Acne and Pregnancy: How to Treat It Safely

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, but that doesn’t stop it from being exhausting, uncomfortable, and often painful. To top it all off, you may also have to deal with acne. Luckily, there are several ways you can safely treat acne while pregnant.

There are two types of methods that you can use to deal with pregnancy acne: self-care/prevention and treatment. Practicing both can help you get rid of that “pregnancy mask” while preparing for your little one’s arrival.

Wash Your Face Regularly Using Soft Soaps

When you’re carrying around several pounds of added weight, you’re sure to sweat more often. So, it’s a good practice to wash your face at least twice a day. Sweat buildup can lead to an annoying breakout. Using soft soaps is also important, as harsh soaps can irritate your skin and cause further breakouts.

Avoid Popping Pimples

Popping pimples can actually damage your skin and leave an acne scar. Not to mention, you can give yourself a skin infection if you’re opening your pimples and leaving the skin unprotected.

Avoid Greasy and Oily Products

While there’s no proof that simply eating oily foods can lead to an acne outbreak, we do know for a fact that touching your face with greasy fingers can cause pimples. It’s best to avoid foods in which your fingers and hands could potentially become greasy. You should also keep your hair out of your face, especially if you regularly use hair oils and other hair care products.

Avoid Retinoids, Retinols, Benzoyl Peroxide, and Salicylic Acid

These ingredients are your typical go-to ingredients for acne treatments. Almost all acne-fighting products contain one or more of these chemicals. If you were treating acne before your pregnancy, odds are you have already been using these ingredients. If that’s the case, you’ll need to switch to a softer acne-fighting product. These harmful ingredients can seep into your skin and interact with the baby and potentially have awful side effects. However, there are ingredients that are considered safe for pregnancy in certain cleansers. Erythromycin and clindamycin are generally safe for pregnant women and do not pose an immediate risk to the child.

Treat Yourself

A day at the spa (or your nearest dermatologist) that includes an acne facial is a good way to unwind and treat your acne. Acne facials typically include cleansing, steaming, exfoliating, extracting (removing blackheads), and moisturizing. Oftentimes, an aesthetician will use salicylic acid during the exfoliation stage, but this is not necessary. A professional will know to avoid this step when performing a facial on a pregnant woman. To be on the safe side, feel free to speak up about what you feel should and should not be done.

While you can certainly follow these tips, it is important to remember that your pregnancy acne won’t last. Acne brought on by pregnancy usually only appears during the first trimester, thanks to hormone changes.

If you want more information and are in Cincinnati, Ohio, our experts at The Dermatology Group can offer you advice, resources, and treatment. Give us a call today!