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Acne during pregnancy

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
 
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Pregnancy is, of course, the most wonderful event in the life of every woman. Many married couples are looking forward to it. Of course, the expectation of the birth of a child is accompanied by exciting feelings. The reasons for worry are really justified and there are more than enough of them. Acne alone during pregnancy causes unpleasant experiences for every second expectant mother.

Acne during pregnancy is an inevitable sign of the initial physiological and hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman. Many believe that pregnancy makes a woman beautiful, and this is true, because what could be more beautiful than a woman expecting a baby? However, most pregnant women have a completely different opinion, they are concerned about their appearance and the appearance of acne on their face. Concerned about their appearance, expectant mothers begin to get rid of them and not always by acceptable methods. During pregnancy, methods of combating acne should be as harmless as possible for both the woman and the future child. Let's learn more about the possible causes of acne during pregnancy, methods of control and prevention.

First of all, the causes of acne during pregnancy are directly related to the tendency to acne before pregnancy. Facial skin problems before pregnancy, such as rashes and acne, and a tendency for the skin to be oily, usually increase the likelihood of skin deterioration during pregnancy. Conversely, the absence of acne before pregnancy may reduce the likelihood of acne during pregnancy. But the likelihood of acne during pregnancy cannot be completely ruled out, these processes are very individual.

There is an interesting story - in ancient times, our great-grandmothers determined the sex of the future child by the appearance of the skin of the face of a pregnant woman. If the face of a pregnant woman had some changes that made her look a little worse, then this was supposedly a sure sign of carrying a girl. If the face practically did not change, then this was considered a sign of carrying a boy. Perhaps there is some truth in this, but still, this method of diagnosing the sex of a child is more likely to be related to "ancient traditions" and the sex of a child is diagnosed by more modern methods. Acne during pregnancy has a very indirect relation to the sex of the future child.

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Causes of Acne During Pregnancy

There are two main causes of acne during pregnancy, which are entirely the result of physiological changes in the female body. The first reason is a change in hormonal levels, and of a wave-like nature. There is an increase in the level of progesterone, which is the main element in the process of formation and secretion of sebum. This is why acne appears during pregnancy. The second, no less important reason is dehydration. During pregnancy, the female body's need for water increases. If there is not enough water in the body, hormones remain in a concentrated state, sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands more actively, and as a result, acne appears on the skin of the face.

Most often, acne appears in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the physiological restructuring of the female body is at an early stage and when the level of fluctuations in hormonal surges is at its widest.

Many pregnant women are concerned about the condition of their facial skin after childbirth and whether the causes of acne during pregnancy will disappear after childbirth? The course of pregnancy, as well as the formation of acne, is an individual process. If some women's acne disappears after the first trimester, some say goodbye to acne immediately after childbirth, and in some cases the fight against acne continues for a long time after the birth of the child. These processes are caused by the amount of the female hormone - estrogen in the woman's body. It is impossible to exclude or prevent the causes of acne during pregnancy. It is impossible to predict what the reaction of the pregnant woman's body will be to the physiological changes occurring inside.

The female hormone progesterone performs an important function of maintaining pregnancy, which is, of course, much more important than the appearance of acne. Along with its main function, it increases the production of sebum and, accordingly, provokes the appearance of acne.

With severe dehydration of the body, the likelihood of the appearance of pimples and acne on the skin of the face increases due to the high concentration of progesterone in the blood of a pregnant woman.

The causes of acne during pregnancy are temporary and you will soon forget about it.

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Why did acne appear during pregnancy?

The answer to this fairly common question is contained in the question itself. It is during pregnancy that characteristic changes occur in the skin of many women's faces. Acne during pregnancy is only a small part of these changes. As a rule, acne appears in the first trimester of pregnancy, when physiological changes occur in the female body, and hormonal levels change. Changes in hormonal levels can have significant fluctuations, and this process tends to be very active. The amount of progesterone, the "pregnancy hormone" as it is also called, increases significantly in the blood of a pregnant woman. Progesterone provokes active sebum production, which results in the formation of acne.

