When To See A Doctor
When you are unable to treat your dry skin with home remedies, and the condition is becoming worse, consult a doctor. A visit to the doctor becomes necessary in the case of:
- Red rashes on your skin, with too much itching or swelling of the follicles.
- Bleeding or bacterial infection at the cracked skin.
- In the case of complications such as eczema, PUPPP, and prurigo, get the medications and treatment as soon as possible.
Dry skin during pregnancy usually results from inadequate hydration and certain nutritional deficiencies. Stretching of the abdominal skin with the growing baby bump can also make it dry and itchy. Avoid using excess soap for cleaning, skin products containing chemicals, hot or cold water for washing your skin, and protect it from harsh weather and sunlight. Include frequent moisturizing in your skin-care schedule and consume healthy fats in the form of nuts and natural oils. Consult a doctor if the problem seems to aggravate and you experience excessive itching, rashes, swelling, or bleeding from the skin.
Treat Stretch Marks And Dry Skin Will Stay Away
Stretch marks are another skin concern you have to contend with when you get pregnant. The nice thing about stretch marksif anything about them can be called niceis that treating and preventing them often keeps other skin problems at bayincluding dry, itchy skin. So if you focus on keeping your skin healthy and stretch mark free, the dryness will disappear as well.
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Causes Of Dry Skin During Pregnancy
Why do so many women develop dry skin during pregnancy? You can end up with dry skin on face early pregnancy and experience dryness in other areas as your body undergoes hormonal changes.
These changes in your hormones can make you lose hydration more easily, resulting in areas of dryness. Your skin can also feel tighter, since it needs to stretch over your growing baby.
Commonly affected areas include your stomach, arms, thighs, and face. When you develop dry areas on your face, this can make it appear flaky. You might also end up with itchy skin.
Dealing with dry skin during pregnancy on your face right from your first trimester can be an inconvenience. Dryness from dead cells can affect your appearance, taking away from your pregnancy glow.
Instead of having radiant skin, you can develop flakes and other symptoms. If you normally have sensitive skin, you might have a harder time handling dryness during pregnancy.
However, theres an easy way to soothe dryness and achieve soft skin again.
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Easier To Clean And Use
Everyone loves a good product that will last longer without breaking or needing maintenance to keep it running smoothly! We all have busy lives, so its best to buy something that will save you time on daily tasks instead of wasting hours weekly.
This best cream for dry skin in pregnancy is easy to maintain because of its simple design, making it very easy to clean! You can wash your best item in about 10 seconds or less! And best of all, if you do run into any trouble with your product, you can take advantage of the products warranty and get it replaced for free.
How To Relieve Dry Skin And Lips During Pregnancy
Ultimately, treating and preventing dry skin comes down to keeping moisture in your skin. To do this, you want to take steps to help retain your skin’s moisture while also avoiding doing anything that will dry your skin out.
Start by making sure you’re washing with lukewarm water instead of hot or cold water. Extreme water temperatures can steal the moisture from your skin, so make sure you temper your baths and showers to accommodate your sensitive skin.
Afterward, be sure to pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Rubbing too hard can cause your skin to become irritated or aggravate dry skin.
You also can use moisturizers to treat your skin topically. Try to moisturize at least twice a dayonce in the morning and once at night. Remember, you’re suffering from dry skin because moisture is evaporating too quickly.
Moisturizers not only help your skin retain moisture but also create a barrier from drying elements like the air. These skin creams and oils also have the added benefit of helping to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
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Treating Skin Problems During Pregnancy
Pregnant women should not use some skin medications. They can cause birth defects in babies.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, avoid using the following:
- retinol or retinoids these are tablets or creams made from vitamin A
- antibiotics like lymecycline and minocycline
If you want to try for a baby, wait a month after stopping these medications. Always talk to your GP before trying for a baby if you have been taking medication.
Treatments for skin problems that are safe to take during pregnancy include:
- glycolic acid you can buy products containing glycolic acid at a pharmacy
- azelaic acid creams your GP can prescribe these
- antibiotics like erythromycin
Are There Any Pregnancy
Mamas-to-be deserve TLC, too. And good news a number of Skin Pharm treatments are pregnancy-safe! They include:
- BBL Photofacial: A fast, effective facial with immediate results and nonexistent downtime. BBL photofacials use light to stimulate skin cell regeneration and collagen production.
- Gold Infusion: This cosmetic treatment stamps the skin with antioxidants and hydrating ingredients to tighten pores, refine skin texture, and moisture the skin. This is an excellent treatment to treat dry skin pregnancy issues!
