Pregnancy and skin care

Pregnancy and skin care

As we all know, pregnancy comes with its fair share of physical changes, not to say upheavals! The organ that reacts most readily to pregnancy is, of course, our skin, from head to toe! In fact, cortisol, one of the hormones secreted during pregnancy, reduces the production of collagen, which is responsible for skin’s elasticity.
 

General principles of skin care during pregnancy

In addition to moisturizing your skin properly and religiously (face and body), you should also follow these few general principles.
  • The best way to prevent stretch marks  is to gradually gain only a moderate amount of weight.
  • Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and grains.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun (even more than usual).
  • Younger skin is relatively delicate and more susceptible to stretch marks. (A pregnant woman under the age of 26 will need to moisturize her skin: bust, stomach, etc., liberally with nourishing oils).


All about the “pregnancy mask”

Between the 4th and 6th month of pregnancy, certain women can develop on their face (usually the forehead and around the mouth) dark brown patches of pigment of varying sizes. This “pregnancy mask” (or “chloasma”) is due to a combination of exposure to sun and pregnancy hormones.

Adequate sun protection is the best way to avoid this inconvenience.

After pregnancy, pigment spots normally disappear on their own within a few months. To speed the process along, you can use:

  • Facial scrubs and peels
  • Special creams and serums (for pigment spots)
  • Lightening creams for very stubborn spots
Also be sure to follow any recommendations made by your dermatologist.
 

Bust and stomach

During pregnancy, the weight of the breasts can easily triple. And of course, there’s the abdomen, too! To avoid stretch marks and loss of firmness, you need to take special care of the skin in these areas. For instance, you might want to consider:  

  • Gentle scrubs (to enhance the absorption of skin care products)
  • Nourishing butters and oils
  • Stretch mark creams with collagen, elastin and vitamins A and E
  • Bust firming milks
  • A few daily exercises to strengthen the pectoral muscles, which support the bust (for example, with palms together and elbows raised, press into your hands and hold for a few seconds, before releasing and repeating)
  • Splashes of cool water on the bust (before getting out of the shower, for example)
Good to know!
Nipples also need special attention, since they, too, stretch during pregnancy and risk cracking. Wash them with water only (use soap on the breasts, but avoid the nipple area) and apply special nipple cream from time to time, when needed.
 

Pharmacy services

You can find a variety of skin care products for pregnant women in the dermo-cosmetic section and the baby care aisle. Ask a beauty consultant or pharmacist for help! 
 

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