Acne During Pregnancy
Q
Since I became pregnant 4 months again I have been struggling with acne
on my chest and back. Is there anything I can do about this?
A Two factors that make acne
more prevalent with pregnancy are the hormone, progesterone, and changes
in hydration. Progesterone is the hormone that makes the bed of implatation
healthy for the fertilized egg. The ovary makes it, but after the
first trimester it is usally the placenta that makes it. Besides
making implantation stable, it also relaxes smooth muscle, which prevents
premature labor, but also causes constipation. It loosens up the
joints, especially the pubic joint which
makes more room for the baby to fit through on the way out during labor.
But because progesterone is
more androgenic (male hormone-like) than estrogen, it also causes the secretions
of your skin glands to increase, which will lead to more acne.
Hydration is tough to keep
up with when you're pregnant. But drinking about 6-8 glasses of water
a day will not only dilute out secretions to improve acne, but will also
contribute to the relaxation of the uterus and even help with the constipation.
Hydration is not an acne cure, but it will help.
Skin creams that contain erythromycin
and other antibiotics are safe if cleared by your obstetrician. Dermatologists
are usually quite sensitive to and knowledgeable of pregnancy, and they
will work with your doctor when prescribing such creams. Tetracycline
pills, a standard treatment for acne, is absolutely forbidden during pregnancy,
because it can permanently discolor your unborn baby's teeth or even theoretically
cause bone deformities.
