Mom Acne: Why You Still Have it and How to Get Rid of It

Pregnancy and childbirth are one of the situations that most radically affect our skin. 

Sudden expansion and then contraction of the skin after childbirth, hormonal imbalance, changes in the body, and other factors make us even more sensitive to external factors than usual. That is why pigment changes are something that accompanies almost every pregnancy. 

The skin, as the largest organ of our body, rests on complex mechanisms and changes almost every moment. It reflects our state of health and everything that happens inside our body and is therefore under the impact of each of our internal - mental and physical imbalances. 

On the other hand, it also represents a barrier to our body and is the first on the line of fighting all harmful influences that come from outside - such as tobacco smoke, UV radiation, and air pollution. Read below to see what you can do to minimize or completely get rid of postpartum acne.

How are acne and hormones related?

It is not known how hormones affect acne, but they are known to be closely related. There are many different causes associated with acne, but they are hormonal diseases. Hormones are the ones that are responsible for the development of our sebaceous glands, and only with the maturation of these glands during puberty, acne develops. 

 

During puberty, our body produces an excess of male hormones (androgens) that stimulate the production of sebum in the sebaceous glands, and excessive production of sebum (known as seborrhea) is one of the symptoms that can lead to acne. Learn more about the causes and triggers of acne and the development of acne.

 

Nurture your skin

The skin of the face and body in the first year after childbirth is nurtured by applying adequate cosmetics and treatments and proper nutrition (zinc, B6, B12, biotin, vitamins C and E, essential polyunsaturated fatty acids). 

 

After childbirth, most of the physiological changes in the skin of the face and body that occurred during pregnancy, and related to the hormonal status, recede spontaneously. The resulting pigment changes (hyperpigmentation, melasma, dark line on the abdomen) slowly recede (fade), so they should not be treated and removed. Facial skin and pigment changes on the face (melasma), as well as during pregnancy, it is necessary to continue to protect the skin with products for sun protection.

 

Although acne that occurs during pregnancy recedes after childbirth, the face should still be properly cleaned, cared for, and protected with cosmetic and dermo-cosmetic products (purchased at the pharmacy) intended for cleansing, caring for, or protecting acne-prone skin. If the mother can dedicate more time to herself and her care, this period is ideal for visiting a beauty salon - there is no more reason to avoid cosmetic treatments and chemical peels. 

 

If you can't find the time to visit a professional, don't despair, you can take care of your skin at home, for example, you can use a hot towel for acne after showering and your skin will simply glow if you are persistent.

 

Nutrition

Nutrition - the main concern of the nursing mother. The period of breastfeeding is very responsible because a woman must focus not only on her tastes but also on the health of the child. Acne seems to appear on your body after birth. 

 

What to do in this situation? First, analyze your diet. You have to give up potentially dangerous products for babies: chocolate, citrus, industrial sweets. It is better to eat a bowl of soup or borsch than a packet of cookies. Banal lack of vitamins can be the reason for the acne appearance. The cause of postpartum acne can be caused by just that. Gynecologists should prescribe the appropriate vitamins and minerals to the mother.