Pregnancy Skin Care Tips and Advice

Look and Feel Great thru your pregnancy

Most mum's to be notice not only there tummy changing but there skin. It is quiet vial for all mums in the first stages of pregnancy to understand there skin and have it properly Skin Mapped/Diagnoses to identify any concerns and changes there skin may face in the changing hormonal months ahead.

Look Great and Feel Great can be achieved.

Ok everyone tells you of the foods you can and cannot eat, vitamins etc, to help take care of baby and yourself. Well we will also look at how you take care of your skin, cleansing, moisturising etc for particular concerns.

Got you interested? well we will start at what common problems most pregnant women face with skin concerns, and help you with some tips to help you thru these times.

Most of all start to enjoy your pregnancy, relax, take time to look after you - as you are the one that is carrying your new child.
Even book that belated facial, ask for a exp therapist to address your skin concerns and focus on rejuvenating your skin.

Most common pregnancy skin concerns

Pimples/acne - this is the time to check what you are currently using. As most women continue to use the same products as before, but they notice either nothing is happening with there skin or more breakouts are occurring.
A mild cleansing wash that is designed for a combination skin, not something too harsh or stripping as this would irritate and strip the skin causing other skin concerns.
Start using an anti inflammatory lotion on pimples like Dermalogica Overnight clearing gel which will help rid bacteria, help rid of built up cells which clogs pores and stops further infection.
Drink lots of water, and eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
Talk to your DR on what vitamins he would recommend for you.
Don't squeeze - you Will only damage and irritate the skin and cause more infection.

Pimples or breakouts on the body are also common. Signs of irritation, breakouts in the second stage of pregnancy is common.
Use a mild non soap body wash, don't pick or scratch - and treat with calamine lotion for large areas of the body to take down itch or inflammation.

Dry skin on face or body with hormonal changes you may experience itchy sensitive skin, or even dry patches on the face and body.
What you again will have to look at is what are you washing your skin with. Avoid hot showers foaming or soap cleansers and start using a hydrating serum like Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster to give your skin that pregnancy glow and hydrate with a more nourishing moisturiser.
Over course in summer don't over nourish your skin as this can lead to breakouts.
On the body watch soap products, moisturise daily with a exfoliating body cream like Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream this will help rid skin of dead skin cells, with its lactic acid base and beautifully hydrate skin, allowing it to be softer and smoother to allow skin to grow and move with baby.
This plus a application daily of olive oil to tummy, buttocks and chest can reduce the chance in some women of stretch marks.

Pigmentation Due to stimulation of hormones this can stimulate pigmentation cells. It is very important to wear protective clothing in sunlight, avoid to much glare off computer screens, halogen lightening as these stimulate pigment cells and can help darken pigmentation. Avoid overexposure to sunlight and use a SPF30+.
Though it is also very common for women to notice darken patches on face especially top of lip, nose and forehead this will often fade when your baby is born.
If you are concerned after your pregnancy consult a skin therapist for a lightening range like Dermalogica Chroma White.

Skin Tags Well these interesting little skin polyps normally occur where friction and irritation of the skin occurs e.g skin rubbing and jewellery rubbing.
They are tiny and dark raised skin bits normally occur on arms, neck, chest, under arms and breast.
Laser is the most common way of removing them. Don't pull them as they can badly bleed.

Irritated hands and Feet - some women will notice itchy, red inflamed soles of their feet or palms, this is common when estrogen levels rise.
Try using some soothing hand cream like Dermalogica Multi Vitamin hand and nail cream or a hand balm by Elly B that is organic.
Avoid scrubbing, hot water and stimulating detergents.
Treat feet with a little baby powder and keep hands and feet hydrated and ask for that Pedicure or foot rub as it will only help.

Please email us for further skin advice.
Till next time take care enjoy the pregnancy ride
Skincare4you

Are The Chocolate Bunnies Coming To Get You - The Myth Concerning Chocolate

Well Happy Easter, will the chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs get you??

Does Chocolate make me break out?

Well alot of people are sensitive to lactose, which is found in milk, cheese, chocolate, yogurt etc. And alot of people find that if they eat this time of food they tend to break out in white type pimple heads and also break out in the cheek area. 

This in Chinese Medicine represents the lung area and when we have had to much dairy alot of people start to break out in this region.

Though science tells us no one food group triggers acne. 

But in our practice we have found that people that eat dairy products may have a sensitivity and tend to break out. In other words watch what you are eating how much you are consuming, then take a look at your skin 4 days later.

Generally it takes the body 4 days to react internally with break outs to something it is not breaking down well. Drink lots of water, correctly clean your skin, do not over strip the skin, as this will cause further oil production, and irritate the surface. Use a oil free moisturiser to protect the surface, wash pillow slip regularly, Do not pick pimples, this will allow for bacteria to spread.

Gently exfoliate once a week.

Deep Cleansing masks are effective for cleaning the skin - ones that are clay base are good.

If you need further advice on your skin care,

email us at

skincare4you@hotmail.com

www.skincare4you.com.au

Smoking May Give You Spots -

This information has been sourced from the BBC.

This type of acne is characterised by white heads and small cysts

Women who smoke are more likely to develop a form of acne than those who do not, research from Italy suggests.

A study of 1,000 women found over 40% those who smoked had non-inflammatory acne, characterised by blocked pores, large white heads and small cysts.

This compared with 10% of non-smokers, the study published in the British Journal of Dermatology found.

However, the link between smoking and spots is controversial, and the authors admit other factors may play a role.

Nevertheless, the team from the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Rome said they felt their findings could lead to non-inflammatory acne (NIA) being seen as "a new entity among smoking-related cutaneous diseases".

They dubbed it "smokers' acne face".

Teenage spots

The study was carried out on women because the condition appears to affect more women than men.

All of these findings will hopefully provide people with an extra incentive to quit Colin Holden British Association of Dermatologists

Of the 1,000 subjects, just under 30% were smokers. Of these 42.2% developed acne, predominantly the non-inflammatory form rather than the one featuring red and swollen spots.

The researchers said the smokers in the group had half the levels of skin secretions of vitamin E compared with non-smokers, as well as other variations in skin make-up.

Those who had experienced acne in their teens were found to be four times more likely to suffer acne than non-smokers who had also suffered teenage spots.

Other factors have however already been identified in the development of NIA, including hormonal alterations, stress, occupational and environmental factors.

Environmental factors were found in half of the 10% of non-smokers with the condition. Such factors included the skin being exposed for instance to intense smoke or steam, usually in a place of work such as a kitchen.

It is unclear the extent to which these factors may also have influenced the development of NIA in non-smokers.

Nonetheless, the study fitted into a trend of linking smoking with acne, said the president of the British Association of Dermatologists, Colin Holden.

"All of these findings will hopefully provide people with an extra incentive to quit."
For skin care products that work on adult acne Dermalogica Medibac Clearing Range is the latest product to help control inflammation, oil production and clear congestion in skin in men and women
www.skincare4you.com.au