Pregnancy Skin Problems

Pregnancy can make an expecting mom feel ecstatic as it brings the natural glow in some women. It can also make others feel depressed at times, especially when the unexpected changes start to become more visible. During this period, the body’s hormones are turning up to be a bit crazy causing your skin, nails, and hair to react in ways that you least expect them to.

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You may experience several skin problems, including the following:

Varicose and spider veins

Varicose veins may be painless and harmless, but they can be totally distracting especially for a woman who sees a bulging on her tummy that grows by the day. You may see them anywhere on the lower half of your body. These purplish, large, swollen blood vessels usually appear in the legs.

Spider veins (visible veins), on the other hand, are smaller, reddish, or bluish, but are not bulgy. However, they are also unpleasant to the eyes. The increase in the volume of the blood that passes through these veins causes the veins to swell.

Stretch marks

Here is another common pregnancy-related condition. Most women notice stretch marks or indented streaks appearing on their bellies, buttocks, hips, abdomen, and thighs. They also appear with a sudden change in one’s weight as the skin stretches to accommodate the added pound. Stretch marks look purplish, sometimes bright pink, and turns silvery gray when they are about to fade. Studies show that genetics may also cause stretch marks. They may feel sore or itchy at times.

Acne

Expecting moms may also get acne while pregnant even if they have not experienced having them before. The higher level of hormones produced during pregnancy causes the skin to produce more natural oils. This overproduction may block the pores of the skin resulting in the formation of skin problems like acne.

Hyperpigmentation

This skin condition manifests in many ways in the pregnant mother’s body. One is known as melasma or “the mask of pregnancy.” Like other skin issues that appear during the pregnancy period, hyperpigmentation is also caused by hormonal imbalance. Dark spots may appear on your face and other parts of the body that will go away with your pregnancy. It is also responsible for the dark line, known as the linea nigra, that appears on the belly.

Hair and nail changes

The changes in these areas of the body may not be the same for all pregnant women. Some might find that their condition has caused them to look glowing, their tresses fuller and shinier, and their nails stronger. There those who even find hair growing on parts that do not usually grow any, such as on the chest, the face, and the belly.

There are some unfortunate soon-to-be-moms who would experience the exact opposite of what others are experiencing: thinning hair, dry and scaly skin and scalp, breaking nails, and so on.

Itchy skin and rashes

Other pregnant women have reported that they feel itchy at times. They also see rashes developing on different parts of their bodies. These rashes can be small red bumps that are called the plaques of pregnancy. They can also form large patches. Others may see tiny bumps, called prurigo of pregnancy, that are similar to insect bites.

These skin issues can be annoying and may cause any pregnant woman to feel down and troubled. When that happens, the baby inside the womb also suffers. Remember that these pregnancy-related skin problems may go away with your pregnancy. Proper attention and care should be provided to make sure that these skin conditions will be treated, if not managed well.

Conclusion

The best way to treat these skin problems is to follow the doctor’s advise. That will include taking all healthy means to keep yourself and your baby safe and in perfect condition. Making sure that you eat healthy, engage in regular activities that will constantly wash off the toxins in your body, always replenish loss body fluids, and keep out from things that will affect the condition of your skin will help you keep your skin, hair, and nails at their best even while you are still heavy with your baby.