Breaking out during pregnancy can feel overwhelming at times, especially if you are already battling with morning sickness and other pregnancy symptoms. The last thing you want to worry about is covering up that zit. However, the fact of the matter is that breakouts can occur during pregnancy. Fortunately, breakouts during pregnancy can be managed with some simple steps. Before we go into the steps it is important to know the causes for skin breakouts. I will also share with you my experience and the routine that helped me manage my breakouts during pregnancy.

Causes for Pregnancy Breakouts

Breakouts are caused by excessive oil production and clogged up pores. This is the result from an increase of hormone production that occurs during pregnancy (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Some other things that can affect your skin include harsh cleansers, face products that contain oil, and excessive sweating. Furthermore, nutrition and hydration play a role in the quality of your skin as well.

My Experience with Breakouts during Pregnancy

I recall my experience with breakouts during my first trimester and it started by looking like a bad case of baby acne. I had very small little pimples on my forehead, chin, and the sides of my cheeks. Towards the middle of my first trimester, it transformed into red boils that would not go away. I should mention that I struggled with acne as a teenager, however by adulthood I was able to manage it. Throughout my adulthood I had clear skin and minor breakouts during my menstrual cycle. I attributed my clear skin to my great skin regimen as well as to being on the birth control pill. Then in September of 2020 when I decided to take myself off the birth control pill, my teenage acne returned.

Getting off Birth Control

I took myself off the pill for two reasons, I wanted to live a clean life with less medications in my system, and my husband and I wanted to start having children. Now, I knew that I had to be off the pill for a few months before I would be able to become pregnant. Therefore, I decided to take control of the matter and give myself a fair chance to become pregnant.

Unfortunately, one week after taking myself off the pill, my acne returned. It lasted about four months. I did not do anything in particular to make it go away. Actually, I always follow a very good skin regimen and I just kept up with that. I think the breakouts went away because the hormones finally balanced themselves out after five months. It took us some time to get pregnant, so I got to enjoy my clear skin for several months.

Becoming Pregnant

Sadly, the clear skin went away the first month of pregnancy. I think that was one of my first pregnancy symptoms. I recall feeling very uncomfortable and looking up solutions to get rid of my acne. Of course, the internet was filled with contradicting information. Some articles stated that I will suffer from acne until I give birth. Other articles were more promising and stated that it could go away in my second trimester. With all this contradicting information, I decided to do some research and concluded that the best approach to managing the breakouts was to leave them alone and to be conscientious about my skin habits. Please read on to learn about some strategies that I utilized to make my breakouts more manageable.

6 Ways to Manage Pregnancy Breakouts

1. Nutrition & Hydration

There are various methods for keeping skin clean. First of all, I feel that it does have to do with the food that we eat. If we consume a high sugar and high fat diet, breakouts could be a little bit harder to manage. Also, hydration plays a role when it comes to skin. Drinking a lot of water can help flush out toxins. Moreover, water is also great for digestive purposes.

2. Avoiding Harsh Cleansers

I have noticed that using scrubs and harsh cleansers can make breakouts worse. Furthermore, there are various ingredients that are recommended to be avoided during pregnancy such as retinol, parabens and certain acne ointments. I had to start a whole new skin regimen during my pregnancy. I started using a simple cleanser by Youth to the People, which I used the cleanser in the morning and before bedtime. Furthermore, I also stopped using face scrubs and face masks, which was a money saver.

3. Moisturizing

I had no idea that keeping skin moisturized would help calm my breakouts. I read this somewhere in my research and decided to try it. I do have to say that finding a moisturizer without parabens and oils was another big challenge. Luckily, I found Clinique 100 Hour Moisture and using that for my face has done wonders. Not only is my skin clear of breakouts but it is also plump and well moisturized.

4. Avoiding Make-up

Avoiding make-up is something us ladies do not like to hear. However, limiting foundation use has helped my pores stay clear. My typical daily make-up routine involved placing some Clinique concealer under my eyes, applying some eyeshadow and mascara and finishing it off with a Blush. I did have to switch my blush during pregnancy too. The Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush by Selena Gomez turned out to work well without causing skin problems. As for face powder, I only used setting powder on days when I had a meeting or needed to look more polished. The concealer that worked best for me was Even Better All Over Concealer by Clinique. I do have to say that the low maintenance routine has saved me time and money.

5. Improving Confidence

I think what helped me the most with managing of my breakouts was that I accepted them and realized that it is a temporary problem. It also helps having an accepting and loving husband. When I realized that I would stop wearing make-up to help keep my pores clean, I decided to sit down and have a talk with my husband. I approached it sarcastically and said to him that I hope he can stand looking at me without make-up because I would not be wearing much of it until after pregnancy. He laughed and brushed it off as not a big deal and shared with me that he preferred my natural look anyway. I would say that having a loving and understanding husband during pregnancy is very important. I feel fortunate that I can talk to him about that type of stuff.

6. Being Patient

When all else fails, just be patient. Like I stated earlier, the breakouts are temporary, and they are worth the little bundle of joy that you will end up holding in your arms. I recommend not focusing on the breakouts and keeping busy. And keeping busy should not be that difficult with baby preparations and all.

Following the tips that I shared with you helped me manage my breakouts. By the time I got to my second trimester, I only had a few breakouts that were hardly noticeable. Now, I am not saying that my routine will do the same exact for you, but I hope that this can help make things more manageable so that you can enjoy the joys of becoming a mom.

Reference

Mayo Clinic. (2022). What’s the best way to treat pregnancy acne? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/pregnancy-acne/faq-20058045

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