5 Things Every Pregnant Mum Needs to Know About Their Skin

 

 

Congratulations! Whether you are pregnant with your first little one, or you are a seasoned expert at motherhood, you are on an exciting and transformational journey. The power of a woman’s body is unlike anything else in this world. Pregnancy brings changes to your health, appetite, lifestyle, and even your skin! Many expecting mothers have a stunning glow but many also experience blemishes, irritations, and acne. Let’s take a few minutes to go through the most common changes that occur in the skin, their causes, and tips for keeping your skin, healthy and glowing during and after pregnancy! 

Stretch Marks 

An expecting mother's body goes through extreme stress and change during pregnancy. One of the most expected changes experienced is stretch marks. These pink/red lines, often appearing on the stomach or top of the breasts are a result of the skin being stretched.

Stretch marks are nothing to be medically concerned about, but we understand many mothers try to avoid these marks. While there is no proven medical treatment for treating stretch marks, there are many well-known preventative measures many mums take.

At janegee, our expecting mums have had great success using our skin-soothing, Rose Geranium Body Oil to help prevent stretch marks. This oil not only has a beautiful scent, but geranium is known to be regenerative and can also have a tightening effect on the skin. If you’d prefer a creme, we’d recommend our nourishing unscented or lavender Buttercreme to hydrate the skin, especially the areas under tension. If you’d like to avoid essential oils during pregnancy, our Beauty Oil is an incredible blend of natural herbs that help hydrate and moisturize the skin. These products are especially great for use on expanding bellies as the stretching of the skin can cause dryness and itchiness. The Buttercreme and Beauty Oil soothes the skin, eliminating the desire to scratch or rub at the skin. 

Remember, stretch marks are never something to be ashamed or worried about, they are a sign that your body did something miraculous, nourished, and protected a growing baby! 

Dark Pigmentation - The Pregnancy Mask

Melasma, also referred to as the pregnancy mask, is hyperpigmentation that can occur during pregnancy as a result of hormonal changes or excess sun exposure. These brown or greyish spots often appear on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin creating an appearance of a dark mask. It is likely these spots will disappear soon after giving birth. While this is something that often goes away, many women want to proactively treat these spots. It is important to find a product that is safe and effective during pregnancy. When it comes to pigmentation we recommend finding a product filled with Vitamin B to help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. 

Here at janegee, our pregnant mums are lifelong fans of the Elixir Corrective Serum. The Elixir is packed full of Vitamin B niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Vitamin B communicates with pigment cells to reduce pigmentation, and similarly to Vitamin C, Vitamin B stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and aids in the reversal of sun damage. And hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in your body. By adding this to the mix, it will stimulate your body to produce more of its own reserves. Hyaluronan holds 1000x its weight in moisture and the more we can lock in moisture, the better! Keeping your skin feeling healthy and supple.

Hormonal Acne 

You may have had acne before pregnancy that has only become worse or are experiencing acne for the first time in your adult life. We’re here to tell you, this is normal. Your body is being flooded with hormones, and one of the side effects of this excess of hormones is increased oil production. This increased oil production can lead to clogged pores and blemishes. This may seem counterproductive, but using a daily oil cleanser, such as Clear Skin, can actually balance your skin, leading to reduced irritation and fewer breakouts. 

Pro Tip: Keep your routine simple. Cleansing your skin, hydrating, and detoxing should be the only three steps you need to keep your skin healthy. 

Varicose Veins

Varicose Veins are thick blue and bulging veins that can appear on the legs during pregnancy. The cause of these veins is linked to your body adjusting to the increased blood flow during pregnancy. While these veins can be uncomfortable, there are a few ways to help ease the discomfort and prevent them all together. 

• Stay active. Walking can help the blood return to your heart
• Avoid excess standing for long periods
• Avoid sitting for long periods
• Elevate your feet when sitting 
• Invest in compression socks
• Ensure you are absorbing enough Vitamin C, known for its health benefits for healthy veins 

The Pregnancy Glow

One of the many beautiful side effects of pregnancy is the glow an expecting Mother has. Do you know what causes the glow? Pregnant women actually produce 50% more blood during pregnancy, increasing circulation. This increase of circulation in the body is what causes this special glow in the face. Another leading factor of this glow is increased oil production. The influx of hormones in the body can cause the oil glands to produce more oil, leaving the skin with a dewy complexion.  

Breast Irritation - Post Delivery

Many of our new moms coming into the store, talk about the irritation they experience throughout breastfeeding. Believe it or not, our very first product ever made, the Sweet Stick, is an incredible nipple cream. This all-purpose balm has incredible soothing properties to help with any dry, blistered lips, any scratch, irritation, bite, eczema, cut, sore, or even diaper rash. 

Reminder! Take “Me-Time” 

Pregnancy can be so many wonderful things, but it can also come with stress, exhaustion, and anxiety. Our Chief Chemist, Kimber, recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl into this world and one of her favorite memories from her pregnancy was the quiet time she had during a long, warm bath. Her weekly routine included a soothing bath, filled with janegee Lavender Bath Soak, to relax and recharge. 

Products to AVOID during pregnancy

All of the above product recommendations are safe to use during pregnancy, but did you know that some of your everyday products could potentially have ingredients the FDA does not deem safe for use during pregnancy? Here’s a list of the most common ingredients that could be lurking in your products. 

Retin-A & Retinol 

While Vitamin A is a needed vitamin for the body, Vitamin A derivatives can lead to serious birth defects. It is best to avoid these in your beauty products during pregnancy. 

Tazorac & Accutane

As we mentioned above, acne is common during pregnancy. It is very important to make sure your acne prescription treatments do not have either Tazorac or Accutane, as they are known to cause birth defects. 

Benzoyl Peroxide & Salicylic Acids 

Found in some acne creams, Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acids are not recommended during pregnancy. 

Essential Oils

While essential oils have many healing powers, they can be dangerous if not used correctly. It is important to dilute these oils correctly and to speak with your medical professional before using essentials oils during pregnancy. 

Interested in more information about safely using essential oils? Visit our Essential Oils 101 blog to learn more! 

Here’s a list of essential oils to avoid during pregnancy:

*Please note, this may not be a complete list of every essential oil. We recommend consulting your medical provider before using any essential oils. 

• Aniseed
• Basil
• Birch
• Camphor
• Clary Sage
• Hyssop
• Mogwort
• Oak Moss
• Parley Seed or Leaf
• Pennyroyal
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Rue
• Sage
• Tansy
• Tarragon
• Thuja
• Thyme
• Wintergreen
• Wormwood

These are just a few of the most common ingredients to avoid during pregnancy. We understand how complicated and difficult it can be to decipher the products on the labels of your skincare and beauty products. A best practice before using any products is to seek the advice of both your skincare professional and your medical provider. 

We hope all of our expecting mothers out there walk away with some useful and tangible skincare tips! Remember, you are so incredibly strong, beautiful, and inspirational. Sending you love and strength throughout the journey of motherhood. 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER 

The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Please do not use the content you have read in this blog in lieu of medical advice given by your provider.