Acne Pregnancy

Is it common to be more prone to acne when you're pregnant?

Pregnancy sometimes brings on acne or makes it worse. Higher levels of hormones called androgens can prompt the sebaceous glands in your skin to get bigger and boost production of an oily substance called sebum.

This extra sebum, combined with the shed skin cells that line your hair follicles, blocks your pores, creating an environment in which bacteria can rapidly multiply. All this eventually leads to the inflammation and skin eruptions of acne.

Is there anything I can do about it?

You might not be able to prevent the problem altogether, but here are some tips that may help:

• Wash gently with a mild soap or cleanser twice a day, and if you use moisturizer make sure it's oil-free. Don't scrub your face with a washcloth, since scrubbing can make the problem worse. Instead, use your hands to gently wash your face.

• Pat your skin dry rather than rubbing it, which can irritate acne.

• Don't squeeze, rub, or pop your pimples — it'll make the problem worse and could lead to scarring.

• If you wear makeup, use products that are water- (not oil-) based and are labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic," meaning they won't clog your pores and cause breakouts. Be sure to wash off your makeup before going to bed, too.

• Ask your doctor or midwife about using medicated gels or lotions. If your acne is severe, you may need to see a dermatologist. A number of over-the-counter and prescription products help clear up acne, but some of the ingredients haven't been well studied in pregnancy — so don't use any acne preparation without your caregiver's okay.

It's particularly important to avoid the oral prescription drug isotretinoin (Accutane), which can cause serious birth defects. Avoid using topical tretinoin-like Retin-A as well. Prescription antibiotic creams containing erythromycin or clindamycin are perfectly safe, but stay away from those with tetracycline.

See advice from other BabyCenter moms-to-be for dealing with pimples during pregnancy.

You thought that you had left those nasty pimples and breakouts far behind in your teenage years. You’re an adult now, after all, and therefore immune to such unpleasant experiences as acne. However, since you became pregnant, you can’t help but notice a new pimple appearing almost daily on your once crystal clear skin. Not only are you worried about these pimples, but also about the possibility of acne scars.

Acne Control

As self-conscious as you are, you may want to hold off on buying just any acne medicine. Even over-the-counter pimple treatment is considered to be a type of drug that should be avoided until you have spoken with your health care provider about which are safe to use during pregnancy.

To help keep your face pimple-free, wash your face two to three times a day with an oil-free mild cleanser. Many natural skin care products avoid both oil and irritating soaps in their products as do some major cosmetic brands. However, be sure that you don’t over cleanse your skin as that can strip your skin of the oil it produces, causing your pores to produce even more oil.


After cleansing, rinse your face thoroughly with lukewarm water so you can be sure to be rid of any type of soap residue that may be left and gently pat dry. Follow this up with an oil-free moisturizer. Other ways to keep your skin looking its best:

• Drink lots of water to help keep your skin and your body hydrated and moisturized
  
  
• Avoid touching your pimples as this can cause the spread of bacteria leading to more pimples
  
  
• Avoid picking your pimples as this can lead to acne scars

Acne Medications

Always talk with your health care provider before taking any type of medication for your pimples. Some medications that you will definitely want to stay away from include:

• Tetracycline (an oral antibiotic that has been linked to poor bone growth and discolored teeth in babies)
  
  
• Salicyclic Acid (a common ingredient in over-the-counter acne treatments)
  
  
• Tretinon (sold under the brand name Retin-A)
  
• Isotrentinoin (sold under the brand name Accutane)

Using Accutane in pregnancy is a big concern among health care professionals as its use has been linked to birth defects, miscarriage and infant death. In fact, of those babies exposed to Accutane during the first trimester, 25-35% were born with birth defects. In order to prevent women who are trying to conceive, who are pregnant or who are breastfeeding, the US has recently set-up a national registry for Accutane users.


According to the new regulations for Accutane use, women who are prescribed this medication must be on two reliable forms of birth control, provide a monthly negative pregnancy test before getting a refill and start taking Accutane two to three days after the start of their period. Although its use in pregnancy has not been as widely studied, it is suspected that Retin-A may cause similar pregnancy complications as Accutane and therefore its use in pregnancy is strongly advised against.



After Baby

Now that the baby is here, your face has begun to clear up. However, you can’t help but notice that it has left its mark on your face. If you are bothered by acne scarring, you may want to look into some treatments laser resurfacing. This form of permanent treatment is ideal for women with ice-pick scars (scars that leave small holes in the skin). Women with pigmented scars can try over-the-counter and prescription creams to lighten their skin. However, for severe acne scarring, the best treatment is a professional chemical peel.

Acne and Pregnancy Q#1: Why does acne develop or get worse than before?

If you do start breaking out, or break out worse than before, it’s because of an increasing level of hormones in your body. Androgenic hormones like progesterone stimulate your oil glands to produce more oil, which leads to more acne.

