Pregnancy and Acne
Posted by Owner on Jul 16, 2009
Women who have become pregnant often report an increase in acne. Many changes occur within a woman’s body in an effort to properly prepare the body for the growing fetus. The two primary female hormones at work in every woman’s body are progesterone and estrogen. During pregnancy, progesterone becomes the dominant hormone, taking on new roles as the fetus develops. But progesterone is more androgenic than estrogen, which basically means it is more like the hormones found in men. Increased progesterone during pregnancy causes the sebaceous glands to produce more sebaceous oils than normal and that is what can cause outbreaks of acne.
If it’s possible, the best way to handle acne during pregnancy is to realize that it is a short-term problem that will usually go away once the baby is born. If this isn’t possible, discuss your options over with a dermatologist who has experience working with patients during their pregnancy. After discussing your situation, the dermatologist will be able to suggest treatment options which will make you happier with your appearance and that won’t harm your baby.