Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting time in a woman’s life, one that brings with it many changes. As you wait for the arrival of your little one, you will notice your body undergoing changes. It transforms in many different ways to make way for your little one. While you will notice weight gain and swollen feet, pregnancy also brings about changes in your skin, hair and nails. You may notice that your skin looks better than before because of the surge in hormone levels and increased blood flow. On the other hand, you may notice that you have developed pigmentation or dark circles, which are also common during pregnancy. Stretch marks are another common occurrence during pregnancy.
While you take steps to care for your skin and hair, it’s best to use pregnancy safe products that are made without harmful chemicals and toxins and are dermatologically-tested. The skin is the largest organ of the body. Every skincare product that you use gets absorbed into your skin. And that’s why it’s all the more important to be careful about the products you use, especially during pregnancy. Read on to know more about how pregnancy affects your skin and hair and the best way to tackle these changes.
How does pregnancy affect your skin and hair?
Here are some ways in which pregnancy changes skin and hair.
1.Pigmentation
During pregnancy, some women develop pigmentation and dark spots on their face. Characterized by dark patches of the skin on the cheeks and forehead, this condition appears due to increase in estrogen levels which stimulates melanin production. Using face care products that are rich in Vitamin C can help reduce the appearance of pigmentation. Vitamin C is known to impede melanin production which can help fade dark spots. For a more even toned complexion, try The Moms Co.’s Natural Vita Rich Face Serum. It has Vitamin C from Kakadu Plum – the world’s richest botanical source of Vitamin C. It also has Hyaluronic Acid and Chia Seed Oil, making it the best face serum for dry skin.
Apart from using a face serum and applying sunscreen religiously, you can also use The Moms Co.’s Natural Vita Rich Face Cream. It has Vitamin C along with Crumex Occidentalis Extract, making it the best face cream for pigmentation.
2. Dark circles
Sleepless nights, acid reflux and dehydration – all of these can contribute to dark circles during pregnancy. While it’s best to follow your doctor’s advice when it comes to dealing with acid reflux and dehydration, you can use a natural cream for dark circles. Look for ingredients such as Coffee Oil which is known to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. Other ingredients you should look for in a dark circles cream are Hyaluronic Acid and Chia Seed Oil that replenish moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Get the benefit of these ingredients in The Moms Co.’s Natural Vita Rich Under Eye Cream. It comes with a cooling roll on that helps massage and soothe the eyes while reducing the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.
3. Stretch marks
Stretch marks occur when the body expands faster than the skin can. This results in the elastic fibres under the skin to break which results in stretch marks. Whether you get stretch marks or not also depends on genetics. If your mom or sister had stretch marks then chances are that you are likely to develop them. During pregnancy, stretch marks can often show up on the belly, breasts, thighs and hips. Growing belly can also make the skin itch and it’s advisable not to scratch the itch. Wondering what’s the best way to take care of stretch marks and itching during pregnancy? Keep your skin moisturized with stretch marks oil and natural body butter by The Moms Co.
The Natural Stretch Oil is a non-greasy combination of 7 natural oils including Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip and Coconut oils. When used together with Natural Body Butter, it soothes itchy skin, promotes skin elasticity and skin regeneration. It also keeps the skin moisturized for 24 hours and may remove stretch marks.
4. Dry, itchy skin
It’s quite common for pregnant women to have dry skin during pregnancy. As your skin stretches and tightens to accommodate your baby, it loses moisture easily. This coupled with changes in hormones can make your skin lose elasticity and contribute to itchy, flaky and dry skin. While pregnant women commonly experience dry skin on their belly, it is common to feel itching on the thighs, breasts and arms as well. It’s best to keep your baths short and use a body wash that is made without Sulphates and artificial fragrances as these are known to irritate the skin and strip it of moisture. Drinking water and keeping your skin moisturized will help reduce dryness and itching. Use a body butter cream which has natural ingredients such as Shea butter and Cocoa butter to deeply moisturize your skin.
