Acne Breakouts During Pregnancy

That issue has been recurring in my life, as well.
I don't know if you are taking prenatal vitamins, but that would probably help a lot, especially if you also took a vitamin A supplement on top of that. I agree with the gal that said rinsing is better than washing. I haven't yet tried the Aveeno, or building up suds in my hands before applying it with water to my face, but I will. My daughter uses Aveeno, and she has ultra-sensitive skin. She had the same problem during much of her pregnancy before she started using Aveeno. Also--and I discovered this almost by accident--Jason's aftershave is a very mild, well, aftershave, but also is excellent for your skin. It has aloe, comfrey and vitamins A and E, as well as other awesome stuff.
For very troublesome spots, a bit of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen pyroxide on a cotton swab, gently rubbed into the skin, then protected from dirt and air with a band aid might do the trick.
Bless you and your pregnancy!

My friend is a really good estitician who works in an MD office. When I was preg, I had breakouts and she did some really good facials on me that worked really well. They can't use all their tools while you are preg, but there are some really good peels that got rid of mine. You can go to Physician's Choice in Scottsdale too. Or I can tell you my friend's number.

I had the exact same problem during both of my pregnancies, and what sounds like a similar skin history as yours. My first pregnancy, I just dealt with it, and it finally cleared up at the end of the third trimester. Ugh! The second time, I tried something different and it worked extremely well for me:

Morning: wash with an exfoliant- I used St. Ives Apricot scrub (just the basic stuff, not the stuff for acne), then I used a cotton pad to rub Witch Hazel as an astringent.
Night: wash with a mild face wash- I used Deep Clean by Neutrogena, then use the Witch Hazel again.

The witch hazel worked wonders, and my midwife assured me that it was safe to use for pregnancy. It was mild enough that it didn't dry my skin out, but strong enough that it kept my acne under control.

If your skin gets dry while doing it, I highly recommend using Calendula Baby Face Cream by Weleda. It's the only face cream I have found that doesn't make my skin break out, and Calendula is great for helping skin irritations heal.

I hope this helps, it really worked for me and I have struggled with acne my entire life. I can totally feel your frustration with your skin!

:-) T.

Hi L.,

I know it can be very difficult to deal with adult acne, and it's even harder when you are pregnant. I am not a professional, nor do I sell anything...just want to offer some suggestions and things I've heard.
How is your overall diet? You know we are what we eat, and maybe AYURVEDIC diet might help you. The philosophy behind this is that there are TONS of yummy vitamins/minerals and healing properties in certain foods. BUT, when and how you eat those foods may depend on the time of year and what type of person you are. I'm not an expert and have recently started looking into it myself, but it could be worth you checking out. Also, do the common things, like no fried foods. Eat more of the essential fatty acids like avacados, nuts, salmon. Certain fruits and veggies are supposed to be better for your skin as well. I think Spinach and Canteloupe are good for oily skin. Try basic skin care..like Cetaphil to cleanse, but a higher end hydrator. Try a glycolic acid based serum...you use it after cleansing and before moisturizer. Drink lots of water.
Do you tend to have stomach problems or issues? I've read that stomach problems will affect our facial skin. Don't know how, but from personal experience I do believe it's true. If you can speak to a Naturopath, maybe they can lead you in the right direction from healing on the inside out, instead of the outside in.
I have crazy skin too. Not so much with acne, but hyperpigmentation and too many breakouts for a grown woman:) But when you look in the mirror, really focus on the beautiful features you have. Maybe your eyes or lips, or smile. Are you constantly landblasting your skin and feeling bad about your looks? It's easy to do..I KNOW. But I invite you to put your energy into seeing the beauty in your face. OR focus on beautiful features on the rest of your body. OR focus on the internal gifts that you have and bring to the world. When we put all our energy and thoughts into what we DON'T like or want...it's really not serving us...it makes us feel worse and brings back more of what we DON'T want!
So you want to take action for clearing your skin? GREAT!!! Take action out of SELF LOVE. TRUE AND PURE SELF LOVE, and not out of self doubt or self loathing, or whatever. What other things, out of self love, can you say to yourself instead of, "I"M FED UP!" and "embarrassed about my face." ?
You probably want to hear a tried and true perfect too good to be true system to get rid of adult acne. You've dealt with it long enough and someone saying to love your self is probably maddening:) It's ok. But really, while on your search and action to achieve the kind of skin you desire....do it with self love. You want to give your light to yourself and your family. You can't do that while feeling bad about how you THINK you look.

