Ace

K.,

Be very careful! What I thought was 'acne' was extremely dry skin! I used witch hazel, which left me with really clean skin. So clean it, it wiped out all the natural oils that protected my face and I got something else on top of it. UGH!

My first reaction to your question was AUGH! it's not acne. : ) Treat yourself to at least 64 oz of water per day - and if you are in a hotter climate, try drinking 4 oz every 1/2 hour or so. Do that for a day (pain, I know) set a timer, etc, and just do it.

If you have true acne, see a dermo if you can. Be VERY careful, because not all doctors are 'up' on what you can and cannot use (I found not all of them 'think' in terms of pregnancy). La Leche League is a very good resource for what you can and cannot use (even topically) during pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding. There's a website and an 800 # you can call. Just make sure you get an answer before you buy/take any meds.

Good luck,
M.

Reading back - you have a lot of good info here, too. Not ALL of it is bunk, though! I just included the stuff I figured you'd know about. I am looking up

The China Study by T Colin Campbell

as we speak.

May I suggest to the person who talked about that book :

Weston A Price . org - RATHER a good site to get acquainted with foods and their natural ability to prevent stuff like this (and a lot of things) from happening.

I trust doctors only so far. I trust MY doctor much more because, while she is not a naturopath, she IS open-minded to more natural remedies that don't cause problems on top of problems you are already trying to mitigate.

I almost forgot - I am using Weleda Calendula ointment (it is vaseline-free, and all-natural and it is helping my skin close itself over the dryness that has yet again opened it. Hopefully before I get infected with something!

I agree with Dana, some of that sounded pretty off the wall... ANYWAY I used to use mild face cleansers before I was pregnant, but when I WAS pregnant, those cleansers were actually making my face WORSE! I finally stopped everything altogether, and just rinsed my face twice daily with tap water. I didn't use any moisturizers after... and my face cleared up within a week. It was the craziest thing ever... like my face was TOO exposed to all the cleansers, if that makes sense. If all else fails, try it out! Best wishes and congrats on the pregnancy!

Hi K.. I also experienced acne during pregnancy. During pregnancy as well I learned, your skin becomes much more sensitive to chemicals and fragrances, as well as the sun. The following routine and tips is based on research, my dermatologist, and my trial and error experience:
1. Gentle cleanser: Cetaphil, Purpose (Do not use anything with alcholhol, menthol, lemon, camphor etc.)

2. Exfoliator -- Clinique Sensitive Skin Clarifying Lotion (the one that is alchohol free and contains .5% BHA. Do not use the alchohol ones. they are very drying and potentially irritating).

3. Acne medication -- check with your dermatologist about which is best for your skin. I was given Clindamycin plus zinc formula (Zindaclin) and was told this was mild and does not make skin more sensitive to the sun. i was also told to use only sparingly on my acne spots (using a Q Tip)

4. If you try anything new, do a patch test on a small part of your face to ensure no reaction. During pregnancy you may react to things you might not react to normally, due to hormones.

5. Consider taking prenatal vitamins as well as another one with Omega Fish Oils. (they are good for the skin and fetus :))

6. Plenty of sunblock as skin is more sensitive to the sun during pregnancy . Non chemical, non fragranced is best (Neutragena, Aveeno Baby, Clinique etc.)

7. Finally, please know that any acne due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy does eventually pass, although at the time it can be frustrating I know, and it is worthy it once you see your precious little one.

GL

K.-

The advice given to the previous posters is really bad advice.
I've had acne almost my entire life including cystic acne as an adult.

There are only 2 medications my OB/GYN and dermatologist recommended while I was pregnant: Keflex (antibiotic) and anything that contains Benzyl Peroxide (such as Oxy, Persagel, etc).

You can NOT use anything with Salicylic Acid under any circumstance - it is in a lot of over the counter medications.

Please DO NOT try anything unless you've verified it is safe with a dermatologist, your OB or a pharmacist.

You diet has NOTHING to do with your acne during pregnancy - it is completely related to pregnancy hormones that are in abundance. Acne is caused by oils in your skin getting trapped in pores and bacteria causing an infection. Foods do not bring out oils in your skin.

