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What causes acne during pregnancy?
As with many ailments of pregnancy, it is the hormonal impregnation that is involved in the appearance of acne during pregnancy. Progesterone and estrogen are present in high concentrations, which has an impact on the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum. In excess, this fatty substance which protects the skin tends to clog the pores, which causes white inflammatory pimples or blackheads, generally on the face, upper chest or even back.
May pregnant women with acne also be reassured: having acne during pregnancy does not at all mean that the future baby will have it too.
Acne and pregnancy: are there women more at risk?
While all women are susceptible to acne during pregnancy, there are some risk factors. The fact of having known severe acne breakouts during adolescence (during puberty), adulthood, or a previous pregnancy increases the risk of being affected. However, difficult to predict with certainty how acne will progress during pregnancy in a woman who is already prone to it in normal times. Clearly, it’s a bit like the lottery.
Likewise, if acne should disappear after childbirth, with the return of hormone levels “normal”, And apart from any pathology that can cause acne (such as polycystic ovary syndrome for example), it is difficult to predict its evolution during the nine months of pregnancy. The body and skin can gradually achieve regulate excess sebum et ultimately to reduce acne, but this is not guaranteed. The adoption of hygiene and dietetic rules is essential to try to stop pregnancy acne, or at least to limit it, so that it does not cause scars.
What to do with an acne breakout during pregnancy?
First of all, before any medical treatment, we must adopt a few rules of hygiene to help the skin cope with excess sebum.
Here are some simple precautions and actions to take when dealing with acne during pregnancy:
- do not touch your pimples and blackheads, even if it is tempting, because it accentuates local inflammation, promotes the spread of bacteria and complicates healing;
- use cosmetics and makeup non-comedogenic, so as not to clog the pores more;
- avoid blood sugar spikes by distributing food intake over the day, with small snacks rather than big meals, and favoring foods with a low glycemic index;
- use a bar of dermatological soap, or a Aleppo soap, rather than the classic soap, too aggressive;
- clean the face with an anti-acne lotion suitable for pregnancy (maximum caution with essential oils, many of which are not recommended);
- turn to homeopathy.
We should also remember that the sun is a fake friend of acne, which he can make disappear momentarily in order to reappear better afterwards. Exposing to the sun to fight acne during pregnancy is not a solution, especially as it increases the risk of pregnancy mask (chloasma).
What are the possible treatments for acne in pregnant women?
If the acne is too severe and it persists or worsens despite the implementation of hygienic and dietary measures, the best is to turn to a professional, that is to say a dermatologist. Only he will be able to give the right acne treatment compatible with pregnancy.
In all cases, the use of drugs or dermatological creams against acne in pregnant women should be taken with caution and for a short time. Because if care based on local antibacterials or based on benzoyl peroxide is possible during pregnancy, there is a lack of data on their safety. The CRAT, Reference Center for Teratogenic Agents, indicates that if it “there are no published data in pregnant women exposed to benzoyl peroxide“,”no worrying element has been reported to date“.
Oral Roaccutane (based on isotretinoin) is however clearly contraindicated during pregnancy as well as breastfeeding, because it would induce malformations in about 20% of cases, according to CRAT. As a precaution, CRAT also advises against it by the cutaneous route during pregnancy. It is also advisable to keep contraception for a month after stopping Roaccutane before embarking on a pregnancy project, to ensure that the drug has been completely eliminated.