Q&A Pregnancy & skin care
Q Please help! Almost the second I found out I was pregnant my skin started acting up. I got a dark line down my tummy, my nipples turned nearly black (okay, I’m exaggerating a bit), and now I have marks on my face too. My bump isn’t even showing yet, but I’m worried about stretch marks too now, as those are surely to come. How can I best take care of my skin during this time?
A DR KHOZA ANSWERS: Congratulations on your pregnancy and what promises to be a precious time in your life.
Almost all of us experience some form of physiological change to our skin during pregnancy; it would be very unusual not to. Skin changes during pregnancy can crop up any time, sometimes as early as the first trimester, so the timing is spot-on. You may experience a variety of issues like dry or itchy skin, rashes, darkening, acne, hair changes, redness and sensitivity.
Many changes are normal and due to hormonal changes. Sadly, your skin may look worse or uncomfortable for a while, but rest assured, most – if not all – will disappear after pregnancy. So be patient.
Skin discolouration is one of the commonest changes in the skin that
we experience during pregnancy, and it can occur at all stages. Most forms of pregnancy-related dark spots are caused by placental hormones, metabolic factors as well as changes in the immune system. The dark vertical line that runs down from the middle of your tummy is called the linea nigra or sometimes known as the “pregnancy line”. This is a normal phenomenon and is one of the earliest sign of pregnancy, along with the darkening of the nipple and areola (just to help newborn baby find the nipple for breastfeeding). Note, however, these will fade after pregnancy. Probably the dark discolouration on the face is the most distressing. There are various possibilities for this like melasma, skin tags, sun spots, new moles and/ or darkening of existing moles. The commonest, though, is melasma (chloasma), also known as the “mask of pregnancy”.
Melasma appears like brown patches on the cheeks, nose and forehead.
Good news is, melasma should resolve after pregnancy, and should it not, there are many effective treatments available to you. The concern about stretch marks is valid, as these commonly appear in the second to last trimester. However, some women do not experience stretch marks – and you may fall in that group.
Stria distensae or stretch marks are a tear in the skin, caused mainly by the overstretching of the abdomen to accommodate the growing baby and rapid weight gain. This overstretch causes rupture of the collagen and elastin that supports the skin, and when the skin tries to heal, the stretch marks then appear.
Often I recommend optimising hydration of the skin by using moisturisers containing hyaluronic acid, centella,
ceramides and vitamin E at the outset of pregnancy. Also keep in mind that stretch marks do improve in appearance after pregnancy although they may not completely fade. It is best to treat stretch marks earlier rather than later. At their earliest phase, they appear as red-purplish itchy streaks, but as they mature they change in colour. Apply soothing creams liberally, and massage them morning and afternoon. Procedures like micro-needling, lasers, radio-frequency devices and plateletrich plasma injections can be performed postdelivery and may work very well in making them less noticeable.
It is not all gloom though, as the pregnancy glow may soon kick in, leaving you looking radiant. However, having a plan, an optimised skin care routine, and being prepared for these changes is the best approach.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
■ Moisturise frequently and liberally. Dry skin tears more easily than supple skin.
■ Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen, and use good sun protection to prevent hyper pigmentation.
■ Eat healthy food, drink enough water and sleep well.
■ Try to control weight gain, and avoid fluctuations.
■ Treat every condition early and as it arises.
■ New moles may arise during pregnancy; have them checked by your dermatologist.
■ Choose skin care products carefully, products with a high concentration of tretinoin and salicylic acid should not be used. Seek help and clarity with each product that you are using.
■ Avoid long, hot, frequent baths as these can dry you out and trigger eczema and itchy skin. Keep baths short and once a day only. ●