Much good energy to you. And best wishes with your upcoming birth.

In peace,
A.
mom of 4. Birth and Parenting Mentor
www.birthingfromwithin.com

Been there, done that. Horrible pregnancy acne. I am a Mary Kay Sales Director, but I'll just give you some feedback. Not looking to sell you anything.

If you have cystic acne that is acne from the inside (stress/hormones/diet etc). Topical treatments don't usually do anything for it.

If it's any other kind of acne I'd recommend a cleanser and moisturizer that work TOGETHER specifically for your skin. Many product lines have so much acne medication in them that it strips your skin of all it's natural oils, creating acne. Also, drying it out in the process. Using a toner with benzol peroxide every other day on the affected areas only usually does the trick. I will say that MK offers try before you buy and a 100% return with no receipt or time frame. So if you know someone within your circle of friends that Teaches skin care you might give them a quick call. We also have a medical department with dermatologist's that the consultant can call regarding your skin for free as often as needed to "tweak" getting it just right.

Using multiple skin care product lines is kind of like baking a cake with 5 different receipes. It's tough to come out with a great finished product.

L., I slowly increased my garlic in take. Started by just rubbing garlic clove inside of what I was cooking in. It's inexpensive and helps kills bacteria. Also Diluted Tea Tree Oil, will help also.

D.

HI L., Congrats on the pregnancy! I have not had this problem but I was watching the TV show "Doctors" one day and they were saying on there to use white vinegar. I know the price is right, so maybe that is something you can try without possibly wasting a lot of money?? Good luck to you, I hope you find something safe and that works for you!

I'm not pregnant, but have struggled with moderate acne for 17 years. I have tried everything - even accutane - which just gave me permanent side affects. This is the only regimen I have found to really work without drying out my face too much. (No doctors or infomercials here, I came up with this one on my own) Also, I hardly break out before and during my period now:

Cleanse: Clean & Clear 10% Benzoyl Peroxide or
Oxy 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
MORNING & NIGHT
(I've found that changing from a BP lotion to a BP cleanser has made a world of difference when it comes to dryness and skintone)

Tone: Spritz face with Sprouts brand Natural Crystal Deoderant Spray. (sounds weird I know, but it's just natural mineral salts and not only does it create the right Ph for skin and traps bacteria, but it shrinks pores too!)
MORNING (NIGHT IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED A LITTLE EXTRA)

Moisture: Melaleuca Renew Lotion or any light lotion that does not clog your pores.
MORNING & NIGHT IF YOU SKIN CAN TAKE THAT MUCH

I also exfoliate in the shower 2-3 times a week using Clinique 7 day scrub .

You'll find that you won't completely stop breaking out, but there will be at least a 75% improvement...and the best part is that when you do have a blemish, the Sprouts spray is the fastest way to minimize it - and it won't get all pussy over and over again like when using Proactiv or similar BP products.

Good luck and let me know if this works for you! It started working for me within 24 hours.

I had the same thing, all 5 pregnancies! Check with your midwife/doctor but sublingual b12 works great! Also, a real good skin softener like Mary Kay Night Cream works great to soften the surface enough to let out the impurities.

I had bad cystic acne with my pregnancies and went on antibiotics to clear it.

Your skin also reflects what you eat. Make sure that you're sticking to lean meats, veggies, and fruits for both your skin and your baby!

I've always had extremely sensitive skin... can't even tell you how much worse it was when I was pregnant!

I've tried everything under the sun - the only thing that worked/works for me is Aveeno's Active Naturals line of skin care. I am very impressed. It took about a week for the acne to clear up and then my skin tone brightened as well. Give it a try... I use the clear complexion bar soap for night washing - but I don't apply the soap lather directly to my face, just sud it up in your hands and then with hands full of water & remaining soap mixture, rinse your face. Very light way of using a product. I learned it from friends I met in Amsterdam, they believed any product smeared into your skin would irritate it so, they 'rinse' instead. After rinsing morning or night, I use Aveeno's Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer followed by a good sunscreen. Good Luck!

