The Best Treatments For Pregnancy Acne
If your skin usually breaks out during your menstrual period, you’re likely to find the same thing happening during the early months of your pregnancy. But this isn’t always the case: some women find that their regular acne problems disappear during pregnancy, while others who were never troubled by pimples find that pregnancy brings them on.
If you’re one of the unlucky women with newfound blemishes, try the following treatment methods for pregnancy acne.
What Is Pregnancy Acne
Pregnancy acne is not a special type of acne its simply acne that occurs during pregnancy.
Its caused by elevated hormone levels, particularly androgen. This causes your skin glands to grow and produce extra sebum, which is an oily substance. Sebum and dead skin cells block pores and hair follicles, causing bacteria to become trapped, which leads to infections.
Pregnancy pimples can occur anywhere on the body, even in places where you have never had pimples before. It most commonly occurs on the face.
Literature Search And Data Sources
For this review, PubMed was searched in Clinical Queries using the following key terms: acne, pregnancy, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, erythromycin, clindamycin, azithromycin, amoxicillin, retinoids, isotretinoin, topical, systemic, antibiotics, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, teratogenicity, corticosteroids, safety, zinc, glycolic acid, aminolevulinic acid, , and FDA pregnancy. No date restrictions were applied. The search included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, and reviews. In addition, Clinical Evidence, EMBASE, the Cochrane database, and UpToDate were searched.
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How To Deal With Hormonal Acne During Pregnancy
Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist seeing patients in the Upper West Side and Murray Hill locations of New York, NY. She practices various aspects of dermatology, including cosmetic treatments, laser, injectables, skin cancer screening, general dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and body contouring.
Verywell Family / Madelyn Goodnight
Having a baby can be one of lifes great joys. Pregnancy comes with many positives, but unfortunately for some, there can be a few drawbacks as well. This can include hormonal acne, where your skin begins breaking out like it would if you were a teenager.
The good news is that hormonal acne in pregnancy does not happen to everyone. If it does happen to you, there are some pregnancy-safe remedies to zap those zits. Keep reading to see what expert dermatologists recommend if you start to break out during pregnancy.
Treating Acne While Pregnant
Now that you have a little one on board, treating acne isnt necessarily the same as it was before, and honestly you may be struggling with acne now more than before due to hormonal changes. According to Dr. Kurt Grelck, board-certified dermatologist at Forefront Dermatology in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Skin changes are very common during pregnancy. Whether or not you decide to treat acne during your pregnancy depends on your skin, your situation, and your dermatologists advice. Mild acne may not need any special treatment at all, and your doctor might suggest waiting until the baby is born before starting a treatment. By that time, acne may have gone away on its own.
I suggest to start treating your skin with common sense skin care: a gentle cleanser both morning and night followed up by a light moisturizer, added Dr. Grelck. Skin is extra sensitive during pregnancy so choose a fragrance-free product and cleanser that is matching your current skin type .
Treatments Generally Considered Safe
While the treatments below are considered safe to use during pregnancy, you should talk to your doctor before using any acne medications.
Treatments to Avoid
Many acne treatment medications can harm a developing fetus and must be avoided during pregnancy, added Dr. Grelck. Always let your dermatologist know you are pregnant before being treated for acne.
Skin Struggles?
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Do You Break Out More When Pregnant With A Boy Or Girl
The gender of your child is irrelevant when it comes to pregnancy breakouts. No scientific evidence shows more or less when youre pregnant with a boy or girldespite any superstitions to the contrary. The hormone changes producing acne happens with pregnancy in general.
That being said, if youre pregnant with multiple children, you have a higher hormone loadwhich means you are a bit more likely to get pregnancy acne than if you were having a single pregnancy.
Topical Hair Removal And Bleaching Agents
When addressing issues of hair removal, or reducing the appearance of hair, various topical agents are available, such as depilatory and hair-bleaching creams. According to Health Canada guidelines, thioglycolic acid is permitted in depilatory products at concentrations equal to or less than 5% with a pH of 7 to 12.7.
Sodium, calcium, and potassium hydroxide, which are also found in depilatory creams, disassociate into sodium, calcium, potassium, and hydroxide ions. These ions are found abundantly in the body, and the amount of these chemicals found in consumer products that would come in contact with skin would be negligible, especially compared with the average daily dietary intake. In addition, although they might permeate the skin, the systemic absorption of these ions is minimal and therefore they do not increase serum levels and would not be considered a problem for use during pregnancy.,
In an in vitro study involving human skin, hydrogen peroxide was detectable in the dermis only after the application of high hydrogen peroxide concentrations for several hours. However, because cosmetic products such as hair-bleaching creams contain low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, it is unlikely that substantial amounts are absorbed after topical application. In addition, once absorbed, hydrogen peroxide is rapidly metabolized. Therefore, use of these products during pregnancy is not expected to be a concern when done in moderation.
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Finding The Right Skincare
A great place to start is with gentle skincare. “I love Avène’s Tolerance line,” suggests Dr. Gohara. “That is a really great line because it has just seven ingredients in it, and no preservatives. It actually gives pregnant women a lot of peace that there are minimal ingredientsplus they are calming and soothingand no preservatives. A really gentle cleanser is important.”
