5 Remedies to Fight Pregnancy Acne

For many women, experiencing a breakout of acne during pregnancy is quite common. Statistically, one out of every two women who are pregnant, end up developing acne. In some cases, this acne breakout can even be severe. Acne is particularly common during the first and second trimesters of the pregnancy. It is believed that an increase in the hormones known as androgens causes the skin to break out. Furthermore, women who experience frequent breakouts while they are on their periods, are more likely to have pregnancy acne. Pregnancy acne is usually a temporary condition and it clears up once the body’s hormone levels return to normal. Many women get very stressed out when they experience an acne breakout. However, there are several remedies that can be used to fight pregnancy acne. Today, we take a look at some of these natural remedies to fight pregnancy acne.

While not all women get affected by pregnancy acne, many women do tend to experience this condition. It is believed that during pregnancy, the fluctuation in hormone levels cause acne. In particular, the increase in androgens in the body causes the pores and glands on your skin to produce more sebum. Sebum is an oily and waxy substance. Sebum causes the pores to clog up, leading to the growth of bacteria which causes acne and inflammation on the skin.

It is possible to treat pregnancy acne with some care and medication, as well as natural remedies. Let’s take a look at some of these remedies.

Baking soda works wonders in healing acne since it dries up all the oil which is present on the skin, helping the healing process.

You can make a pregnancy acne remedy using baking soda by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda into one tablespoon of water. Then apply this paste to the individual pimples on the face. Avoid applying this paste to your entire face or other parts of the body as it can cause the skin to become dry. Also, after application, allow the paste to become dry before you wash it off.

Apple cider vinegar has many benefits and can also be useful in getting rid of pregnancy acne. It works as a natural toner for your skin as it contains many naturally-occurring enzymes as well as alpha hydroxy acids. You can apply raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar to your skin with the help of a cotton ball. This allows the vinegar to absorb the excess oil on your face.

To make this remedy for pregnancy acne, you should mix one part of apple cider vinegar with three parts of distilled water to create a natural toner to help with pregnancy acne.

Honey is known for its strong antiseptic and antibacterial properties making it an excellent remedy for pregnancy acne. Honey is also used to soothe the skin. To use honey for pregnancy acne, you need to first wash your face with lukewarm water. Then directly apply honey to the affected parts of your face. Leave the honey on the affects parts of the skin for at least half an hour. Then rinse off with lukewarm water.

Citrus fruits such as limes and lemons are rich in alpha hydroxy acid. Applying the juice of lime or lemon directly to your skin helps to get rid of dead skin cells and also unclogs the pores which get clogged due to excessive sebum production during pregnancy. The astringent and antibacterial properties of citrus fruits make them highly effective to be used as an exfoliant.

After squeezing the juice of a lime or lemon, you can simply use a cotton ball to apply the juice directly to the affected parts. Leave on the juice for 10 minutes or till it dries off. Then simply rinse off your face with cool water.

Cucumber and oatmeal are both known to be good for the skin. They cool down the skin and also have soothing properties. If you want to try using either one of these for a natural remedy, there are many mask recipes you can find online. These masks all use natural ingredients that are easy to find commonly in everyone’s kitchen.

Otherwise, you can simply blend the cucumber and oatmeal together, put the paste in the freezer. When you want to apply the paste to your face, take it out of the freezer beforehand and allow it to thaw. Apply to your face and keep for 15-20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.

During pregnancy, do not over wash your face as then the skin tends to lose its natural moisture levels. This will only increase the oil production and make you even more susceptible to acne breakouts. Also, avoid using too much of hot water on your skin as that also dries out the skin. If you take care of your skin on a daily basis, then you lower the chances of having an acne breakout significantly. If, however, your pregnancy acne is severe, then you can try using an over-the-counter treatment for getting some relief. But make sure that you consult your doctor before trying out any over-the-counter products to get rid of pregnancy acne.

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Also Read:

• What Causes Pregnancy Acne & How to Deal with Acne During Pregnancy?
• How Long Does Pregnancy Acne Last & Quick Ways to Get Rid of It?