Acne Treatment During Pregnancy - Get Rid Of Acne Safely
For many women the first sign of pregnancy is pregnancy acne. For these women, acne seems to start as soon as the egg is fertilized. In these women, acne is the first noticeable symptom. Even those who did not suffer from a lot of acne, other than possibly the t-zone breakouts, can suffer from this type of acne. Often it begins with the first pregnancy. Suddenly these women experience the same problems of teens with problem acne. Then it comes back regularly at the beginning of the pregnancy and lasts all the way to then end. It can be a pregnancy nightmare.
Of course, each new mom to be will be different and some will never suffer even one pimple. Many are afraid if they develop pregnancy acne, the child that is developing in their uterus will also experience problems with acne later in life. However, this thought finds no medical basis and is unfounded.
Why do women want to know information about acne treatment during pregnancy? This time of life requires extreme caution of medications used in the body. You are supporting two people during the gestation period and the things you do to your body can affect your unborn child.
Acne Causes
Hormonal changes in the levels of progesterone are one of the contributing factors related to acne during pregnancy. Progesterone can increase the skin secretions, causing the oil producing glands to activate. The oil produced can provide the perfect growth media for bacteria leading to skin problems, including acne. Fortunately, there are acne treatments for used during one's pregnancy that is safe, readily available and easy to use.
Pregnancy causes hormonal fluctuations that can cause the acne flare-ups. And once the baby is born the hormones return to normal levels - the acne usually disappears also. If your acne is found to be a problem that is getting worse, talk with your doctor about the problem. It is possible to use non-medication based treatments for acne, including facial masks composed from fruits or foods, cleansing routines, increase water intake and other natural methods. In addition, there are several recipes for natural facials to be found online, some of which are as simple as heating a cup of milk and adding juice from a fresh lime before allowing the mixture to cool and applying it to one's face for acne reducing properties. If you prefer to avoid the use of inorganic materials on the face this type of acne treatment should be safe for your use. However, since your concern is both your baby's health as well as that of your own, always talk with your physician before trying any acne remedy, even those that look to be all-natural.
As with other types of acne, the acne you experience during pregnancy results from dead skin cells and bacteria that form clogs to one's pores. Hormonal surges or hormonal changes to the body are the most likely causes of this condition, making it most likely to occur during pregnancy or puberty. During pregnancy, the changes in hormone levels encourage production of extra natural oils, which often clog the skin pores, resulting in a breakout of acne during one's pregnancy.
In many cases, pregnancy acne is one of the symptoms of a woman's pregnancy. This condition often occurs with women that did not have acne problems before becoming pregnant. Women often question the reason that pregnancy and acne go together. Pregnancy acne can be recognized as acne related to the hormones, where the woman experiences acne inflammation of the skin as a result of the massive number of fluctuations in hormones occurring in the body.
Pregnancy induced acne symptoms usually go away with the advancement of the pregnancy and as hormone levels stabilize. However, the length of time that pregnancy acne lasts differs for each different woman.
When pregnant, most women experience the worst acne phase during the first trimester. While predicting which woman will get acne during pregnancy is impossible, those who have previously had problems are more susceptible to outbreaks and more likely to experience problems during pregnancy. The following symptoms are often experienced during the early phases of pregnancy:
1) Oily skin 2) Blackheads 3) Whiteheads 4) Red spots 5) Painful and inflamed pustules and bumps
Solutions
During pregnancy, it is natural for a woman to want to deal cautiously with pregnancy acne. Still, it is impractical to neglect the problem, because it remains important to maintain one's healthy skin. Begin by cleansing the face two times daily, once in the morning and once before heading to bed. Be meticulous in selecting the type of facial cleanser used in order to select one that is gentle enough for the skin that may be extra sensitive at this time. The best option is often the fragrance-free cleanser that is composed of all mild ingredients.
If the migraines, constant backaches, nausea and delivery itself were not enough for the expectant mother, acne can join the ride to provide even more stress to the process of having a baby. Finding a safe and effective treatment for pregnancy acne is not always and easy task. In the months before birth, the hormone levels increase. This increase can lead to many changes of the skin that also include acne.
Many expectant moms choose natural home remedies as their safer choice for treatment of acne or they select a product using all natural ingredients. However, it is important that you do not begin use of these home or herbal remedieswithout speaking with the doctor regarding their safety. Some all-natural herbs were once used to induce contractions, so just because the bottle says all natural does not mean the treatment is safe for use during pregnancy.
While some women choose to forfeit any acne treatment when pregnant to safeguard the child, this is not always the safest choice either. If acne gets out of control, it poses the risk of infection, which could also endanger the baby.
Extraction of pimples by squeezing them is not a good idea for any type of acne, including pregnancy acne. In addition, it is helpful to avoid touching the face. Many times the best treatment for acne is a healthy lifestyle and avoiding interfering with acne too much.
