Your body, including your skin, will have gone through so many changes during your pregnancy, and there are even more to come after you have given birth. If you have been looking for ways to add some vitality back to your skin, these are some post-partum skin care dos and don’ts that you should try to follow.
DO Invest in a Prescription Cream for Melasma
Melasma, which causes dark patches of pigmentation to appear on areas of the face, occurs in up to 70% of pregnant women, and while this does tend to fade post-partum, they often do not completely disappear. While there are plenty of over-the-counter creams that may be able to help lighten these patches, many of them only have a superficial effect, and will not properly fade the patches over time. Although a prescription cream may cause temporary redness and dryness, and cannot be used if you are nursing, they are the best way to completely clear your melasma.
DON’T Use Harsh Ingredients or Drying Acne Treatments
Hormonal changes have a huge effect on the skin, which is why you need to stop using any harsh ingredients and try to achieve a balanced and gentle, but effective, routine instead. This should consist of a mild facial cleanser followed by a moisturizer that has been designed for your skin type.
DO Treat Your Skin to a Facial Mask a Few Times a Week
While you are going to want to keep your skin care routine relatively simple, especially now that you have a baby to care for, giving yourself some “me” time two or three times a week, even if only for ten minutes at a time, is when you can really treat your skin. A facial mask is the best way to do this, and do not worry too much if you tend to notice more blemishes after the first couple of uses, as these are only all of the toxins making their way up from within your pores on to the surface of your skin, giving you easy access to clear them away. If you are not noticing an improvement after two weeks, then it is time to reassess the masks that you are using, as they are likely too harsh or drying for your skin type.
DON’T Neglect Dry Skin
The hormonal changes occurring within your body tend to sap the skin of its lipids, which often leads to dry patches post-partum. While it can be easy to neglect these, this will only end up exacerbating the problem, resulting in raw, red patches and flaking skin. Since this is all caused by a lack of hydration, the easiest fix is to restore your skin’s moisture levels, which you can do both internally as well as externally. From within, you should be drinking plenty of water and eating foods that have a high water content, while externally, you should be using hydrating moisturizers that contain natural lipids, such as shea butter, while keeping your skin well protected from the sun.
There is enough to worry about post-pregnancy without having to deal with skin issues too, which is why it is important to stay on top of the health of your skin, even though it may not seem important at the time. From treating yourself to regular facial masks to paying attention to any problems that may have cropped up over the months, whether this may be melasma or dry skin, these dos and don’ts will help your skin to stay healthy in the months following the birth of your child.