Get a good cleanser (soap) for your skin. Wash it twice/day. Use a topical with Benzyl peroxide. Once you get through the first trimester, the hormones are much more even as will be your complexion.

Hi K. - I am 16 weeks pregnant and since day one with this pregnancy my acne was out of control. I started to watch for different things that I eat that bring out the oils in my skin. Mayonnaise, mustard, peanut butter, coffee, tea, and the list can go on. I asked my doctor if I can use Nixoderm (it's in a tiny green can and can only be ordered). He said I can use anything but Proactive, Retn-A, and any strong chemical acne medication orally or topical that has any ingredient that is dangerous to the fetus. So I showed him the can and he said that will be just fine. I began washing my face with Cleraphill and using the NIxoderm only on the spots that are prominent for acne. I get mine mostly on my chin. I've also come to the conclusion that I am one of those lucky ladies who can go a week without washing my hair because it does not get greasy. However, after the third or fourth day I will have a line of a breakout around my hairline...indicating that because my hair doesn't stink and doesn't look early it's obviously dirty because it's causing my face to break out. So try to be sure that you wash your hair every other day or if you have to every day. Also, I changed my makeup foundation to MAC. That has also made an extremely better difference in the appearance of my skin. It's also important that you wash your face three times a day. As long as you are not using a sopa that dries out your skin. In the morning, when you come home from work, or errands and right before bed. And also be sure you try to change the pillowcases at least twice a week. I had to discover all of this on my own unfortunately and I hope all that will work for you. None of us woman being pregnant and already feeling uncomfortable want to deal with ane too....

Take care. Oh you can order the nixoderm at www.oxiderm.com

Water, water and more water.

Rinse face off with just water and pat dry. Give your skin a break from cleansers and moisturizers. Watch you intake of oily foods such as peanut butter and see if that helps any.

Hi K.---I would add to your previous response that you want to be sure your diet is as clean as possible, as food can have a big impact on your skin. Your hormones are the likely culprit and I don't think you can do much about that, except to eat a high fiber diet, which is good for everyone, especially with being pregnant. Current guidelines suggest ~ 24 g of fiber daily. A naturopath I work with feels this totally inadequate. She suggests more than 50 g per day, and I've heard lots more suggested for optimal health. Eating lots of fiber will remove excess circulating hormones from the body, as well as excess cholesterol, preventing them from being reabsorbed into the body.

Yes, 50g is A LOT. Here's where your diet plays a roll. Eat mostly fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, legumes (beans), nuts and seeds. Use animal protein sparingly, as a condiment or a side-dish. Too much animal protein leads to degenerative disease. I suggest you read The China Study by T Colin Campbell, if you'd like to know more about too much animal protein. I would also recommend no dairy. Dairy can contribute to acne in a big way and is also a risk factor for type 1 diabetes. Go to www.pcrm.org and www.strongbones.org to learn more about 'why not milk'.

Don't worry about getting adequate protein or calcium with these suggestions. Veggies have lots of both. I make a game out of counting fiber rather than calories to be sure I get enough, because, believe me, it takes some planning and intention to eat that much fiber...until you are in that new habit.

The benefits are endless, for you and your baby. Dr. Pam has shared research that moms who exercise when pregnant have babies with stronger hearts and are 2-3 oz leaner than other babies. What you do and eat now in large part determines the long term health outcome of your baby.
I'd be happy to share more with you so feel free to contact me with any questions. It is my honor to help others learn how to be healthier.
Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy. D.

PS. Before you put lots of stuff on your skin such as lotions or sunscreens, please go to www.ewg.org and look at their skin care database of dangerous chemicals. I would also advocate a minimum of 15-20 of unfiltered sunlight daily, or as often as possible, so your body can make adequate amounts of vitamin D, important for all bodily functions as well as skin health. Your baby will thank you for it as well.

Use "Niapads" (Nicotinamide acne pads) for controlling your acne. Nicotinamide is also known as Vitamin B3 or Niacinamide. Niapads - It’s Simple for Pimple(C). One step process provides exfoliation, pore cleansing, prevention of Acne and Skin Lightening (acne scars). One step easy process that delivers results. Visit www.niapads.com