A few of us on our BB group are having problems with skin breakouts, I know I've got a lot more pimples than I normally would which is irritating me no end.
Are there any suggestions other than scrupulous cleansing/moisturising to try help it clear up a bit?
Witch Hazel. You can get a 200mL bottle for about $5 from the supermarket, just apply it with a make-up pad. It lasts forever and it the best product I have found for clearing skin.
Hi CK, I'm not preggers but can offer some basic tips as a makeup artist and acne sufferer!
For mild-moderate breakouts a good diet, exercise, drinking lots of water and some preg-friendly minerals/supplements may help. I'd also recommend a very basic cleansing, toning, moisturising and exfoliating regime. The Cetaphil range is good and I like witch hazel too. Get a gentle scrub but stay away from anything harsh with large granules like St Ives apricot, that stuff is evil - it literally scratches away dead skin. Dermatologists have warned me off it in the past.
You can also try switching to a mineral makeup with lots of good ingredients that will help, rather than clog your skin. Just make sure you watch out for fillers like talc and bismuth, which can irritate skin.
A naturopath may be able to give you some recommendations also.
Hmmm, will look out for some. Have my best mate's wedding in a few months where I'm a bridesmaid, so don't want my skin looking horrible. I don't normally wear makeup much at all, other than very rare occasions when going out somewhere special.
I had breakouts right throughout my pregnancy (even on my back and that's NEVER happened to me :o) but they did calm down a bit probably about half way into the second trimester. I did try Pro Active for a while and although it helped a bit, it's pretty harsh IMO (it bleached my towels and pillowcase!) so I stopped using it - sent it back for a refund actually.
I ended up continuing with my normal routine and things eventually calmed down. My skin was well and truly back to normal by the time DD arrived.
I honestly think as it's hormone related, there's not a lot you can do except ride it out.
Is witch hazel ok to use when pregnant?
Yes witch hazel is. proactive however has an ingredient you shouldn't use when pregnant...
I use gamophen soap, it comes in a bar, it foams well clears your skin up .... literally in two days and is only $2 a bar at woolworths or the chemist :)
I need to buy more witch hazel, I use both the witch hazel like a toner :)
I took the bottles to my OB before I used Proactive and he checked all the ingredients and said it was fine, especially from the second trimester onwards. He said any warnings on their bottles are the standard warnings merely to cover their bums in case a pregnant woman did have an adverse reaction:
My skin goes absoluely stupid when pregnant. Especially my back - yuk. Unfortunately, because it is the hormones causing it, there is only very limited things you can do.
You do have to be careful about what you use. I use clearasil products, but they don't really seem to do much. Unfortunately the stronger options (eg, Benzac) are a big 'no, no'. So I resign myself to crappy skin for 9months.
Hi cranky kitty, I've gotten massive break outs on my face, chest and back. I tried garnier roll on acne treatment and it seemed to be working, however I'm a bit worried now that mum2 mentioned proactive....
Mine went beserk every time. It's hormonal and nothing I put on it helped. On the bright side, when it started to clear up it did so very quickly :) Sorry I can't remember how far along that was!