Your social media feeds are a dead give away to your age. They are literally directly related. For example, my parents feed is recipe and quote shares and comments that only half make sense. My college attending step son has a feed full of party pic’s, concerts and things that at are now much too fun for me. My school age niece has #selfies of herself, her with her pets, her with her parents, etc. And then lastly when I roam my social media at the ripe old age of 29 I see pregnancy and babies. Almost everyday there is a new friend announcing they are expecting or a pic of their new angel. So this post is a shout out to all my social media friends, skin, pregnancy and babies.
Prescription acne meds while pregnant. For acne/rosacea you can’t have retinols/retinoids (the work horse topicals of acne) so your left with two gels that are considered generally safe in pregnancy. Finacea and Metrogel. Warning: don’t let the pharmacy change your metrogel to metronidazole cream. Although it is a more cost effective choice and both have the same medicine its the vehicle the medicine is in that helps your acne and rosacea. This is a good tip for those not pregnant as well. Also, in my personal experience the Finacea burned my skin so I kicked it to the curb. Maybe you will have better luck.
BLU-U blue light treatment- The BLU-U is a blue light that you sit under, usually twice a week and it kills the P. acnes on your face. P. acnes are the bacteria that play a role in causing acne. It’s not painful, it doesn’t burn. This is a treatment that we use often in non-pregnant patients with acne, and its safe while pregnant! I recommend this as a 16 minute relaxation time to sit quietly and enjoy your pregnancy in solitude. The fact that it is good for your skin is the bonus!
Clarisonic. This is my daily skin massage. If you’re an exfoliator, scrubber, bead-using type of girl-STOP and get a clarisonic. It gently washes your skin without causing inflammation and irritation to your pores which can cause acne. If you’re acne prone, try the acne brush head, its gentler. They have lots of products to chose from including longer handles for “backne” and even one for the feet.
Stretch Marks– These are caused by a tearing of the dermis, the middle layer of the skin that helps give skin its shape. They are caused during pregnancy from hormonal changes and stretching of the skin. While your pregnant it is a good idea to use lots of moisturizer such as petroleum jelly or any thick plain white cream in a jar 3-4 times a day to help with prevention. After you have the baby you can consider laser treatments. We have two lasers at the clinic we use for stretch marks. The first is the YAG laser which, to make a long story short, helps you rebuild collagen, the structure of the skin. Think of the YAG laser as rebuilding the foundation of a building, so it will tighten the area. Second on the list is the PDL which will help with the red/purple color of your stretch marks. Stretch marks are scars so don’t expect them to disappear but their appearance will improve. Expect 3-5 treatments monthly. You may only need YAG or PDL or a combination for best results.
Mandelic Acid- This was my personal favorite while I was pregnant. It was the closest thing to replacing my retinol. I used the M2 high potency skin refinish (we sell it at the clinic) its a gel like serum. Its a combination of mandelic acid and malic acid that helps the appearance of hyperpigmentation, scars, pores, fine lines, wrinkles and acne. It’s naturally antibacterial. It also helps with the “pregnancy mask” your getting on your cheeks while pregnant. It helps with oil control too. I still use it after pregnancy as part of my AM routine. We also have a mandelic acid peel which is safe while pregnant and has awesome results. The nice thing about this peel is how gentle it is, no down time! Here are some before and after pics after three mandelic acid peels we did on someone at the clinic.
Before
After
Lastly, for the littles! When your baby gets here I know you want him or her to smell like a baby but sometimes those fragrances can cause dry, itchy patches of skin on your sweet baby. Try to avoid washes and moisturizers that “smell like baby”. Use plain, fragrance free, gentle wash on that baby smooth bottom. When you get the little sugar plum out of the bath try to moisturize within three minutes while baby is still a little damp to lock in all that moisture. Try to remember these things while living off of no sleep for the next few months and you’re a real hero!
Congrats on your pregnancy and new additions!
Follow the link to Johnson Dermatology to learn more about treatments discussed here.
