Tips to Reduce Acne During Pregnancy

Here are some quick tips to reducing acne which women may experience during pregnancy and still protect the health of the baby.

* Women should cleanse their skin twice a day with mild soap and a soft cloth. This keeps the skin free from oils that clogged the follicles and lead to pimples, pustules and papules.

* When cleaning the skin they should use an oil absorbent microfiber cloth to absorb the oil from the face while gently cleaning.

* Use plenty of water to wash away soap residual from the face that can irritate the skin and cause the skin distress, initiating a breakout.

* Keep your hands away from the acne and rub gently when washing to decrease the potential of spreading bacteria to other parts of the body.

* Before eating fruits and vegetables they should be washed in order to remove pesticides, herbicides and other antibiotics that will affect the growing baby and the health of the skin.

* Exercising daily will increase blood circulation, decrease stress levels and improve tone which will decrease the risk of acne during pregnancy.

The acne that women experience during pregnancy is often not severe. It is the hormonal changes in the body which affect oil production and sensitivity of the skin that often results in increased risk of acne during pregnancy. These hormonal changes are present in the weeks following delivery so it is important for women to recognize that while delivery will lessen their acne, this will take several weeks to take affect.

Women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, should never take Accutane because of the increased risk of birth defects in miscarriage. (2) No matter how stressful or severe the acne is, the increased risk of birth defects and miscarriage will outweigh the benefits of taking the medication. Retin-A, a cream derivative of vitamin A, should also not be taken during pregnancy for the same reasons. (3) Tetracycline is a common antibiotic use for acne, but when taken during pregnancy it can affect the color of the babies teeth and the growth of their bones. (4)

The best defense against acne during pregnancy is a good offense. Women should work hard to keep their skin clean, free of oils, eat a good nutritious diet, decrease their stress levels, incorporate exercise into their daily routine and avoid foods that they know will affect their skin. All of these things will help to decrease the risk of suffering from acne during pregnancy as well as improve the health of themselves and their baby.

References:

(1) The Baby Center: Acne During Pregnancy

http://www.babycenter.com/0_acne-during-pregnancy_1456557.bc

(2) The Baby Center: Is it Safe to Take Accutane for My Acne While I am Pregnant?

http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-safe-to-take-accutane-for-acne-while-im-pregnant_9399.bc

(3) American Pregnancy Association: Acne Treatment During Pregnancy

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/acnetreatment.html

(4) Drugs.com: Tetracycline Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Warnings

http://www.drugs.com/pregnancy/tetracycline.html