5. Pain and inflammation
It is common to experience back pain while you are pregnant and knee pain after delivery. During pregnancy, the ligaments in your body become soft and stretch to prepare your body for labour. This coupled with the weight can put a strain on the joints of your back, leading to backache. The Moms Co.’s pain relief oil can help alleviate joint pain and reduce muscle inflammation. A potent combination of 15 natural oils including Mahua, Turmeric and Mustard, the Natural Relief Oil provides instant relief from muscle and back pain and can also be used as a massage oil. It also helps reduce swelling and improve blood circulation in the body.
6. Hair changes
During pregnancy, you will notice that your hair feels fuller. Due to increase in Oestrogen levels during pregnancy your hair may look thicker and more voluminous. However, once your hormones return to normal after pregnancy, you may experience hair loss. It’s best to use natural hair care products during and after pregnancy to ensure that your hair and scalp stay healthy. Choose a shampoo and conditioner that are Sulphate-free as Sulphates are known to strip the moisture away from the skin and can make it dry. The Moms Co.’s Natural Protein Shampoo has Coconut-based cleansers along with ingredients such as Wheat Protein and Silk Protein which help strengthen hair, prevent breakage and improve hair’s ability to retain moisture. Beetroot extract in the Natural Protein Shampoo nourishes hair follicles and prevents hair fall.
7. Linea Nigra – You may notice a vertical dark line in the middle of your belly during pregnancy. This line is known as linea nigra and isn’t harmful for the mom or the baby. While the exact reason for linea nigra is unknown, it’s presence can be attributed to the surge in hormones during pregnancy. Linea nigra usually goes away by itself after pregnancy and does not require any intervention.
8. Pregnancy acne
On one hand some women may experience glowing, soft skin during pregnancy, others aren’t so fortunate. Some women get acne during pregnancy due to changes in hormone levels. However, pregnancy acne usually clears up once the hormone levels go back to normal.
Is it normal for your skin to breakout during pregnancy?
Acne is a common concern that women face during pregnancy. During pregnancy, changes in hormone levels, especially androgens, can make the skin produce more sebum – an oily, waxy substance. This sebum can trap bacteria and clog pores, leading to acne and breakouts. The good news is that pregnancy acne usually goes away once the hormone levels are back to normal. However, during pregnancy, it’s important to keep your skin clean with a gentle natural face wash. Choose a face wash which has ingredients such as Moroccan Lava Clay, Activated Charcoal and Kaolin Clay. While Moroccan Lava Clay and Kaolin Clay remove excess sebum and deeply clean and open clogged pores, Activated Charcoal pulls out deep impurities. Together these ingredients detoxify the skin and reduce the occurrence of acne and blackheads.
Get the benefits of these ingredients in The Moms Co.’s Natural Clay Face Wash. It has Moroccan Lava Clay, Activated Charcoal, Kaolin Clay and Witch Hazel Extract which reduce excess sebum, open clogged pores and detoxify the skin. Natural Clay Face Wash is made with the safest natural ingredients and is Australia Certified Toxin-free, making it safe to use during pregnancy.
Changes in hormones can also alter the skin pH balance. If your skin is too acidic, it will lead to breakouts. On the other hand, if your skin is too alkaline, it can lead to dryness. And that’s why it’s important to choose the right skincare products in order to maintain the pH balance.
The Moms Co.’s range of natural skincare products and hair care products are made with the safest natural ingredients that are sourced from all over the world. Each ingredient is checked against 5 international ingredient safety databases which include Whole Foods, Paula’s Choice and EWG before it is used in their products. If an ingredient has even the slightest potential to be harmful, it is not used in the products. Their products are dermatologically-tested, Australia certified toxin-free, Australia Allergy Free and certified Made Safe by Safe Cosmetics Australia. The products are also dermatologically-tested and cruelty-free to ensure that only the safest natural products reach you.