During pregnancy, it is very important to maintain an optimal water balance in the woman's body. Lack of water increases the likelihood of acne on the face, since the concentration of progesterone in the blood of a pregnant woman reaches its maximum level and provokes active production of sebum, which in turn contributes to the formation of acne. This is the water cycle in the body of a pregnant woman! It is very important to drink about two liters of clean water during pregnancy, excluding liquid in food and drinks. This amount is enough to maintain an optimal water balance for a pregnant woman.

During pregnancy, a woman's facial skin becomes oilier, which requires additional hygienic care. There is a need for additional skin cleansing, sometimes even several times a day, depending on the intensity of sebum secretion. For this, it is best to use natural cosmetics with a soft texture, without fragrances and dyes. It is recommended to use baby soap. After the cleansing procedure, it is imperative to moisturize the skin of the face with a toner or lotion that does not contain alcohol, preferably from natural ingredients.

The main reason why acne appears during pregnancy is, of course, physiological changes in a woman’s body.

An important preventive method is walking in the fresh air, which is important for saturating the woman's body with oxygen and at the same time promotes moderate physical activity. Gymnastics for pregnant women is also very important and promotes healthy skin while preventing acne.

Carrying out such preventive procedures minimizes the occurrence of situations when a woman's face is covered in acne during pregnancy.

If acne goes away during pregnancy

If acne has gone away during pregnancy, this, first of all, indicates the stabilization of hormonal changes in the woman's body. This usually happens in the third trimester of pregnancy, but in some cases it may happen a little earlier, because the body of a pregnant woman individually perceives physiological changes. The appearance of acne during pregnancy is caused by an increase in the concentration of the hormone progesterone and increased activity of the sebaceous glands of the facial skin. Accordingly, their disappearance is caused by a normal level of progesterone and stable work of the sebaceous glands of the facial skin.

If acne has gone away during pregnancy, we can conclude that the woman's diet is fairly balanced and contains a sufficient amount of vitamins, proteins, and carbohydrates. The pregnant woman's drinking regimen is observed, which is important for the level of progesterone in the blood.

It is also possible to draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of cosmetic procedures for the skin of the face of a pregnant woman. Regular cleansing of the skin of the face from excess fat secreted by the sebaceous glands, the use of high-quality cosmetics, sufficient skin hydration, provide an optimal level of oiliness of the skin of the face, contribute to the disappearance of acne. If acne has passed during pregnancy, this cannot but please the expectant mother, because this indicates a stable course of pregnancy.

Acne during pregnancy disappeared

Acne disappeared during pregnancy, this phenomenon is quite common in women. It is necessary to immediately emphasize the fact that the appearance and disappearance of acne is very individual and in each case occurs differently. The body of each woman, due to individual characteristics, reacts differently to physiological changes associated with pregnancy.

Quite often acne disappears during pregnancy, this is due to the correct balanced diet of the woman. Eating fresh vegetables and fruits, sufficient amount of protein food, optimal water balance - all this contributes to the disappearance of acne during pregnancy.

Optimal water balance is very important. If there is not enough water in the body of a pregnant woman, the level of progesterone hormone concentration increases, which provokes active formation of sebum, which contributes to the appearance of acne.

Effective personal hygiene of the face, regular cleansing of the skin from oily secretions, moisturizing the skin of the face, regular cosmetic procedures will certainly only improve the condition of the skin's appearance and, of course, help to ensure that acne during pregnancy disappears.

Regular walks in the fresh air in the park or forest, doing simple physical exercises solve the problem of movement and saturate the body with oxygen, which also contributes to healthy facial skin.

Thus, if acne disappeared during pregnancy, this indicates a balanced diet of the woman, an optimal water balance. It is also a confirmation that the body has responded positively to physiological changes, and all processes occur in a timely and correct manner. Hormonal changes in the body occur easily and without complications, in the form of active surges and fading. In any case, healthy and clean skin of the face is a sure sign of the general health of the body, which cannot but please the expectant mother.

