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How to Avoid Acne During Pregnancy?

By Medical Expert Team

May 19 , 2017 | 1 min read

You feel terrible when pregnancy acne flares up. It can make you drive crazy and run all around to find a solution to get rid of it. There is no denial that several women may experience acne during their pregnancy, but worry not, it is just a hormonal change and will fade once the levels reach to normalcy. It can be a troublesome experience but few simple tips can do away with the problem:

Wash the problem areas with a gentle cleanser. Use your hands to wash your face with mild soap and water at least twice a day.
Avoid using facial scrubs, astringents and masks as they tend to cause irritation to the skin and can worsen your acne. Moreover, excessive washing and scrubbing can also cause irritation.
Shampoo regularly to reduce the acne that has developed around your hairline
Avoid pricking or squeezing blemishes as they can cause severe infections and scarring
Refrain from using greasy or oily cosmetics, hairstyling products or acne concealers rather use water-based or non-comedogenic products, which will reduce the recurrence of acne.
Watch what touches your face. Try to keep your hair clean and off your face. In addition, avoid resting your hands or objects on your face. Tight clothes and hats can be a problem, especially if you are excessively sweating.

Dr Uma Vaidyanathan, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist of Max Superspeciality Shalimar Bagh says that medications can be given to treat pregnancy acne but any medication applied during pregnancy can enter your blood stream and affect your baby. While most ingredients in over the counter topical acne treatments have not been studied in pregnancy though a small amount may get absorbed into the skin. This, however, makes it unlikely that the treatment may pose a risk to the developing baby. Acne medications are known to cause birth defects and must be avoided during pregnancy.