Pregnancy is a journey, a transition period, a rite of passage. It is indeed a beautiful time in the life of the woman, as she nurtures and literally a life inside of her. Considering the significance of their entire 9-month long journey, it is no wonder that it is riddled with problems of equally gargantuan proportions.
There are numerous changes in the body, both the superficial and otherwise, that occur during this period. One such case are the skin changes. They generally tend to be temporary, as are caused due to the hormonal fluctuations in pregnancy. Not every woman has these issues, but an overwhelming majority does. Usual skin issues include;
1 Acne
Acne is a common ailment during pregnancy, especially amongst those women who already have a history of skin problems. This is because the hormonal changes can lead to overactive oil glands, causing acne.
Bouts of acne can be controlled by washing face with gentler cleanser, twice a day. Also, following hygiene principles like using clean cloth for drying face, changing pillowcases and not touching face can also help curb the acne.
However, most of the acne medication is not safe for use during pregnancy, whether it be topical or oral. Therefore, if managing acne is becoming difficult, talk to the best gynecologist in Lahore but do not take any medication on your own as it can potentially harm the baby.
2 Varicose veins
As the weight of the uterus increases on the veins, blood supply to the lower body decreases. As a result, the veins of the lower limbs become enlarged, and painful. Swollen bluish veins can be observed in the legs. However, this skin issue resolves of its own accord, after delivery, although, it can persist for up to a year after the delivery.
3 Stretch marks
As the skin expands to accommodate the extra weight of the baby, reddish or pinkish lines appear on the thighs, abdomen, breasts etc.; essentially all the parts of the body that expand during pregnancy. These are more common during the second and third trimester, when the growth of the body is more pronounced.
These marks get better once the baby is born and the body goes back to its initial state. Topical treatments during pregnancy can be helpful, but the effects are not always profound. In certain women, the marks stay for life.
4 Hyperpigmentation
Due to the hormonal changes, hyperpigmentation also ails many women. There are two type of conditions that result; linea nigra and masks of pregnancy. The former is the condition where the line from the navel to the pubic bone becomes dark.
In masks of pregnancy, dark patches appear on the face. Likewise, many women also get dark patches around their nipples, inner thighs and the area around the genitals. Usually, this condition too, gets better post pregnancy, however, some women may still have dark patches on their face even after having the baby.
To decrease the patches, avoid sun and use sunscreen. However, pay close attention to the ingredients of the skin, as not every sunscreen is safe for use during pregnancy. Be sure to talk to the gynecologist in Islamabad for safe recommendations.
5 Skin Tags
Skin tags are the excess skin growths that occur in various regions of the body. They are more common in the areas around the breast, arms and underarms. This condition is more common during the second and the third trimester.
These occur due to the hormonal changes and recede as the hormone levels return to the norm, post-delivery. Although, some women might need to have the tags surgically removed.
