotics that are safe.  If you feel like you need more than over the counter medications, be sure to come see us!  If you were prone to acne and recently found out you are pregnant, please stop all medications and contact your healthcare provider to figure out which ones are safe to continue.
  2. Chloasma:  Brown or tan discoloration is common due to the increase in estrogen and progesterone which causes more melanin production in the skin.  Most commonly seen on the upper lip, cheek bones, and forehead, this is often called the “pregnancy mask.”  We do have a product in our Skin & Laser Center, Perle by Neocutis, that is category B and safe to use in pregnancy.  The best treatment is avoiding ANY ultraviolet light exposure.  This means SPF daily is a must and large sun hats are needed at the pool, lake, or beach!
  3. Changing Moles:  I see a lot of pregnant women who notice a change in moles that they have had forever, and even new ones that are popping up.  It is normal for moles to grow during pregnancy.  Hormones can make moles get larger, darker, and appear in places that you did not have before.  Skin tags are very common during pregnancy and are usually found under the arms, breasts, and between the legs.  All of these are easy to remove and are safe to do during pregnancy.
  4. Stretch Marks:  The dreaded subject.  About 90% of pregnant women develop stretch marks.  While pregnant, keeping the skin hydrated and moisturized is your best bet against them.  Although they might be bright red at first, they will eventually fade.  The sad truth is that there is no great treatment for these and there is especially nothing you can do during pregnancy to treat them.  Sometimes we will use topical tretinoin post pregnancy, which can help to fade their appearance, but again, this is after pregnancy and breastfeeding are finished!
  5. Spider Veins:  These are most commonly found on the leg and appear as tiny, minute, veins that tend to branch outward.  They are caused by an increase in blood volume that occurs during pregnancy.  If you stand on your feet a lot during the day or know you have a family history of these, your best bet is to wear tight hose or compression socks/stockings that can help prevent them.  If you get them anyways or did not get a chance to wear these, we have a procedure in the office called sclerotherapy.  This can be done only after delivery.

These are just a few of the most common reasons for visits from my pregnant patients.  We also see a lot of rashes, cherry angiomas (little red moles), hair changes, etc.  If you are pregnant and something has changed or is bothering, please do not think that just because you are pregnant, you cannot be treated.  There is still a lot we can do for you, come visit us!