Dr. Nazarian agrees that using the right skincare from the get-go is important. “Some of my favorite products include a gentle acne cleanser like the Proactiv Renewing Cleanser, which includes benzoyl peroxide, and the Differin Pore Minimizing Toner with Witch Hazel, which is a safe and gentle option even for sensitive skin,” says Dr. Nazarian. “It contains no alcohol, and has an effective combination of aloe, witch hazel, and glycolic acid.”
How A Dermatologist Cleared Up Her Pregnancy Acne
Patients often say their acne is as frustrating as it is painful. I feel their pain! During my current pregnancy, I have been dealing with inflammatory acne nodules, which run deep below the skins surface. Larger and more painful than zits or blackheads, these hot, red nodules are more common during pregnancy. They also can leave post-inflammatory pigmentation behind.
Although masks can help cover up some of this acne, they also make things worse. This isnt a great look for a dermatologist part of my job is to help people keep their skin looking good, but even we can have problems with pregnancy acne and maskne!
In a recent study of women with acne, almost half of patients reported that appearance-related concerns negatively affected their social, professional, and personal lives. Many of them noted symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Add these feelings to the other body changes in pregnancy and it can significantly affect your mental health.
But the good news is acne inpregnancy can be treated safely. Here are four tips to help clear up and prevent pregnancy-related acne breakouts.
1. Take a hands-off approach.
When acne first appears, our natural instinct is to:
- Pick, pop, or touch, which will only further clog the pore, damage the skin, and spread the outbreak.
- Try too many treatments, which can cause further skin irritation.
Related reading:Why we touch our faces so much and how to break the habit
2. Get a spot-on treatment.
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Acne Products That Are Safe To Use While Pregnant Or Trying To Conceive
A few months ago, I casually walked into a medical spa for a quick skin analysis. I figured wed discuss whether peels or microdermabrasion would be best for my acne-prone skin. But when the aesthetician asked me about which medications I was on, I said none, out of habit. However, I casually mentioned my husband and I were starting intrauterine insemination in the next month on our quest to get pregnant. And before I could even rest my head on the table, the consultation came to an abrupt end.
I was surprised to learn that even though Im not pregnant yet, I needed to treat my skin like I am. That meant all of the medical-grade treatments and products I was looking forward to trying were off-limits.
Skin-care for pregnant women and those of us trying to conceive can be a fickle mistress. Your hormones might be completely thrown out of orbit after you go off the pill, which can result in oily skin and breakouts. Unfortunately, the treatments you normally turn to might not be pregnancy safe.
Luckily, dermatologists say there are safe skin-care options to try throughout your pregnancy journey. Heres a look at how to treat your skin when youre in full on baby-making mode.
Going off birth control can be both an exciting and confusing time. Even though youre excited to get that pink plus sign, it can take monthsand for some women, even a year or longer, to get a positive pregnancy result.
And pregnancy itself can lead to acne breakouts, too, so the fun just keeps going.
Are There Any Natural Remedies For Acne During Pregnancy
Are there any natural remedies for acne during pregnancy? Honey, coconut oil, cucumber, oatmeal, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, citrus fruit, aloe vera gel are some of the best home remedies to treat pregnancy acne. Acne can occur at any time during pregnancy. It may be severe or even mild depending upon the hormonal fluctuations in your body. And trust me, it is NO fun!
What to do for severe acne during pregnancy? 6 All-Natural Pregnancy Acne Remedies Apple cider vinegar. Mix one part raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to three parts distilled water. Baking soda. Baking soda dries the oil on your skin and promotes healing, but it is not widely recommended by healthcare professionals because it can irritate the skin and Citrus fruit. Honey. Coconut oil. Oatmeal and cucumber.
Is it safe to use acne medication during pregnancy? Antibiotics : Cefadroxil Cefadroxil This medication is a cephalosporin-type antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections. is an antibiotic that can help clear severe acne. In giving pregnant animals large amounts of this antibiotic, researchers havent seen birth defects. The antibiotics that are often used to treat acne, such as azithromycin and clarithromycin , also seem safe during pregnancy.
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Are Bananas Good For Forehead Acne
It’s said bananas have anti-inflammatory properties, which usually reduce the redness and appearance of acne. Besides, there has been some success treating acne scars by gently rubbing the affected skin’s surface with the inside of a banana peel for few minutes, then rinsing with cool water and repeating it a few times a day.
Pregnancy Acne Can Start Anytime
Acne can crop up anytime during pregnancy since your androgen levels, and consequential oil production, increase early on in pregnancy. But be prepared for your third trimester, when your androgen levels are extremely high and acne can get especially bad.
Turns out, androgens help prepare the cervix for labor, which may explain why they increase as you near full term. How severe your acne is during pregnancy varies from person to person. For some, the extra oil, or sebum, production can be more subtle. But in others especially those who had acne as a teen they’re more likely to experience acne breakouts during pregnancy, according to Campbell.
