Acne During Pregnancy - Causes And Treatment

Many women suffer from acne during their pregnancies. Higher levels of hormones called androgens can inspire the sebaceous glands in your skin to get bigger and boost production of an oily substance called sebum.

This extra sebum, mixed with the shed skin cells which line your hair follicles, blocks your pores, creating an environment in which bacteria can rapidly multiply. Acne is not the only skin problem women are faced with during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time when our skin becomes extra sensitive, and goes through different prominent changes in preparation for the delivery of our babies.

Causes

Hormonal changes during early pregnancy often result in acne inflammations. Even if you have been blessed with clear skin all your life, you may experience terrible acne during your first trimester. While pregnant, the skin can also dry out more than normal so drying treatments such as benzoyl peroxide cream or gel may be too harsh. Most acne breakouts in pregnant women occur during the first three months of the pregnancy while hormone levels are increasing, causing increased oil production in you skin which causes acne flare-ups. By the second trimester the acne begins to clear up.

Acne during pregnancy causes women some dilemma as to how to treat it. Several drugs that are used to treat general acne breakouts are deemed unsafe for the fetus if used during pregnancy. Most acne drugs have been tested and researched and some, especially a drug known as Accutane, are known to cause severe birth defects even if used within several months of becoming pregnant. Also, most drugs that are usually used do not treat a hormonal cause and instead attack bacteria that may be causing breakouts.

Diet

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may prevent or reduce many acne outbreaks. Apples and blueberries are said to be particularly good to prevent acne outbreaks. Diet and hygiene; however, the causes of adult acne are largely unknown. Bacteria in the pores and either reduced or increased oil production is responsible for the development of outbreaks, but the reasons behind these problems are still a mystery.

Acne Treatment during Pregnancy

The women during pregnancy should first consult the doctor before taking any medications. The doctor can prescribe certain drugs to the pregnant women such as retina-A, acutance and tetracycline. The best advice is to simply wash the affected area with mild soap twice per day and avoid using makeup, if possible. Just remember that it is only temporary and will go away within a few weeks of your baby being born. The overuse of these drugs should not be done as it can harm the new born baby. Some of the medications prescribed for the pregnant women are:

Retina-A: This is also known as Tretinoin. This is a cream which is applied on the affected area to reduce acne. One should consult the dermatologist before applying it.

Accutane: This is available in the form of pills or tablets and considered to be a best medication which can be taken orally to treat the acne. It is also known asIsotretinoin. Taking this medication can leads to the miscarriage and infant death during pregnancy. So, one should first consult the doctor.

Tetracycline: It is an antibiotic which can be taken orally to treat respiratory infections and acne. The doctor should be consulted as it can lead to discoloration of teeth and bone growth in a fetus of the women.