What to do if you get acne during pregnancy?

Almost every woman is familiar with such a nuisance when she breaks out in pimples during pregnancy. Careful facial skin care and cosmetic procedures do not guarantee the instant disappearance of pimples. After all, the reason for their appearance is directly related to pregnancy. Physiological changes of a hormonal nature are directly related to the appearance of pimples during pregnancy. Namely, hormonal surges, in the form of dynamic changes, are the main cause of pimples. The "pregnancy" hormone - progesterone, at high concentrations, provokes active secretion of sebum and the appearance of pimples on the skin of the expectant mother's face. Such hormonal surges are typical for the first trimester of pregnancy and are a completely natural process. Progesterone contributes to the onset, maintenance, and proper course of the entire pregnancy, therefore, its necessity in the woman's body is quite obvious.

The situation when a woman's face is covered with pimples during pregnancy is completely natural and has a short course. As a rule, in the third trimester of pregnancy or immediately after childbirth, pimples disappear without a trace and do not bother anymore.

Prevention of acne during pregnancy, of course, makes sense and is quite effective. Prevention consists of daily hygiene procedures. Use cosmetics with natural ingredients, without fragrances and preservatives, to wash your face. It is recommended to use baby soap. Use light-textured, oil-free facial moisturizers designed for oily skin. Squeezing acne is not allowed, this can provoke the formation of scars on the skin of the face, which is much worse than the acne itself.

The next effective preventive method is a balanced diet for a pregnant woman. The menu of the expectant mother should contain a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, a sufficient amount of protein foods. Smoked and fatty foods are excluded altogether. It is not recommended to eat fried, spicy, salty foods. In general, the diet of a pregnant woman in the ideal version should consist of light, dietary dishes, steamed. Do not forget about the importance of water during pregnancy. Every day, a pregnant woman needs to drink about two liters of clean water and this does not include the liquid contained in dishes and drinks. A sufficient level of water in the body contributes to the optimal level of progesterone in the woman's blood and, accordingly, reduces the likelihood of acne.

Acne Treatment During Pregnancy

Treatment of acne during pregnancy mainly consists of daily hygienic care of the skin of the face. Changing the hormonal background of a pregnant woman in order to eliminate acne from the skin of the face will hardly be possible, because the birth of a healthy child is much more important than acne on the face. The course of pregnancy should be natural, acne is a natural process that accompanies pregnancy. In this situation, it is best to accept the situation as a temporary phenomenon that will pass without a trace. For a pregnant woman, the process of bearing a child is more important and the occurrence of acne does not pose any danger to this process.

Daily hygienic procedures for facial skin care are important. It is best when facial skin care is accompanied by facial skin moisturizing. The prevailing opinion that oily skin does not need to be moisturized is actually wrong. Experts recommend using high-quality cosmetics for these purposes, soft and light texture, intended for daily care. The best option would be natural cosmetics without fragrances, preservatives, dyes, hormones and other components, the effect of which is extremely undesirable during pregnancy.

If your facial skin tends to be oily, you may need to cleanse it a little more often than usual, such as several times a day. This will help control the sebum production process.

If acne on the face is severe and widespread, it is better to avoid using all kinds of scrubs in order to prevent further spread of acne on the face. In such cases, we can recommend using clay masks. Both ready-made cosmetic masks and those prepared at home are suitable for this. The range of clay-based cosmetic masks is represented by many brands and trademarks. The main criterion for choosing is the naturalness of the components of the cosmetic mask. It is not difficult to prepare a clay cosmetic mask at home. To prepare it, you need two tablespoons of white or blue clay, 2 ml of olive oil, a few crystals of sea salt, and a tablespoon of mineral water. First, the water must be heated to 60ºС, then add the crystals of sea salt and stir until they dissolve. Now you can add the clay and mix thoroughly until the consistency of liquid sour cream, while adding olive oil. The mask is applied in a half-centimeter layer and left on the face for 25 minutes, then washed off with warm water.

