
This is my third post on the series How to look and Feel Good During Pregnancy. As I mentioned in my first post of this series .that during pregnancy there are innumerable hormonal and chemical changes takes place which causes changes in your skin too. Changes like stretch marks , complexion colour change and spider vein, diminishes or disappear after delivery. However , neglecting these changes may infuriate skin problems during pregnancy. Therefore it becomes even more important to take good care and maintain regular care routine of your skin during pregnancy which includes cleansing, thinning, toning and moisturizing. Lets discuss Skin Care process in detail:
Cleansing : Your skin needs special attention while you are pregnant. Cleanse skin once or twice a day. A complete cleansing removes surface oil, stale oil, perspiration and bacteria that accumulate during the day. A good cleansing agent is gentle, non irritating, easily removed and economical. A pure mild soap is the best cleanser. It is easily rinsed away and inexpensive. Problem result when you use harsh soap, scrub too vigorously, don’y rinse thoroughly or fail to use moisturizing lotion after washing.
Perfume, deodorant, antibacterial agents and medications added to cleanser may cause irritation and allergic reactions. Exotic oils, herbs, fruits and vegetables may also be irritating. These are included for advertising effect and add nothing to the cleansing value of the product.
When cleansing, moisten your face and apply lathered soap or rinsable lotion to your face and neck. Wash with gentle, circular motions. Rinse several time with clear, warm water and pat nearly dry with a soft, clean towel. Come morning, a warm to comfortable hot water wash may be all that’s required to remove away oil accumulated during the night.
Thinning : Thinning stimulates circulation and removes building of dead, dry skin cells that can clog pores and cause skin to appear coarse. During pregnancy skin may change and thinning may be necessary to skin clean and healthy looking. Thinning with an abrasive may be done once a week. Omit this if you have dry or sensitive skin. Effective thinning include a rough washcloth, complexion brush, Loofah body sponge or facial sponge. Thin your skin immediately after a night time cleansing, once or twice a week. Use light or moderate pressure and a circular motion.
Toning : Skin may need toning during pregnancy. It remove traces of soil or cleanser, dry up blemishes, stimulate blood flow to the skin’s surface and soothe and cool the skin. Toning with astringent( higher alcohol content )or freshener (lower alcohol content) can be done once or twice a day, as needed. Basic ingredients in toners are water and alcohol. Added ingredients may be irritating.
Moisturising : Moisturising creams and lotions replace natural surface oils removed in the cleansing process. They seal in body moisture, make Skin feel smooth and provide a film to protect skin from he environment. they also serve as a good foundation for makeup to follow. Water, oil and an emulsifier are basic ingredient in any moisturizer. Use more of a lotion than any other creams. As lotion contain more water and less oil, makes your skin feel lighter and less greasy while creams contains more oil and less water, so they are appropriate for night use. Use a light lotion if you have oily skin and heavy lotion if you have dry skin.
Tips for different skin type

Oily Skin
- Use pre moistened towelettes for midday cleansing to reduce shine and leave skin feeling fresh.
- Counteract oiliness with astringent.
- Apply moisturizer, but avoid oily or blemished areas.
- Use water-based foundation makeup, or omit it all together
Dry Skin
- Cleanse dry skin with mild, non-scented soap or rinsable lotion.
- Avoid rough or abrasive treatment and astringents.
- Apply moisturizer to still-damp skin.
- Drink 6-8 glass of water every day.
Combination Skin
- Requires dry skin care in dry area and oily skin care in oily area
Sensitive Skin
- Avoid non-essential added ingredients in cosmetics
- Don’t use abrasive sponges, cleansing grains, masks or astringents.
- Apply light, non scented moisturizer to still damp skin.
- Use fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic cosmetics.

Bothersome skin conditions often appear during second trimester. For example under eye circles, which becomes more evident when you are tired, so take rest. Abdominal itching may be aggravated by stress or heavy perspiration, so generously apply lotion or olive oil over the area for relief. Skin discolouration may caused due to elevated estrogen and the presence of human growth hormones during pregnancy, so try and stay more at home, avoid sun or use sunscreen lotion when you are outside. Spider vein ( enlarged capillaries or blood vessels) may appear during pregnancy which can be hereditary. to reduce their occurrence avoid overexposure to wind, sun, cold, heat or rapid temperature change, wear protective lotion before going outside, avoid alcohol and hot spicy foods. Varicose veins may appear too, to lessen or relieve the severity, avoid standing and sitting for too long, wear support stockings to encourage the upward flow of blood, exercise daily to stimulate circulation of blood and avoid extreme temperature. Stretch marks are very common development during pregnancy, to lessen the severity avoid unnecessary weight gain, do not wear tight cloths and apply lubricating lotion.
I sincerely hope these tips can definitely help you to deal with bad skin conditions during pregnancy.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge #BlogaberryDazzle hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, happily sponsored by RRE STUDIOS and SHOWCASE EVENTS
Image Courtesy /Edits – Pexels /Canva
@SwatiMathur