Pregnant Women Everywhere Are Asking?
Melasma, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture, dark spots, however, you refer to your beautiful pregnancy-evolving skin, we hear you and we can support you on the journey back to feeling like yourself. But first, let’s dive into the science of what’s actually happening for you here.
The increase in the female sex hormones during pregnancy, postpartum and even while breastfeeding can make your full body skin slightly darker. This can also make existing pigment darker and it can make irregular patches form on the face (most commonly on the upper cheek, nose, lips, and forehead). This is called ‘chloasma’. It is also sometimes known as ‘melasma’ or the ‘mask of pregnancy’.
Hormonal changes taking place in pregnancy and postpartum will even make your nipples and genitalia go darker. Some women develop a dark line down the middle of their stomach, called ‘linea nigra’. These changes will gradually fade after the baby is born, although your nipples may remain a little darker. If you sunbathe while you are pregnant, you are more susceptible to the sun, this can then result in burning. It is very important to protect your skin with a good high-factor sunscreen and don’t stay in the sun for a long time.
Hair growth can also increase in pregnancy, and your hair may be greasier. After the baby is born, it may seem as if you are losing a lot of hair but you are simply losing the extra hair. The good news is, this can and will subside on its own with time, the further you come out of breastfeeding or postpartum.
There are a few contingencies…..sun exposure during this stage of time will increase the darkening and potentially make it long term, also incorrect treatments during this period could cause long term melanin damage.
Now to the good part, all pigment is treatable!! I know some specialists may tell you otherwise but skincare and clinical treatments have and continue to come a long way, when treated by educated specialists, yes that is US! You can have huge reductions in pigmentation, even on Melasma and Chloasma. This can take a little time to see the full result as this kind of pigmentation is often induced dermaly, the longer it has been present the longer it can take to remove or reduce.
I have listed three indications that can be referred to as Dermal Pigmentation:
1. MSH Cascade (Compounded Melasma) Butterfly pattern of pigmentation
2. Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
3. Solar Lentigines
All three of these conditions are difficult to resolve permanently if you do not treat all the way to the dermis. Quick fixes can sometimes only traumatise / stimulate melanin production further or increase further inflammation in the skin, such as long term use of prescription options.
Can you treat Pigmentation during pregnancy? Yes but safely and more superficial is better during this time.
1.Use appropriate activities and skin care at home!! – Those who have lived on a single-income household or government maternity leave, (aka not much in today’s world) know this unfortunately isn’t the time you can drop all your pennies on skin treatments necessarily plus with pregnancy-induced pigment consistency of treatment is key. So without any doubt for a multitude of reasons, during your pregnancy, I recommend Synergie Skin Enlighten & Effica C in the A.M and VitaminB and Superserum in the P.M. with the addition of one of their newest products in the range. With the works best clean science cleansers and moisturisers there is not a dollar wasted. Extra bonus it is Australian made, produced and leading the way for sustainability in the skincare industry.
2. In clinic treatments during your pregnancy – if you can justify the in clinic treatments, time is of the essence. the longer the pigment damaged cells recreate through mitosis the more correction is required later. But it is a time to be aware of the treatments you are having and feel comfortable with who is treating your skin and how?. So be gentle on your skin and soul. I love to support my clients skin’s during pregnancy with Enzyme and Lactic Clinical Peels, Plabeau device, Crystal Energy Facial, Skin Needling (on the right candidate), Epi-blading (is amazing for getting rid of the growing abundance of peach fuzz) and Bespoke oil regulating treatments.
3. Postpartum treatments – now the fun treatments start, weekly LED Light Therapy will get you and your skin off to a great start and give you 30minutes of baby free time. This must be a TGA approved LED device. I’m sorry I’m going to say it: most of your home use LED LIGHT DEVICES ARE NOT TGA APPROVED! And are not hitting a Therapeutic level meaning they do nothing for cell improvement and some may even be hitting the UV spectrum and you are getting further UVdamage, with your superficial brightness coming from UV EXPOSURE which will later, turn into more pigmentation.
Other treatments our clients see incredible results with are all of our SynergieSkin Clinical Peels– stepping up the doses in stages, Skin Needling and even Skin Boosters are incredible for dermal stimulated pigmentation as the hyaluronic and amino acids can disintegrate pigment-induced cells while stabilising the dermis to allow for healthier new cells to form. Now is also the time to make space for a little you time so I highly recommend our Crystal Energy Facial (it still packs punch and improves the skin tone and texture) which restores the soul and mind along with the skin.
4.No Lazers, NO IPL, No Fraxel – these treatments come under a multitude of Brand names but are not conducive to your skin’s pigmentation while pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s a whole other blog on why these are not beneficial for hormonally induced pigmentation but while you are pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding please do not use them on Pigmentation or for Hair removal!!
5. Have thorough consultation with an informed Dermal Therapist – prior to commencing any treatments, take time to nurture yourself, there is no need to jump into anything. You are perfectly you in every stage including this one.
Lastly, be kind to yourself. This stage of your life will not last forever and it’s important to enjoy the good things rather than focus on the bad (but keep in mind hormones and sleep deprivation may heighten the negative thoughts). So once again I emphasise BE KIND TO YOURSELF!! especially when it comes to your external appearance because all that really matters is your internal health and mindset, along with baby!
With love
Jess x