Expecting a baby is an exciting time for a woman. For a mother-to-be, following proper dietary recommendations is crucial to encouraging the proper fetal development during gestation. Unfortunately, many pregnant women fail to realize it is this same dietary program which also works to ensure and restore vital nutrients to their own bodies, thereby maintaining health both during pregnancy as well as after delivery of the infant. Compounded by hormonal changes, it is the pregnant mom’s diet, hygiene and exercise program which may produce an onset of adult acne.
In normal, healthy, non-pregnant women, adult acne is common and most notably attributed to the hormone, androgen, which stimulates the body to, indirectly, produce more oil in the skin. While healthy skin does require some degree of oil, it is the overproduction of the sebaceous glands, enlarged by androgen hormones, which create the culprit known as adult acne. For pregnant women, experiencing a change in hormone levels, including androgen hormones, leads to develop of adult acne. As a natural solution, pregnant women, suffering pregnancy induced, adult acne, should consider natural approaches to remedy the production of oil from the sebaceous glands, internally, while also treating adult acne, naturally, externally.
For internal balance of hormones and an improvement in adult acne of the pregnant women, the first, most important component of pregnancy involves the need for exercise. It is through exercise that pregnant women can improve adult acne by promoting the regular circulation of blood flow, often constricted by pregnancy. With improved blood flow circulation, the skin becomes balanced, thereby improving appearance and resolving, to some extent, the pregnancy related, adult acne. As with any exercise program, especially during pregnancy, consultation and approval from the obstetrician is first recommended.
Because adult acne, during pregnancy, may be the direct result of stress related hormones, a pregnant woman should focus on methods to reduce internalized stress. Through meditation and maternity massages, the internal emotional balance can be improved, thereby improving the adult acne outbreak. Removing financial and emotional stressors are also crucial to not only improve adult acne, but also improve the overall health of the developing fetus.
In terms of diet, when pregnant, adult acne can be the result of a deficiency in vitamin A. For pregnant women, suffering from adult acne, consuming foods rich in vitamin A, such as red and yellow bell peppers, oranges and even squash, can naturally supply the additional vitamin A necessary to improving skin tone and texture while providing appropriate nutrition needed during pregnancy, even for women without adult acne.
From an outward approach, pregnant women, suffering from adult acne, can work to improve symptoms through common personal hygiene. Washing the face, twice daily, with a hypo-allergenic, mild facial soap, will remove dead cells, reduce oil on the skin and unclog pores; all of which contribute to adult acne. Caution, however, should be taken when first beginning a cleansing program as the tendency to overuse facial cleansers may, initially, have an adverse reaction in that the skin may become excessively dry, leading to an even greater production of oil by the sebaceous glands. Additionally, in no case, should a pregnant woman use products which contain Retinoic acid as Retinoic acid has been shown to create birth defects.
For pregnant women, finding the right balance in hygiene, diet and exercise is key to ensuring optimal pregnancy outcomes. While these programs are commonly recommended by obstetricians, modifying to fit unique co morbid, pregnancy related complications, such as adult acne, will provide for not only the nutritional needs of the developing fetus but also provide the mother-to-be with appropriate pregnancy related health as well.
For more information regarding pregnancy and the diet and exercise programs, visit www.pregnancy.org.