In a study published in 2017 in the Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Related Fields, 90% of participants who had acne during pregnancy were experiencing acne before they became pregnant.
“While it seems a previous history of acne is the strongest risk factor for a flare of acne during pregnancy, the underlying causes of the flare have not been definitively determined,” Campbell adds.
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Acne Medication Never To Take During Pregnancy
If youre pregnant, immediately stop taking these medications and do not use them during your pregnancy.
Unsafe medications during pregnancy
Brand names include: Absorica®, Amnesteem®, Claravis®, Myorisan®, Sotret®, and Zenatane
TazaroteneBrand names include: Avage®, Fabior®, Tazorac®, and Zorac®
Spironolactone
These medications can cause serious birth defects.
What Causes Acne During Pregnancy
Many women experience acne during pregnancy. It’smost common during the first and second trimesters. Anincrease in hormones called androgens can cause the glandsin your skin to grow and produce more sebum an oily, waxysubstance. This oil can clog pores and lead to bacteria,inflammation, and breakouts.
Subsequently, one may also ask, how can I get rid of acne during pregnancy?
To treat pregnancy acne, start with self-care:
Beside above, can you take acne medication while pregnant? If you want to use over-the-counteracne products, be sure to talk to your doctor first.Products containing benzoyl peroxide appear to be safe forpregnant women. But products containing salicylic acids arenot, as they can lead to birth defects.
Likewise, does acne during pregnancy mean girl?
Acne – Acne During PregnancyAcne is common during pregnancy. In fact,more than one out of every two pregnant women can expect to developacne. In some cases, the acne may be severe. Theprimary cause of acne when you’re pregnant is the increasedhormone levels in the first trimester.
Does acne go away after pregnancy?
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What Acne Products And Ingredients Should Pregnant Women Avoid
Pregnant women should avoid taking isotretinoin and other retinoids, anti-androgen medications and oral tetracyclines . Isotretinoin has been proven to increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects, including cleft palate, congenital heart defects, hydrocephalus and microcephaly. Oral retinoids have been classified by the US Food & Drug Administration as pregnancy category X, which means the drugs have been associated with fetal abnormalities or positive evidence of human fetal risk.
Is It Safe To Use Acne Medication During Pregnancy
Only if you use the right kinds. Here’s how to know what’s safe and not safe for your unborn baby.
Q: My face has been breaking out like crazy since I got pregnant six months ago. What can I use to treat it?
A: Breakouts during pregnancy aren’t at all uncommon — they’re due to your elevated hormone levels. But while nonpregnant women can use a range of prescription drugs for acne, those who are expecting need to be more careful. Specifically, pregnant women should avoid these four types of prescription acne products:
Accutane , which can cause birth defects, as well as increase the risk of miscarriage and infant death
Hormonal therapies , which can lead to birth defects
Topical retinoids , which pass into the bloodstream and so on to the fetus and
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When Is Pregnancy Acne Most Common
Acne may arise at any point during pregnancy since androgen levels and the resulting increased oil production increase early on in pregnancy. Androgen levels are particularly high during your third trimester so expect that if you are dealing with pregnancy acne that it will be especially bad during this period. Androgens actually help get the cervix ready for labor which is why they increase as you near full term.
The severity of pregnancy acne will vary from person to person. It is, however, more common among women who had acne before becoming pregnant. While having a previous history of acne is the strongest risk factor for pregnancy acne, the underlying causes of acne flare-ups during pregnancy have not been definitively determined.
There are other risk factors besides the increase in androgens that can make you a likely target for pregnancy acne. The immune system plays a part in fighting off acne and during pregnancy, a womans immune system is constantly changing and somewhat suppressed. Additionally, the stress that often accompanies pregnancy can increase levels of stress hormones and trigger breakouts or worsen existing acne.
Products To Use For Pregnancy Acne
Salcura
Salcura’s Antiac range, which deeply cleanses, soothes irritation, and prevents infection, is so popular that the makers even offer a 30-day money back guarantee because they’re so confident in its results. Antiac’s star ingredient in the range is Sea Buckthorn, a champion of skincare, containing 25 times more vitamin C than an orange. Sea Buckthorn is also rich in omegas and skin essential vitamins, targeting infection to leave your skin refreshed and revitalised. The Salcura Antiac range includes a Daily Face Wash, Daily Face Wipes, Activ Liquid Spray and Activ Gel Serum, which will all help to keep spots at bay while also keeping baby safe.
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Sudacrem
For stubborn spots, many women like to use a targeted treatment or cream on the breakout in a bid to make it disappear. And Sudocrem’s Skin Care Cream is the perfect choice for this for pregnant women. It has the same ingredients as the brand’s world-famous Antiseptic Healing Cream but in different proportions, and has the backing from celebrities including Cheryl Cole, who welcomed her son Bear in March 2017.
Bakel
Dr Barbara Kubicka, a London based physician, recommends the skincare line Bakel as it has zero preservatives, colourants synthetic fragrances, petroleum derivatives, silicones, alcohol, PEG, PPG or heavy metals. She says it’s particularly good for “reducing sebum and for its anti-inflammatory properties”.
Universkin
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