How to Treat Acne during Pregnancy | Renewal MD

At least fifty percent of women that are pregnant report an acne outbreak before or after delivering their baby. Ultimately, it’s the influx of hormones that occur during pregnancy that are to blame for this occurrence. To complicate matters, popular acne-fighting prescriptions like Retin-A, Accutane and Tetracycline aren’t safe for use during pregnancy. However, you’ll be happy to learn that there are some treatment options, including selected medications, that are effective and, most importantly, safe to use during pregnancy.

Drink Your Water

Your first defense in protecting yourself from a potential outbreak of acne is water. Although this doesn’t appear to be a treatment at all, experts agree that staying hydrated from the inside out is a surefire way to keep your skin and hormones balanced. To see these benefits, be sure to drink the suggested eight glasses of water each day.

Keep It Clean

Cleaning your skin isn’t as simple as splashing cold water on your face. Instead, head to your local Maple Grove, St. Cloud or Woodbury, MN drugstore, and pick a mild cleanser that contains natural ingredients. You should wash your face at least twice per day, especially if your skin is greasy. However, don’t go overboard, or you could encourage your skin to produce even more oil. At least twice a week, use a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells, which are known to clog pores and cause breakouts. Products containing salicylic acid should be avoided because it is still unclear if this chemical is safe to use during pregnancy.

Head to the Kitchen

Instead of buying advanced skin care solutions at the store, consider making an acne mask in your own kitchen. Look for recipes online featuring ingredients you already have in your cupboards, such as honey, oatmeal and baking soda. Not only will you save some cash, you can rest assured that homemade masks are safe and natural. Remember, before putting anything on your skin, especially while pregnant; make sure to speak with your doctor to prevent any risk of infection or complication.

On The Spot

Inevitably, you will eventually have a breakout with which to contend. At times like these, you can trust topical spot treatments containing benzoyl peroxide to calm breakouts, or creams with sulfur dioxide to dry out pimples and masks containing activated charcoal to clear out the gunk in your pores.

Call The Doctor

If you feel as though your acne problems could lead to an infection; call your doctor to discuss your options. Both Erythromycin and Clindamycin are two antibiotics that are effective at treating acne. They can be used both topically and orally and are safe for women who are expecting.