Do I Need to Stop My Acne Skin Care Regimen During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy usually brings along with it a host of medical concerns which prompt behavioral and lifestyle changes. It is common knowledge that pregnant women should avoid smoking and drinking, not to mention some excessively physical activities. But there are also a host of other medicines and procedures which should be avoided during pregnancy. So, the question is, how does pregnancy affect acne skin care regimens?
Many acne medicines are quite explicit about the fact that you should not use them during pregnancy. Roaccutane and Accutane are certainly among these. For those of us that have used the products, the medicine packaging picturing a pregnant woman with an ?X? over her sent a strong message that they should not be used if you are, or might become pregnant. There are other medicines, such as Tetracycline tablets and topical retinoids such as Tretinoin and Adapalene which can have detrimental effects on the bones and teeth of developing fetuses. While these medicines should clearly be avoided because of the detrimental effects they have on your baby, there are other medicines which should potentially be stopped simply because they are no longer appropriate when pregnant.
Pregnancy is often associated with a period of drier than normal skin. As a result, a number of acne medicines which are designed specifically to dry out the skin, namely benzoyl peroxide cream or gel may no longer be appropriate.
But does this mean that there are no acne skin care regimens that can be followed? Absolutely not. There are in fact a number of milder and often natural solutions which can contribute to healthier acne free skin which either have no, or even positive effects on your child. To replace harsh creams or gels designed to dry out the skin, an excellent alternative is tea tree oil. A milder facial wash can also provide the cleansing effect of an acne wash without over-drying your skin, which is naturally drier due to pregnancy. But because you may be giving up some of the acne fighting power by switching over to a milder wash, it is a good idea to supplement your acne fighting regimen with some natural clay masks such as Kaolin and Bentonite which will absorb oil and clear blocked pores naturally.
The second avenue through which pregnant women can clear up their skin while positively affecting the health of the child, is through their diet. By consuming higher quantities of raw vegetables, whose antioxidant properties serve to take free radicals (also referred to as bacteria) out of your system, you can cut down on the amount of bacteria released through your pores. In addition, by cutting back on the quantity of sugars and refined carbohydrates that you eat, you will naturally cut down on the amount of sebum or oil that your body produces. This will keep your pores clearer and allow the bacteria which passes through your pores to come out cleanly and without causing infection and acne. These approaches, in addition to providing you with clearer skin, are a safe and healthy alternative to acne fighting while simultaneously improving the health of your child.

5 Tips for Acne Treatment

Acne is a problem that very few people really understand. Doctors and specialists alike are baffled as to why it strikes some more than others. An acne pimple is formed when a pore collapses. This blocks the sebum from escaping out of this pores as it would normally. Acne is more likely to be caused by hormones, vitamin deficiency, a poor diet or stress. A lot of time and money has been spent researching a cure and prevention from the onslaught of acne and as such there are numerous cures on the shelves that acne sufferers may want to consider using.
1- A bad diet is proven to cause acne, so sticking to a well balanced diet will certainly help clear up or prevent acne. Garlic and onions can be particularly helpful because these contain sulphur. Drinking lots of purified water can also be very effective, rehydrating the skin and improving your glands.
2- As well as a healthy diet and lots of water there are also vitamin and nutritional supplements you can take that will also assist in beating acne. Vitamins A, C and E are particularly helpful and combining these with zinc orotate is sure to have an effect.
3- Be careful about which moisturizers and cleaners you use on your skin. If you already suffer from acne this is especially important. Choose a mild cleanser and apply it twice a day to the acne infected areas. There are several specialist cleansers ideally suited to this task.
4- Be careful what you are subjecting your skin to. Perfumes, moisturizers and even some soap can flare up a reaction from your acne. Make sure you select products that are suited to your skin type and don't overdo the amount you use. Washing your face too often can actually irritate your acne and you should only do so twice a day.
5- Tempting though it may be you should try to avoid squeezing and picking. This can result in open sores that can easily become infected. By picking acne there is a good chance you will make it last longer. Ordinarily you can expect an acne pimple to last a week or more.