Pregnancy can be a difficult time and a woman goes
through many emotional and physical changes when pregnant. There are hormonal
changes as the body gets ready to carry and deliver a baby. All this can take a
toll on skin health. That is why it is extremely important to have a
proper skin care routine in place if you are pregnant. You must also take care
of your skin so that you do not face any post-delivery skin issues. But this is
also the time to be careful of what you use. Many beauty products in the market
may not be good for you and your baby. Therefore, you need to know what you can
or cannot use when you are pregnant.
First and foremost, your pregnancy skin care routine
must be safe for your baby.
Many health
experts say that for healthy skin you must adopt a pregnancy-safe skin care
routine. Pregnancy glow is totally
a thing, but pregnancy can also cause skin issues. For many females they do not
get the 'pregnancy glow' that is often talked about.
You, will,
without doubt, experience many skin changes like dry and itchy skin rashes,
acne, melasma (chloasma/pregnancy mask), skin redness and stretch marks during
and after pregnancy. Hence, you need a new skin care routine. This is because
the beauty regime that you followed till now may not be of any use right now.
Your skin is very delicate when you are pregnant, and you need a skin care
routine that is safe.
Here are a couple
of tips to help get you through the most common issues.
Using a
Tyrosinase inhibitor if you are showing any signs of Melasma or pigmentation
(pregnancy mask)
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation characterized by brown or
tan patches across the face. It's often tied to changes in hormones, the best
thing you can do to prevent melasma from further developing is to wear a
physical sunscreen every day and using an appropriate tyrosinase inhibitor
serum to help deactivate melanin production and prevent further stimulation
from sun and heat. Shielding skin from UV damage will help ensure melasma does
not get any worse. Post pregnancy and breast feeding there are more stronger
methods of treating melasma such as the use of hydroquinone, retinoids, laser
and skin collagen induction but in some cases, it fades in post-partum months.
Targeting hydration and moisturizing
When you are in the first and second trimesters of your pregnancy,
you also may experience hormonal acne. That is when your androgen levels are
higher than normal. You also may notice that your skin is extra dry thanks to
your changing hormones. This can be temporary, but lots of women notice permanent
changes. Hydration, increasing skin immunity and barrier function is especially
important to help manage these changes. Though they sound similar, moisturizing
and hydrating are two different things when it comes to skin care. The main
responsibility of a moisturizer is to set a barrier between the air and your
skin to keep water from evaporating. Hydrators, on the other hand, are
formulated to increase the water content of your skin. Ideally, you would want
to apply a hydrator first to put moisture into your skin, followed by a
moisturizer to seal the hydration throughout the day. Used together, they form
the foundation of any good pregnancy-safe skin care routine.
Hero
is packed with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, magnesium
ascorbyl phosphate to help target these issues. Control
as a moisturizer helps
regulate oil secretion, calms and soothes skin assisting the prevention of acne
breakouts with the Delisens peptide targeting and reducing neurogenic
inflammation helping relieve that itchy, irritated feeling commonly experienced
in pregnancy.
Exfoliating
In addition, it is important to gently exfoliate two to three
times a week. This keeps surface debris from building up on the skin and causing
breakouts. It also helps alleviate dryness, which can be exacerbated by dead
skin not allowing products to penetrate properly. Polish helps gently remove
impurities, while polishing away dead skin cells. Pink Australian Clay helps to
restore and replenish skin and reducing inflammation and irritation from
aggravating skin conditions such as acne. Pink Clay is rich in silica, which
helps to improve skin elasticity and cell renewal.
Body cream
Stretch marks are also a common skin concern for pregnant women. They
are caused by the skin stretching a lot in a short amount of time. But when you
choose a moisturiser, go for one that is free of chemicals. A body butter cream
that is safe and enriched with natural ingredients like cocoa butter and
glycerin is a good choice. It will balance the moisture in your skin and give
you softer and supple skin. This can also help deal with itchiness due to dry
skin and help avoid stretch marks.
There are also a lot of common
ingredients to avoid in your skincare routine when you are pregnant. The
following can be harmful to a developing foetus: salicylic acid, L-Ascorbic
Acid, Retin-A, retinol, retinyl palmitate, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, and
prescription acne medications. In addition, you should avoid professional treatments
such as chemical peels with salicylic acid, Botox, and laser treatments. In the
Phi Cosmeceutical range Rewind, C-Boost and Spotless should be avoided til
breastfeeding has finished.
Phi has been designed to be simple
but effective and the no fragrance added to our products makes it a perfect
addition to use when pregnant due to the skin being more sensitive and delicate.
Fragrance is one of the most common causes for skin reactions and irritation.