The second reason is because of changes in hydration in your body. If you don’t drink enough water, the hormone secretions will remain undiluted and will not pass through the body as quickly.

Acne and Pregnancy Q#2: When does acne typically develop?

Typically during the first three months (first trimester) when hormone levels are fluctuating. However, it is possible to experience breakouts at any time during pregnancy, or after pregnancy.

Acne and Pregnancy Q#3: Will my acne go away?

As your pregnancy progresses, your acne typically improves, possibly because of higher levels of estrogen. After the first trimester, progesterone is produced by the placenta instead of the ovaries.

For some women, their skin can return to normal a couple months after they give birth. For others, however, the breakouts can return after they’ve had their baby because of a sudden decline in the production of estrogen. Sometimes their acne will disappear after a few months, and in other cases, it may not. Everyone is different.

Acne and Pregnancy Q#4: What type of acne will I get?

Typically, women develop cysts, pustules and blackheads. Body acne can also develop.

Acne and Pregnancy Q#5: Will my baby develop acne if I develop it during pregnancy?

No. There is no correlation between developing acne during pregnancy and your infant having baby acne. Neither is there a correlation between pregnancy acne and children developing acne at later stages in life.

Acne and Pregnancy Q#6: Is there any way I can prevent acne during pregnancy?

No. You can’t predict it and you can’t prevent it. In most cases, the skin clears up after the first trimester, or after giving birth. In the meantime, there are things you can do to take care of your skin safely.

Acne and Pregnancy Q#7: When should I seek treatment help?

You should seek a dermatologist’s help before you consider buying any acne treatment, since your acne at this time is due to hormonal changes.

Although you might be desperate about your skin condition, be extra careful at this time about any creams, medications, or treatments. Herbal remedies, although often promoted as natural treatments, may contain ingredients that could affect you. Even over the counter pimple treatments are drugs that should be discussed with your doctor first.

Acne

Acne is a skin condition which has plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), inflamed pimples (pustules), and deeper lumps (nodules). Acne occurs on the face, as well as the neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. Although most teenagers get some form of acne, adults in their 20's, 30's, 40's, or even older, can develop acne. Often, acne clears up after several years, even without treatment. Acne can be disfiguring and upsetting to the patient. Untreated acne can leave permanent scars; these may be treated by your dermatologist in the future. To avoid acne scarring, treating acne is important.

Acne is a common skin disease that causes pimples. Pimples form when hair follicles under your skin clog up. Most pimples form on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Anyone can get acne, but it is common in teenagers and young adults. It is not serious, but it can cause scars.

The term acne comes from a corruption of the Greek άκμή (acne in the sense of a skin eruption) in the writings of Aëtius Amidenus. Used by itself, the term "acne" refers to the presence of pustules and papules.The most common form of acne is known as "acne vulgaris", meaning "common acne". Many teenagers get this type of acne. Use of the term "acne vulgaris" implies the presence of comedones.

The term "acne rosacea" is a synonym for rosacea. Chloracne is associated with chlorine toxicity.

Acne develops as a result of blockages in follicles. Hyperkeratinization and formation of a plug of keratin and sebum (a microcomedo) is the earliest change. Enlargement of sebaceous glands and an increase in sebum production occur with increased androgen (DHEA-S) production at adrenarche. The microcomedo may enlarge to form an open comedo (blackhead) or closed comedo (whitehead). Whiteheads are the direct result of skin pores becoming clogged with sebum, a naturally occurring oil, and dead skin cells. In these conditions the naturally occurring largely commensal bacteria Propionibacterium acnes can cause inflammation, leading to inflammatory lesions (papules, infected pustules, or nodules) in the dermis around the microcomedo or comedo, which results in redness and may result in scarring or hyperpigmentation.

Types of Acne and How Acne Forms

Acne is not caused by dirt. Testosterone, a hormone which is present in both males and females, increases during adolescence (puberty). It stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil, and plug the pores. Whiteheads (closed comedones), blackheads (open comedones), and pimples (pustules) are present in teenage acne.

Early acne occurs before the first period and is called prepubertal acne. When acne is severe and forms deep "pus-filled" lumps, it is called cystic acne. This may be more common in males. Adult acne develops later in life and may be related to hormones, childbirth, menopause, or stopping the pill. Adult women may be treated at the period and at ovulation when acne is especially severe, or throughout the entire cycle. Adult acne is not rosacea, a disease in which blackheads and whiteheads do not occur.

Cleansing

Acne has nothing to do with not washing your face. However, it is best to wash your face with a mild cleanser and warm water daily. Washing too often or too vigorously may actually make your acne worse.

Diet

Acne is not caused by foods. However, if certain foods seem to make your acne worse, try to avoid them

When should you start to treat acne?

Since everyone gets acne at some time, the right time to treat it is when it bothers you. This can be when severe acne flares suddenly, mild acne that just won't go away, or even when a single pimple decides to show up the week before your prom or wedding. The decision is yours.