- Microneedling: Microneedling helps promote collagen production and can even reduce the appearance of stretch marks!
- PRP: This treatment boosts collagen and elastin by harnessing the power of your own blood! It can be used on its own or combined with microneedling for even more impressive results.
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How To Treat Dry Facial Skin
This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 13 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 754,474 times.
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Banish Winter Dryness: Pregnancy Skincare Tips
Posted by The Spoiled Mama on November 17, 2017
While the holidays are a joyous time of year, it can also be super stressful. Combining holiday anxiety and harsh winter weather can leave an expecting Mama’s skin feeling especially dull and dry. For pregnant women who are already dealing with sensitive skin changes, a cold winter can just add to the frustration of maintaining that beautiful pregnancy glow. And worst of all, dry skin can even lead to stretch marks during pregnancy!
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Why Do I Have Dry Skin After Pregnancy
After giving birth, along with fluctuating hormones, fatigue and post-partum hair loss dry skin can also continue after giving birth as estrogen and progesterone decline dramatically after labour. If youre breastfeeding, experiencing skin dryness is very common as your body uses lots of water which can deplete your skin of moisture.
Exfoliate Dry Skin Only Once A Week
Exfoliation is an important part of a healthy skincare routine. That doesnt change just because you get pregnant and develop dry skin. The benefits of exfoliation are vast and include:
- Removing dead cells that can clog your pores.
- Promoting new, healthy skin growth.
- Allowing healing products like moisturizers and hydrators to penetrate deeper into your skin.
What does change when you suffer from dry skin is the frequency with which you conduct your exfoliating. We recommend exfoliating only once per week to preserve your skins delicate balance. This will give it time to adjust to the fluctuating hormone levels brought on by your pregnancy.
Its also important to use a gentle exfoliant so as not to further irritate dry skin. One of our favorite gentle exfoliants is baking soda. We like it because its all-natural, easily obtainable, affordable, and can be used on any part of your body.
Check out our article Is Your Skincare Routine Safe For Your Pregnancy? for a great all-natural baking soda exfoliant recipe.
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How To Treat Dry Skin During Pregnancy
The best way to combat dry skin is to use rich and emollient creams. Such products not only deliver an instant moisture boost but also lock in hydration all day, so your skin is balanced from day to night. When looking after your skin during pregnancy, its important you use pregnancy-safe products only. Mainstream skincare products may contain harsh chemicals that are dangerous to your and your baby.
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We always recommend that you consult with your doctor or healthcare professional if you are unsure about any products or ingredients
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Moisturize At The Grocery Store
Some products you buy as recipe ingredients can double as moisturizers. Olive oil and coconut oil provide intense moisture to the skin and are full of antioxidants. You only need a couple of droplets to rub on your skin for the oils to work. Try applying to damp skin to avoid a greasy feeling.
Shea butter and [Affiliate Link: cocoa butter are also great natural alternatives to drugstore moisturizers. Though cocoa butter is edible, you should avoid eating any product designed for topical application.
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How To Treat & Prevent Dry Skin During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is both exciting and nerve-racking. Its exciting because youve got a wonderful little life growing inside you, but its nerve-racking because your body is going through a lot of changes to make that life possible.
One of the earliest changes youll experience is dry skin. And if youve never dealt with dry skin before, it can come as quite a shock.
Let the experts at Mustela calm your nerves and show you how to treat and prevent dry skin during pregnancy. After we introduce you to a bit of skin science and investigate the causes of dry skin, well answer these common questions :
- Should I wash with hot, warm, or cool water?
- Should I exfoliate, and if so, how often?
- When should I moisturize?
- Do I need to use a hydrator?
- When should I call my doctor?
Before we answer those questions, though, lets learn a bit about your skin and what causes it to become dry during pregnancy.
Why Do Postpartum Skin Changes Occur
Postpartum skin changes can be a continuation of what began during your pregnancy, but you may also see new issues pop up. The changes are usually caused by the shifts happening with your hormones, skin glands, metabolism, vascular system, and immune system, both during and after your pregnancy. These changes, paired with the drastic changes in sleep, can have a major effect on your skin.
Also, if you had skin conditions before pregnancy, these may have been exacerbated by pregnancy or if they got better during pregnancy, they might return postpartum. In general, skin changes occur in about 90 percent of pregnant women in one form or another.
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How To Prevent Dry Skin
- Try to avoid bathing in hot water in order not to strip away natural oils
- Use nonbiological washing powder
- Drink 8 glasses of water per day to hydrate skin
- Healthy diet containing fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables which contain silica which helps moisture and elasticity of the skin
- Avoid moisturizers that are perfumed
- Apply moisturizer to damp skin rather than dry as it will help to seal and lock in the moisture better
- Use of Monshea Shea butter or Monshea shea oil naturally contains vitamins, essential fatty acids is hypoallergenic, possesses excellent moisturizing properties, and is suitable for Eczema and other dry skin conditions.
