Pregnancy changes your body — and not just internally. A couple of days ago, my mother was reminiscing about the time she was pregnant with me, and in between her not-so-subtle jabs at me as a very restless foetus, she told me she’d experienced a lot of itchiness around her belly as she got bigger, “But I’d never itch or scratch my stomach. I’d just massage the area with creams and oils every day, and that seemed to help a lot.” And that got me reading about the impact of pregnancy on the skin. Research suggests that a lot of women experience dryness and itchiness during this period — and some even experience peeling as a side effect.
And that’s why I decided to connect with Dr Chytra, Internationally Renowned Award Winning Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist, and Dr Nidhi Singh Tandon, Board Certified Dermatologist, Health and Wellness Expert, & Founder of The Skin Art Clinic & Wholistic Derm, to tell me more about these symptoms; why they occur; and if they’re normal. Ahead — our conversation.
Your Body Is Going To Change Soon. Here’s What To Expect
Does your skin tend to peel during pregnancy — or feel dry? Why does this happen?
According to Dr Chytra, you might experience peeling as a result of a change in hormones during pregnancy. This fluctuation tends to cause dryness in the skin — which, eventually, can trigger peeling. She continues, “About 40%-50% of women experience dryness during this period.”
Dr Nidhi says, “Peeling as such isn’t something that’s a common issue in pregnancy, but it can happen if your skin is excessively dry or flaky.”
Who’s more at risk of developing these issues?
This phenomenon is seen (more) in those who suffer from conditions like eczema — and those who have always had drier skin than most.
Any other skin-related concerns that you might experience during this period?
Stretch marks are a commonly-seen by-product of pregnancy. Dr Chytra explains, “When your skin stretches (and there’s a lack of moisture), it can crack — leading to stretch marks. This is more prevalent than peeling.” She goes on, “Some can experience ‘PUPPP’ — or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy — which manifests as itchy rashes on the skin (again — because of changes in progesterone levels in the body as well as a stretch in the abdomen).”
According to Dr Nidhi, you can experience three types of skin-related disorders while pregnant:
- The physiological changes of pregnancy: These changes take place due to the production of a variety of protein and steroid hormones by the fetoplacental unit as well as by increased activity of mothers’ pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands. Hyperpigmentation is the most common symptom of pregnancy due to elevated serum levels of MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), estrogen, or progesterone. It starts from the first trimester of pregnancy and results in the darkening of areas that are already pigmented — like the nipples, genitals, or Linea nigra (a hyperpigmented line running from the pubic region to the belly button). Other changes like chloasma (mask of pregnancy), striae (stretch marks), skin tags, excessive hair growth, brittle nails, and some amount of skin dryness are considered to be physiological changes of pregnancy as well.
- Pre-existing skin disorders affected by pregnancy: Pre-existing diseases can improve or worsen during pregnancy — psoriasis and allergic contact dermatitis, for instance, are likely to improve during pregnancy.
- Specific skin dermatosis of pregnancy: There is a set of diseases that is specific to pregnancy — amongst them, the most common are Atopic Eruption of pregnancy — which accounts for 50% of cases, and tends to recur in subsequent pregnancies. It’s a benign condition with no maternal or fetal risk and is characterised by dry, eczematous, itchy patches on the skin. It’s a result of pregnancy-specific immunological changes and reduced immunity. The condition resolves post-pregnancy and only requires symptomatic treatment. Using a good emollient moisturiser thrice a day along with specific medications from your dermatologist will help relieve the itch and dryness.
What can you do to treat or prevent these manifestations?
Your skin is going to stretch a lot during pregnancy, and that’s why moisturising and oiling are sacrosanct as per Dr Chytra — you can use Hyaluronic Acid-infused serums, Shea Butter/Cocoa Butter-containing moisturisers, or Almond/Olive/Castor/Wheatgerm oil. But keeping your skin nourished is important to prevent stretch marks and rashes from developing. Dr Chytra leaves us with another tip, “Use creams with Lactic Acid, Vitamin E, Macadamia Oils, and Cocoa or Shea Butter.” Think of your skin like a balloon, she says — just that it cannot pop. It tears instead — and that’s why stretch marks develop.
At what phase do these signs start to show?
These changes will start taking place during the last part of the first trimester (by the third month). You might experience peeling and dryness during the second trimester, and stretch marks can come in during the third trimester, according to Dr Chytra.
Are there any skincare ingredients to steer clear of during pregnancy?
Steer clear of high doses of Salicylic Acid and Retinol. Not enough studies have been conducted to gauge their effects on pregnancy. Apart from these, most products are relatively safe to use on the skin.
There’s a general consensus, then, that your body will undergo changes on the outside during pregnancy — this is natural, and it’s just your body’s way of adjusting to change. Just check in with your dermat every now and then — and you’re good.
Featured Image: Instagram
