Top 5 Most Noticable Pregnancy Skin Changes

• Additional blood flow during pregnancy can cause spider veins to develop below the skin
• That so-called pregnancy glow is not a myth – women do “glow” thanks to a combination of factors
• Heat rash and acne breakouts are not unusual for pregnant women
• Discolored skin patches on the face – known as the pregnancy mask – can develop in the middle of the pregnancy

When a woman is going to have a baby, her body is obviously going to go through a lot of changes. She’ll put on weight, go through morning sickness and constipation, have cravings and mood swings. But mothers-to-be also notice changes in their skin during pregnancy. Below are five of the most noticeable pregnancy skin changes.

1. Heat Rash

While not necessarily visible to other people, a heat rash is one of many skin changes during pregnancy. Because of the other body changes, pregnant women are going to produce a lot more heat and perspiration. These factors combined with skin rubbing against clothes can cause an irritating skin rash to develop, especially under the breasts, under the lower abdomen, and on the inner thigh.

2. Spider Veins

When you’re pregnant, you actually are pumping a higher volume of blood through your body and that can put a stress of your capillaries. As a result, you might end up developing unsightly spider veins on your skin. These look like reddish or purple lines just under the skin. As the pressure builds, they can get longer or branch out like a river. Unfortunately, spider veins don’t always disappear after pregnancy so you may need to have them removed by a dermatologist using a process known as sclerotherapy. With this treatment, a small needle is injected into the spider vein causing it to collapse.

3. Acne Breakouts

One of the main reasons acne is so common during adolescence is the increase in hormone activity which causes your oil glands to start working over time. And guess what? When you become pregnant and your hormones go back into overdrive, the same phenomenon is going to lead to breakouts. The good news is that once your hormones go back to normal so will your oil glands. Until then, you’ll want to maintain a good skin care routine including daily cleansing with a mild, non-drying soap (drying too much will make the problem worse). Don’t squeeze, scratch, or mess with the pimples either or you could end up with scars that will last long after the pregnancy skin changes.

4. Pregnancy Mask

Of all the possible skin changes during pregnancy, women tend to worry about the pregnancy mask the most. During the second trimester, some women develop discolored patches on their faces, usually around their forehead, cheeks, and chin. These patches are caused by an increase in melanin production in the skin thanks to the overworking hormones. There’s nothing you can do to stop the dreaded pregnancy mask from developing. If you do develop these patches, your physician may be able to recommend some safe bleaching products that can help. You can also minimize the problem by reducing your exposure to ultraviolet light which causes more melanin to be produced.

5. Pregnancy Glow

If you’re pregnant now, you’ve probably already had at least one person remark on that pregnancy glow which is usually attributed to the happiness of the expectant mother about her soon-to-arrive bundle of joy. Although most moms are probably very happy about their pregnancy, the glow has a more physiological cause. The extra blood flow being pumped through the body and the increase in oil secretions combine to form that glow which, interestingly enough, you’ll also notice on women’s faces after any period of high emotion. So maybe linking the glow to happiness isn’t such a stretch after all.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.