- Herbs like chamomile, peppermint can be mixed with hot water to make an internal dry skin preventative
Dry Skin During Pregnancy What To Do
Very dry skin while pregnancy can cause itching and lead to blemishes. There are many different ways in which you can control dryness and achieve a healthy glowing skin.
1. Choose Proper Skin Care Products
While purchasing your beauty products make sure to choose unscented products that do not block your pores. Many scented products can dry your skin. Also, choose products that have additional moisturizing content in form of Vitamin E oils.
2. Take Bath with Care
While bathing, use cool water to rinse your face and body clean yourself with gentle soap-free cleansers. Make use of cream based products while bathing. Avoid using hot water for baths and control your shower time as longer showers can strip the natural oils from your skin and make your skin dehydrated.
3. Use a Humidifier
Keep a humidifier in your room andalways keep it filled with clean and fresh water. It adds extra moisture as water vapors in the air, which keeps your skin moisturized.
4. Avoid Steam
The use of excessive steam can give you dry skin during pregnancy because it strips away all the moisture locked in your skin.
5. Moisturize Frequently
Use unscented moisturizer immediately after bath to seal the water in your skin, especially during winter months. Apply it frequently throughout the day and even at night times.
6. Eat Well and Drink Plenty
7. Stay Away from Scrubs and Peels
8. Other Ways to Avoid Dry Skin
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When And Where Does Dry Skin Appear
Image: Shutterstock
Your skin, particularly around the belly, starts to feel dry during the second and third trimester. As your pregnancy progresses, the skin might feel dry on the face, arms, neck, breasts, and thighs.
Dry skin during pregnancy could be due to various reasons, which we see in the next section.
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In addition to azelaic acid, New York Citybased dermatologist Dr. Cybele Fishman says that pregnant women can use topical erythromycin and all over-the-counter topical sulfur, zinc, and niacinamide treatments. From the latter category of over-the-counter products, Fishman recommends the sulfur-based acne medication, Acnomel.
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How Can I Prevent Dry Skin During Pregnancy
There are several ways by which dry skin can be prevented. Staying hydrated is one of the key measures that can help. Avoiding caffeinated beverages and foods that rob your skin off moisture should be avoided too. Eating good fats will hydrate the skin from inside and make it supple. Also use a good scent-free moisturizer, that can help lock the suppleness in the skin. Many of these techniques can be used to manage skin that has already become dry during pregnancy. We have consolidated below.
Pregnancy Safe Ingredients For Dry Skin
- Cocoa butter creates a barrier on your skin that holds moisture in.
- Coconut oil is proven to effectively moisturize very dry skin.
- Peptides stimulate collagen production.
- Topical hyaluronic acid binds with water molecules to hydrate skin.
If you live in a dry climate, working to keep your general environment a bit more humid also may help. Consider using a humidifier in your room at night or in your office to help maintain proper moisture levels.
You also should avoid wearing rough fabrics, which can be particularly irritating for dry skin and make your symptoms worse. Opt for soft, breathable fabrics next to your skin and avoid wool and denim if they will come in contact with dry patches.
Finally, don’t forget how dryingand damagingthe sun can be, especially if you get a sunburn. Make sure you are wearing pregnancy-safe sunscreen daily if possible. And remember, healthy skin starts from within, so be sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating well throughout your pregnancy.
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What Are The Complications Of Skin Dryness During Pregnancy
Excessive dryness of skin during pregnancy, combined with some pre-existing skin conditions, can lead to a few skin problems such as .
- Eczema: In this chronic condition, the skin turns dry and flaky. The commonly affected areas include the legs, abdomen, neck, and arms. If not treated, it could lead to red rashes and other skin problems. It could be treated in time with medications.
- Prurigo: This condition is not so common during pregnancy, with the chances of 1 in around 300 pregnant women being affected. It usually occurs after the first trimester, when there are chances of the skin turning too dry .
- Other skin problems: Excessive dryness could be responsible for polymorphic eruptions in pregnancy or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy . These conditions would need a doctorâs consultation, followed by treatment.
The above conditions could make your skin itchy but try not to scratch as it could lead to scars and infections. Dry skin during pregnancy might not harm your baby. Also, it does not predict your babyâs gender. It is just a temporary discomfort and could be treated.
Read on to know when you must see a doctor about dry skin during pregnancy.