Acne During Pregnancy

Acne always seems to show up at inopportune times.  Acne during pregnancy is a very good example of one of them.  If child birth was not enough of hardship, acne comes along to wreck havoc on many would be mothers.  Many women become more frustrated by acne due to an increased fear of unattractiveness during pregnancy.  Sadly, this frustration often leads to them closing off from friends and family during this time.  This is truly unfortunate for everyone.  Since acne during pregnancy can be so problematic, we have put together a list of tips that should be considered during this time. 

1.   Weigh the risk of acne treatments with your doctor. 

Generally speaking, it is a risk to take acne treatments during pregnancy because many can have a negative impact on the baby.  However, there are a number of conventional acne treatments and home remedies that have been found to be safe.  Talk with your doctor about your concerns and see if you are comfortable with using any of these acne treatments. 

2.   Discuss the situation with your family. 

Many well meaning family members will be unaware of how acne may impact the mother.  For this reason, it is a good idea for mothers to talk with their loved ones to let them know how this affects them.  Just letting other family members know can work wonders at improving the home environment as they will be more understanding during this time.  In addition, talking about this issue can be helpful for the mothers as well.   

3.   Plan accommodating family activities you will feel comfortable in. 

After you have discussions with your family about your feelings about acne during pregnancy, the family can even set up family activities where you will feel more comfortable.  These can be just about anything, but they should be dressed-down affairs where you will be less concerned about personal appearance.  Good ideas could include trips to the park or picnics, going to the movies on a Sunday afternoon, or just having a board game night at home.  This type of family interaction is particularly important as it will help with low self esteem during this time. 

4.   Recognize that this too will pass. 

Pregnant mothers can take comfort in the fact that acne normally does not continue beyond the birth of the child.  This means after the birth, you will get clear skin again.  Just knowing this can be helpful to many and it is a good idea to remind yourself of this during low moments.    

Although no one really wants acne during pregnancy, taking a few steps to cope with it can work wonders for improving the situation for everyone.