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Your Guide to a Pregnancy-Safe Skin Care Routine
Some women say that their skin starts to glow during their pregnancy and some say that they suffer from skin pigmentation which makes them look pale and dull. This is all because of the pregnancy hormones. So to maintain natural and healthy-looking skin during pregnancy, you may need to improvise your skincare routine for sure. Yes you heard it right, in addition to alcohol, wine, sushi, unpasteurized dairy, and a few other foods, few special ingredients are on the “nope” list for pregnancy.
Now you might be thinking: “what skincare products can I use without getting tensed and worried about the baby?” Keep reading to learn more about which ingredients to stick around for the section on our favorite pregnancy-safe skincare routine. Follow the basic skin care routine discussed below:
Cleansing
The first step is cleansing. Start with a mild/gentle cleanser. And if your skin is very dry, then washing with a soapless rinse-off cleanser that’s mild and moisturizing is the best choice. Remember to wash your face no more than twice a day to prevent overdrying.
Moisturizing and sun protection
In addition to the above process, you should make your skin-care routine during pregnancy with a moisturizer with at least SPF 15, and with broad-spectrum protection that works against both UVA and UVB rays. Doctors suggest that using sunscreen daily — rain or shine — is the best way to avoid this discoloration. If you know you’re going to be out in the midday sun or at the beach, protect yourself with a sunblock of SPF 30 or even higher.
Acne and oil
If your skin is oily or acne-prone, you’ll probably experience worse breakouts during the first trimester of pregnancy. The safest way to protect your skin from these breakouts is with a product that contains glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, topical erythromycin or witch hazel. Generally, most dermatologists don’t recommend the use of topical retinoids such as Retin-A or Differin or salicylic acid because they can be harmful to your little one.
Some face washes, body lotions, and makeup contain ingredients that are scientifically proven to pose a threat to a developing baby, and others have to be avoided postpartum since they can pass into breast milk and make the breast milk toxic. So here are a few more harmless methods to improve your skin:
Drink lots of water
Drinking lots of water can be the best choice. It helps in washing out all harmful toxins from your body and helps to maintain your body clean. Water helps to maintain the right amount of amniotic fluid in your body. This fluid is great for you and your baby’s health. If you don’t like the taste of water while you are pregnant, please make sure to have liquids in other forms like coconut water, soups, juices, etc. So, keep a check on your water intake to maintain healthy and natural-looking skin during pregnancy. At least have 2-3 liters per day for sure. If you forget, use apps like water reminders so that you can have them without skipping.
Herbal products
Natural products always show the best result. One must not forget to try and use herbal products. It is quite normal to experience some skin damages on the face during the pregnancy period. But don’t panic, they can be recovered if you use no product other than a natural one. Choose products according to your skin type.
Load up on moisturizer
Moisturizing your skin and body frequently is very important. By doing this you can avoid stretch marks, reduce itchiness, and soothe the dry skin which is caused by pregnancy. Moisturise all over your body, especially knees, elbows and most importantly nipples as they tend to become dry often.
Your sunscreen is now even more important
Don’t go out without sunscreen, especially during your pregnancy as your skin is more sensitive to the sun at this particular time. Use sunscreen all the time during pregnancy. During this time, your skin will become too sensitive and due to this, your skin may not deal well with the sun or new skincare products. And that’s why it is important to put on sunscreen whenever you are out. Make sure you’re wearing protective clothing like a hat, scarves, sunglasses, etc. for protection against the sun. You should use about half a teaspoon of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or even more and apply it again every 2-3 hours for it to work and save your skin against the sun.
Waxing vs hair removal cream
The increased skin sensitivity, caused due to hormonal changes in the body, might make your skin might be more sensitive. Though there is no evidence of waxing being unsafe during pregnancy, waxing can be more painful. While you could still use hair removal creams but if you experience any skin irritation you should definitely stop them as well.
Vitamin C
Another best ingredient to make your skin look naturally healthy is vitamin C. When it comes to treating dark spots and skin-tone balancing issues during pregnancy and breastfeeding, vitamin C should be your go-to choice. Also vitamin C serums help with brightening your skin. It’s a great antioxidant and is very safe to use during pregnancy. It also helps with tissue repair, healing, and keeping your skin healthy and glowing.
Hyaluronic Acid
Another wonderful ingredient is hyaluronic acid. When it comes to skin-plumping, moisturizing, and hydrating, this natural substance should be a go-to ingredient, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It works well and causes no threat to the mom or baby.
This is the best ingredient you can ever ask for during the nine months of pregnancy. The skin of a pregnant lady is very sensitive as she is creating a human inside her. So, ladies, you need to be very careful even if it is about exfoliating or moisturizing the skin. This particular alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) found in exfoliating products is the best. These products pose no threat to the mom or the developing fetus.
It’s important to avoid ingredients that are potentially sensitizing and using products that have too many ingredients can overcomplicate the skin’s natural processes, so it’s better to stick with a few products with fewer ingredients and if you want to use natural products it’s way better. By following the above tips you can surely get healthy and beautiful skin!
Mahigna
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