Pregnancy is a beautiful yet difficult stage in the lives of mothers-to-be. One of the downsides of this period is skin problems, mostly acne.

Although some women don’t face any skin troubles, others must deal with painful and uncomfortable breakouts.

To learn more about this issue, we interviewed Dr. Treva Abdullah Aspir, a master degree holder in dermatology from the American Board and a practicing dermatologist at Dr. Mamdouh Ashi medical center.

We asked Dr. Aspir about acne, its effects on pregnant women and the best facial treatments.

Having acne throughout pregnancy is a natural process that results from the changing hormone levels in the body. The body releases more fat to the skin cells to maintain their elasticity, but this enlarges skin pores which can develop into acne when bacteria infects the pores with excessive fat.

Pregnancy and acne

Recent studies have shown that about half of all pregnant women suffer acne and that pregnant women with a history of acne and skin problems are more subject to having this problem.

Timing

Acne usually appears during the first trimester of pregnancy due to the dramatic hormonal changes. Acne tends to disappear during the final months of pregnancy.

Causes

Hormone surges in the women’s body as glands increase acne-causing secretions, but this is only temporary.

Prevention and treatment

As this problem is temporary, it’s advised not to pick zits. Also, using medicine could pose hazards to the health of the mother and the baby. However, if the acne is severe, it needs a doctor’s consultation.

Pregnancy acne is a temporary phase that shouldn’t be worrisome so long as women take good care of their skin. Most importantly, women need to identify their skin types and responsive treatments.

According to Dr. Aspir, Vitamin A gel or tablets have much effect on acne. However, Vitamin A has negative side effects and can’t be used by a pregnant woman as it can cause fetus deformation. So, women are advised not to use Vitamin A two months before marriage or when planning to conceive.

Dr. Aspir advises woman to treat any skin problem, particularly acne, after giving birth to avoid harming the baby. However, pregnant women can resort to natural masks to clean the skin, provided they don’t contain any chemicals.

If zits and acne are a continuous problem, it is advised to seek a doctor’s consultation. However, a few home remedies can help alleviate the problem:

Lemon: This citrus fruit is known for its great ability to fight zits. All you need to do is use the juice of half a lemon and apply it directly on your skin using a piece of cotton before going to bed. You can also dilute lemon with water if it has a strong impact on your skin. Don’t use lemon on the whole face as it may cause skin irritation. You will notice quick results within a week of using lemon.

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is an amazing natural remedy used in numerous beauty products for hair and skin care. Aloe Vera gel effectively helps decrease pimples.

Perfumed oils: Oils such as lavender and tea tree have great results in eliminating acne and pimples.

All of these remedies have different results depending on the skin type. It’s better to try them out and learn what suits your skin the best. Most importantly, it’s always advised not to pick zits and carefully implement a cleaning regimen.

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