I DID IT three times, at a young age and at a time when I was juggling a career and also setting up home …There are a lot of women, though, who decide to pursue a career first and then start a family. Whatever the case, you know that there are going to be changes not only to your lifestyle, but to you, your body and your skin as well. Some will be good (it will feel like the bosom fairy coming to visit one night for the less endowed!), but others will be decidedly bad — hormonal spots, rapid changes in your overall skin condition, and stretch marks.
You know that old wives’ tale about all pregnant women glowing with good health? It’s a lie. Yes, some women do positively blossom, but others can experience a complete change in the condition of their skin. I have known women with fabulous skin who, during pregnancy, have become as spotty as teenagers, some who have become extremely blotchy, some with oily skins who have become dry, and vice versa.
And then there is the dreaded pregnancy mask — hyper-pigmentation that especially affects Mediterranean women as they also have the added sun factor.
But all is not doom and gloom — the reverse is that you could end up with wonderful glowing skin without a hint of breakout for the next nine months! Because the hormonal levels change dramatically, some women who have bad monthly breakouts find that their skins is more balanced, and though the hormonal changes of pregnancy are radical, they are different from their monthly cycles.
If you’re starting to dry out, increase the level of hydration your moisturiser gives; if you are becoming shinier, get yourself a moisturiser that will control excess shine rather than trying to step up your cleansing routine. Being aware is being prepared.
With all the hormonal changes going on, many women experience a breakout problem, maybe before or even after the birth. One of the best ways to deal with this is to use one of the oxygen moisturising products that will help to neutralise bacteria underneath the surface of the skin, preventing blemishes. For this I would recommend products from the Karin Herzog range; a product like this will make sure that the oxygen serves as an antibacterial and gives you a preventative measure, as well as giving vital oxygen to the skin (available from www.perfuma.com).
Pregnancy pigmentation
This is not a problem that affects all pregnant women, but it affects enough of them to be worth mentioning. Pregnancy mask is a condition in which the pigment gets stacked up and darkens, particularly around the forehead, upper lip, upper cheekbone and cheek/jaw line. It looks like the remnants of a suntan, where the rest of the tan has disappeared. Many women find the pigment goes away once the baby has been born, but for others it’s there to stay. If you ever had this sort of darker pigmentation when you were using contraceptive pills, or if you’re prone to sun damage, it is quite likely you will get it when you are pregnant.
As soon as you notice any pigment damage, buy yourself a higher protection SPF for daily wear than the one you are already using. If you are not using one then get one now. Once you have the pigment it’s very difficult to get rid of, so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Also, once you have the pigment the only things that will lighten it (notice I say ‘lighten’, not ‘get rid of’) will be either bleaching products or surface re-texturing products i.e. acid-based chemicals such as AHA, BHA, retinol and glycolic acid. You can now buy most of these in some form over the counter, as many cosmetic houses use them, but you can also get slightly stronger versions by visiting a dermatologist or even your GP. I have made it a daily routine never to leave the house without sun protection; it takes no more time than brushing your teeth so there’s no excuse, especially when you live here.
The bosom fairy
This is one of the perks of having a baby! One morning you’re going to wake up to find that your breasts have magically filled out to the dimensions that you’ve always dreamed of.
But because your breasts will be undergoing size changes, it is vital that even if you have never done much about caring for your bust before, you need to now. If you ignore it, you will end up with both stretch marks and saggy bosoms for the rest of your life.
The moment you find out you are pregnant, start using a firming body product over the entire bust area, which includes not only the breasts themselves but also the muscle structure that supports the breasts from behind the neck, where your bra straps would be, and the pectoral muscles under the arms. The weight of the breasts will be pulling down and stretching the skin of your upper chest, so you need to take care of it.
Also, when you start producing milk, whether you breastfeed or not, all of that weight will pull down and create a slackening of the tissue which will be all but impossible to re-firm, regardless of what you try to use.
Stretch marks
Sadly nothing — and I do mean nothing — will get rid of stretch marks. A stretch mark is a sub-surface scar, and once in place it is there to stay. You can sometimes lessen the visibility, but if you think you can ignore them and then take care of it when you have more time you couldn’t be more wrong.
A stretch mark develops when the body is growing faster then the skin can stretch. That is why you will often see them on growing children, men who body-build, and on all areas of the body from breasts to bottoms to arms.
As the growth occurs, regardless of its cause, the underlying support system of collagen and elastin fibres is stretched. If it cannot keep up with the growth, the support layer tears. This is what will turn into the marks that start out red and eventually turn a silvery white.
So can they be prevented? In a way, yes — but only if you are diligent in taking care of your body. The best method of preventing stretch marks is to use a body lotion or oil that will specifically deal with skin elasticity, making it more stretchy to begin with. Some companies offer special oils that can be used after bathing or showering, such as Decleor Tonelastil.
Other cheaper brands will be slightly less specific but nonetheless effective. I really like Nivea Q10 Body Lotion, for instance. It is relatively inexpensive and can therefore be used liberally. What you want to avoid is using a product that is so precious you will scrimp on it and therefore not really benefit at all. Right now there can be no such thing as using too much. Pay particular attention to bum, thighs, bust and, of course, your ever-expanding tummy. You will need to follow this regime right through the birth of the baby and up to the point where you are back down to your pre-pregnancy shape. After the baby has arrived you will definitely want a product to help put your skin back where it used to be!
