stomach itching
All stretching can also cause dry, itchy skin. “As your skin stretches to accommodate your growing fetus, you need to increase your hydration,” Dr. Castilla says. Moisturizing religiously is important. If the issue still persists, it may be a sign of an underlying problem. “There are other pregnancy-related skin conditions besides dry skin that can cause itchy stomachs. Some women deal with hives-like bumps (possibly benign), while others report blisters and severe itching that are also present on the palms and feet. Please consult.
Linea Nigra
“A black vertical line running down the middle of the abdomen, usually from the navel to the genital area,” is also common, but less talked about, says Dr. Castilla. Another hormonal change that usually goes away after giving birth.
Varicose veins and spider veins
Varicose veins can develop when the growing fetus puts pressure on the veins. “The bluish, swollen veins are usually found in the lower extremities,” Dr. Castilla explains. Hormonal changes can also cause spider veins. This “can occur anywhere on the body, but it’s usually a small red vein that appears on the leg,” Dr. Castilla says. The good news is that both usually go away after pregnancy.A good pair of compression socks can help speed up the process.
Acne
And, of course, there is the dreaded pregnancy acne. This is common for many women because there are so many hormonal changes during pregnancy. If your skin is overly oily and prone to breakouts, make sure you cleanse twice a day and use a pregnancy-safe acne treatment. increase.)
What is a Pregnancy-Safe Skin Care Routine?
During pregnancy, not only should you cut out certain foods, but you should also cut out certain skin care ingredients that are harmful to your baby. “Despite FDA guidelines for the pregnancy-safe category of ingredients, there are still very few studies evaluating the safety of many skin care products, because no one wants to study them in pregnant humans,” says Dr. Hadley. King, MD says. Board Certified Dermatologist in New York. Advice for safe skin care during pregnancy varies from doctor to doctor, but “most providers believe in a conservative approach to avoiding unnecessary products during pregnancy.
What Skin Care Ingredients Should You Avoid During Pregnancy?
retinoid (vitamin A)
“High levels of vitamin A can cause retinoid embryopathy, or birth defects in the developing baby,” says Dr. Farber. For this reason, oral retinoids like isotretinoin are prohibited during pregnancy. With so little research done to understand the risks, it’s best to ignore them.
Theoretically, topical use of retinoids could lead to a systemic increase in vitamin A, which could be dangerous for the fetus, Dr. Castilla added. It’s an alternative,” she says.
salicylic acid
Similarly, “salicylic acid can be absorbed and cause toxicity to the fetus,” says Dr. Farber. “Many experts consider lower percentages to be acceptable, especially for products like washes that have short skin contact,” she adds, but salicylic acid should be added to glycolic acid, lactic acid, or azelaine. acid.