You may really be interested in an all-natural botanical, chemical-free skin care line. Your skin is the largest organ of your body. Whatever you eat affects it, as well as whatever you apply to it. If your organs of elimination are not functioning properly (ie: if your liver is overloaded with fat or alcohol, or your kidneys are dehydrated from caffeine, or your spleen is clogged from eating a lot of canola oil, or your intestines are coated with plaque) all the waste is going to come out your skin. Anything skin care products with mineral oil or petroleum, laurel sulfates, parabens, ureas, steralkonium chloride, synthetic colors and fragrances are POISON and only worsen conditions. I am a certified herbal consultant and if you have any questions or are interested in some excellent PURE and SAFE products (especially for a pregnant mother) feel free to contact me or visit my website: www.shootingstarherbs.amazonherb.net. Good luck.

I had horrible cystic acne on my back during my pregnancy. The Dr. (a derm) gave me antibiotics, if I recall, but it didn't do much...Having the baby did! It started to clear up within a week of giving birth!

I hope you have better luck than I did.

Congrats & good luck!
K.

If you are crunchy, hopefully you will be open to some alternative suggestions. First, you could consult an herbalist, especially one well versed in women's health/pregnancy. Second, I battled cystic acne my whole life and still do unless I take high vitamin cod liver oil. Some people will tell you you're supposed to avoid vitamin A during pregnancy, but all the studies done showing vitamin A toxicity were done with artificial A, not true, food sourced A. Again, do some research and make your own decisions. If you'd like more info on cod liver oil, see here:
http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/clarifications...
http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/codliveroil.html

I would also suggest avoiding antibiotics during pregnancy and looking into more probiotics and fermented foods.

Good luck. I know how hard it is!

Hi L., Congrats on your upcoming baby! I too had major cystic acne - it started in my 20s. I believe it is hormonal. However, I tried all sorts of treatments but then I LET IT GO. I stopped hiding and didn't care what people thought of my acne. This treatment helped me the most. However I still get one coming now and then, and now I dab a cottonball with tea tree oil and put it on. Usually it works. But if it doesn't... oh well! Remember it's who you are inside that matters...Peace and best wishes for a healthy, happy baby! C., mom of 2 teens

My daughter uses Clearasil Ultra Daily Face Wash it says Clearer skin in just 3 days. I have seen the miracle of this especially after Procactive made my kids break out. My son uses Oxy face wash (Maximum). This stuff is so good that when he ran out he was breaking out and as soon as I got him some more the pimples went away. Ask your doctor if they are ok? I don't know if the ingredients wouldn't be good for a pregnant woman. If not then rubbing alcohol works wonders. By the way my kids are 10 and 13 and their faces were horrible before these washes. Good luck.

The Clearasil I get at Walmart and the Oxy I get at Walgreens.

Use MAryKay acne cream - it's wonderful and won't dry out your skin. Just put on trouble areas. I used then and am using again as I go thru my midlife change.

Sorry to hear. Try an acupuncturist. If this isn't the first time this has happened to you, something is out of balance when you're pregnant and it is manifesting in your skin. Acupuncture does wonders. I'm in ABQ so I don't know if I can recommend someone to you or not. Also, calendula washes, witch hazel and aloe can do wonders for the skin. I've been using them on my face and I don't have many problems with acne anymore (i also get acupuncture once a month).
Good luck!

I had bad acne when I was pregnant with my son. Being pregnant with him put to much testosterone in my body. Which caused me to break out...

Not sure what to tell you about things to use to take care of it... I just had to deal with it.

I was desperate but this is what worked for me. Take several tablespoons of ordinary oatmeal (don't know if instant works, I used the old-fashioned kind) and stir enough water into it to make a paste. Smear it on your face and let dry. Wash with clear water. I promised within a week (or less), you won't believe the difference. The bottom line is that it costs just about nothing. Good luck!