Even if acne is widespread, it is not recommended to use ointments and other medications for problem skin care. The use of all kinds of ointments during pregnancy is strictly contraindicated. The only exception is Skinoren. You can start using it only after consulting with the doctor monitoring your pregnancy. Skinoren should be applied in a very thin layer directly to the pimple several times a day.

It is necessary to say separately about cosmetics with salicylic acid. During pregnancy, it is generally not recommended to use salicylic acid, due to the harmful potential effect on the circulatory system of the unborn child.

It is worth remembering that the situation with acne can get much worse if you try to squeeze it out or touch it with your hands, if it is not completely clean.

A prerequisite for successful treatment of acne during pregnancy is maintaining an optimal water balance in the woman's body. To do this, it is enough to drink from 1.5 liters to 2.0 liters of clean water. This will help reduce the high concentration of the hormone progesterone in the body of a pregnant woman.

Walking in a park or forest, in the fresh air, and moderate physical exercise in the form of gymnastics for pregnant women will be beneficial and improve the condition of your facial skin.

Proper and balanced nutrition with plenty of vegetables and fruits, vitamin and mineral complexes of natural origin will certainly have a positive effect on the treatment of acne during pregnancy. They will improve the condition of the skin of the pregnant woman's face, and in some cases can prevent the appearance of acne.

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More information of the treatment

Preventing Acne During Pregnancy

Acne prevention during pregnancy, is there any sense and effect? A frequently asked question that we will try to find an answer to.

Since every woman's body reacts to pregnancy differently, it is almost impossible to say whether acne will appear during pregnancy or not. There are several factors that can predispose to acne and worsening of the skin condition of a pregnant woman's face. For example, if you have oily skin and acne is nothing new to you, then the skin condition of your face will most likely worsen during pregnancy. Even if you have perfectly clear skin and have never had problems with acne or acne, this does not guarantee that changes will not occur during pregnancy. There may be cases when during pregnancy a woman's skin shines with beauty and health like never before, and after the birth of the child or a little later, these signs disappear on their own.

As practice shows, acne during pregnancy disappears on its own immediately after childbirth or after the first trimester, when the body has already gotten used to physiological changes. Some women have acne that appeared during pregnancy, which does not stop after the childbirth and for a very long time. In such cases, of course, everything depends on the time it takes for the woman's hormonal background to return to its original state. After the birth of the child, you will have much more important concerns than some acne, because now you are a loving mother.

Prevention of acne during pregnancy, first of all, includes several elements. First of all, proper and balanced nutrition. It is very important that the diet of a pregnant woman contains fresh vegetables and fruits, enough protein food, crumbly cereals. Fatty meat, smoked products should be excluded from the diet of the expectant mother.

Maintaining optimal water balance in the body of a pregnant woman is a very important point, since the need for water has doubled. A pregnant woman needs to drink at least 1.5 - 2.0 liters of clean water per day.

Special attention should be paid to personal hygiene. It is best to choose natural cleansers without fragrances or dyes, with a soft texture. You can use baby soap. If necessary, repeat cleansing the skin from sebum several times a day. After this, it is necessary to moisturize the skin of the face with a toner or lotion that does not contain alcohol. Squeezing pimples is not allowed, it is better not to touch them with your hands at all, so as not to spread the infection across the face.

We can recommend masks made from fresh fruits, of course, according to the season. Strawberries, apricots, raspberries or grapes should be simply mashed and applied to the skin of the face for about 20 minutes, then washed off with warm water. Fruit acid helps prevent acne and heal pimples, reduces skin oiliness, and generally gives the skin a healthy look, because these are vitamins in their pure form.

The use of all kinds of medications and ointments for the treatment of acne during pregnancy is contraindicated. The components in these drugs can negatively affect the development of the unborn child.

Don't be upset if acne prevention during pregnancy has brought the expected effect, acne is a temporary phenomenon, the health of the future child is much more important than these little things.

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