Do not give up hope for improvement, as pregnancy acne will eventually go away. However, the hormones may kick in again, triggering more acne problems later on. Some women see an increase in acne during the menstrual periods. Others may experience acne breakouts when pregnant and again when experiencing menopause.
Understanding the causes of pregnancy acne and selecting the right treatment options is often the key to success in beating this problem. To reduce the symptoms, work on decreasing stress as stress increases hormonal imbalances and work to get plenty of sleep so the body has the needed rest to overcome hormonal imbalances.
Over the Counter Acne Remedies
Before using any over the counter treatment during pregnancy, be sure to read the ingredients list and avoid any product that could cause danger for the child.
Always seek the advice of a dermatologist before selecting any product for use with pregnancy acne. This is especially important if you are using something other than an all-natural product.
Any drug treatment for adult acne may result in adverse side effects, making it important to research any medication for acne before use. Remember that even topical medications can be absorbed through the skin and passed through the placenta to the unborn child. All treatment for skin conditions such as acne should be monitored by a physician as some treatments can create problems during pregnancy or cause birth defects. Acne during pregnancy is common. Changes in the hormone levels in the pregnant woman's body often trigger the acne and it often disappears once the child is born and hormone levels return to normal.
While benzoyl peroxide is often considered a safe treatment for acne to use during pregnancy, the woman should always check with the doctor. Avoid medications that include salicylic acid, including Stridex and Propa pH. Even when using topical treatments that are applied to the affected area, women are encouraged to seek advice from the doctor. Topical treatments may enter the bloodstream and affect the baby.
Effective over the counter medications can often help women to avoid the problem of first trimester acne during pregnancy. There are some acne medications, including azelic acid and benzoyl peroxide that are considered safe for use by pregnant women and their babies. Oral medications for acne treatment should be avoided during pregnancy, with the exception of Erythromycin. Before use of Erythromycin, the woman should consult with the doctor, however.
There are many options for treating acne during pregnancy. AHAs, benzoyl peroxide and some other products are often recommended by the doctor for acne treatment during pregnancy. Still, you will want to first seek the advice and approval of your own doctor before selecting and using any acne treatment. Avoid topical solutions for treatment of acne that contain salicylic acids when pregnant. Better choices that are recommended by dermatologists and other medical practitioners are the many benzoyl peroxide products available, that provide effective treatment for acne without harming either the mother or baby. Unfortunately, the treatment with benzoyl peroxide is often slow in producing results and results may not be immediately noticeable.
While it may not be necessary to use acne treatment when pregnant, it can offer benefits to pregnant women needing to manage and control outbreaks. Use of any treatment is a personal decision that should be made with caution. Remember that many prescription medications as well as remedies purchased over the counter may endanger your unborn child. Mild acne often responds to topical applications of acne creams and spot treatments. Severe cases may require oral medications provided through a dermatologist.
Home Treatments
Many women feel much less concern about home treatments for acne when pregnant. For example, many women choose lavender oil, a safe product for use on the skin affected by acne. This power anti-oxidant helps with many types of skin problems. The oil is mild for the skin without any side effects. Belladona is an oral supplement. It is effective when acne is forming pus.
Hepar Sulfur is often used for the big, painful cysts of cystic acne. This type of acne can cause scars unless extreme caution is used. Rose oil, an essential oil is often useful for pregnancy acne. Rose oil is useful in mild cases of acne as well as minor infections. Witch hazel, an astringent, is readily available in stores. In addition, Kali Bromatum, available in health food stores and on the internet can also help with troublesome blemishes.
Many different household products and herbs can be greatly help in reducing one's acne, especially acne that is due to hormonal imbalance that happens during pregnancy. Never be fooled into thinking that just because a remedy is a home treatment, it is harmless as pregnant women must use extra caution during this time of life. Some all-natural herbs can induce contractions, so the all-natural title does not necessarily mean that the acne treatment is safe for use during pregnancy.
Medical Treatments
Topical retinoids, including tretinoin and adapalene, are the latest medications to be introduced for the treatment of acne. The problem with these medications is that they have not been evaluated for safety on pregnant women. Currently, there is a lack of information and studies on these products. Until more information is available on these medications, pregnant women should avoid them, according to medical literature produced by the manufacturer.
Accutane or Isotretinoin are the most common medications for cystic acne. These medications are a supradose of Vitamin A. Side effects of some pregnancy acne treatments are often severe or dangerous, requiring administration under the guidance of a doctor. Treatments may last for several weeks to six months before providing any effect. This treatment should not be used by women who are pregnant, those trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding mothers as it can cause abortion or birth defects. Women who experience cystic acne after pregnancy often see an improvement with use of birth control pills.
Women should be reminded once again that even a topical cream used for acne treatment during pregnancy might be dangerous. While topical skin creams and lotions are not as dangerous as oral medications, they still pose potential risks to the unborn baby, and the pregnant woman should weigh all the information before deciding to use the medication.
About the Author
Januz Dee
For more information about the acne treatments that work, visit the Best Acne Treatment website. (show bio)
