Acne During Pregnancy: What Can I Use To Help?

Posted by Admin | Posted in Acne and Pregnancy | Posted on 06-03-2012

Unfortunately some women are more prone to breakouts of acne during pregnancy. This can be anything from mild to severe, and may even be an increase in existing adult acne. While pregnant, your body may produce higher than normal levels of hormones known as androgens. This causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge, producing an oily substance known as sebum. This, along with shedding of skin cells, unfortunately promotes the multiplication of bacteria, which can then lead to acne.

There are however, steps you can take to ease the acne and alleviate any further worsening or irritation. The following steps are some ideas on how to treat it:

1. Use mild soap to gently wash the affected area of your skin
2. Use your hands only to wash, do not scrub with a sponge or facecloth
3. After cleansing, pat dry rather than rubbing, with a soft cotton towel
4. Do not try and squeeze or pop any spots, this leads to further aggravation
5. Whether you use moisturizer, make-up or any other skin products, ensure they are all oil free, and water based. If not, avoid using them at all
6. Be very careful when buying over the counter acne remedies. Although they can be very effective, they may be harmful in pregnancy so always get advice

If the problem worsens or persists throughout the pregnancy, see a medical professional who may refer you to a dermatologist who deals in skincare.

There are medications for acne that must be avoided during pregnancy. These include;

1. Accutane: This has been known to cause birth defects almost 100% of the time
2. Doxycycline: This can cause abnormalities in the teeth and bones of the fetus
3. Minocycline: This can cause abnormalities in the teeth and bones of the fetus
4. Tetrecycline: This can cause abnormalities in the teeth and bones of the fetus

So, following the above steps, and ensuring you get professional advice where necessary, should see an improvement in acne during pregnancy. At the very least, it shouldn’t get any worse and you can relax and enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy.

For further information on other products that you can take during pregnancy please check out our Natural Acne Products page.

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12 Responses to Acne During Pregnancy: What Can I Use To Help?

  1. Amy says:
    March 8, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    The following statement may seem insensitive, but it is nothing more than simply and absolutely true. Like contraception or the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, the best way to prevent pregnancy and STD’s is abstinence. If you do not want to add complications to your body’s chemistry, avoid pregnancy. The world is already teetering beyond the threshold of over population. It is not necessary for everyone to procreate. My brother and his wife decided not to have babies because his wife is rather vane – and there’s nothing wrong with that.

    Reply
  2. Frederick says:
    March 8, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    Thank you for this information. If you are taking any of those medication listed at the bottom of the blog that you definitely do not want to take if you are pregnant due to the risk of birth defects and abnormalities in the teeth and bones, how long should you wait to get pregnant after you discontinue taking them? That is really scary and I am so glad that I read this.

    Reply
  3. Angelica says:
    March 8, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    It isn’t fair that everything gets worse during pregnancy until you get past a certain stage. I had this acne problem and I had gestational diabetes and all kinds of other stuff that was normal before I got pregnant. Having a baby is supposed to be the best time of your life but you may not look or feel that great for the first trimester. This was very valuable information thank you.

    Reply
  4. Louis says:
    March 9, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    That is some scary information about those medications that cause birth defects. I have never taken medication for acne before but I am wondering how bad it is going to get when I get pregnant. It is amazing what happens when your hormones change like that. I have a friends that said her chest broke out in acne when she was pregnant is that common.

    Reply
  5. Christopher says:
    March 9, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    I had this acne problem and I had gestational diabetes and all kinds of other stuff that was normal before I got pregnant. Having a baby is supposed to be the best time of your life but you may not look or feel that great for the first trimester. The change’s your body goes through when you get pregnant are amazing. This was very valuable information thank you.

    Reply
  6. Karen says:
    March 10, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Pregnancy is such a blessing and there are so many things that you experience during pregnancy that you normally wouldn’t. It can be fun at times then again it can be embarrassing. Acne is a just a drop in the bucket of things that can go on during pregnancy and it is probably the least daunting thing that happens.

    Reply
  7. Alice says:
    March 10, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Acne is the least of your worries when you are pregnant. There is so much going on in your body at that time and so many changes that you can feel and see that acne is something you are not going to be too focused on, especially if it is your first baby. Now women that are on their third or fourth baby and are pros and this may worry more about their appearance.

    Reply
  8. Linda says:
    March 10, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    I am glad there is a blog that is covering natural alternative forms of remedies for eliminating or reducing acne. My friend suffered from sever acne before the turn of the century. So he went to a dermatologist who prescribed a then new, experimental drug called Acutane. Well, if you have seen any of the TV commercials by various law firms who are behind a class action law suit, know that his drug is harmful with many side effects.

    Reply
  9. Charles says:
    March 11, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    As if women didn’t already have enough bodily problems and complications to deal with during pregnancy, they also have to deal with acne. That is just not fair. I have seen so many women who have almost flawless skin develop freckles on their face because of their pregnancy. I guess what the Bible describes really is true – that God punished the disobedience of Eve by cursing their pregnancy and making all of her offspring suffer painful birth pangs.

    Reply
  10. Earl says:
    March 11, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Acne during pregnancy isn’t something to worry about because most likely when we have the baby the acne will be cleared up on it’s own. Unless it is really an outrageous breakout that it is just all over your face I wouldn’t really do anything drastic to change it, just make sure that your skin is clean as much as possible everyday and clean it a couple of times a day.

    Reply
  11. Diana says:
    March 12, 2012 at 5:20 pm

    I know that there are a lot of women out there that think they are just fat and ugly while they are pregnant so having acne on top of that would be terrible. I do have it on good authority though that there are men that find pregnant women very attractive. I understand completely though and this is some really great advice on getting rid of that acne.

    Reply
  12. Felipe says:
    March 12, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    When I got pregnant with my first baby I broke out like I was going through puberty again, I was miserable already with morning sickness and feeling very fat so acne was just the icing on the cake. I know that being pregnant is a wonderful thing but I also think there are people who are built for it and there are those that aren’t.

    Reply

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