Red dry skin, chapped skin, itchy skin, darkened areas, stretch marks and varicose veins are some of the side effects on the skin that pregnancy comes up with. Well, hormonal changes in the body and the working of immune system are to be blamed for this. But ever wondered what are the causes behind the red dry skin are during pregnancy and what can be done to solve this problem? We will discuss the causes of red dry skin during pregnancy in this article below:
Causes of red dry skin during pregnancy:
Red dry skin is pretty common during pregnancy and there are a number of causes behind the same. Some of these causes are listed below:
- The first and foremost reason, is the hormonal changes that are responsible for dry skin during pregnancy.
- The onset of Rosacea may be another reason. If you already have it, the condition may deteriorate causing redness to the cheeks.
- During pregnancy, the blood flow increases by 50%, so it is normal to notice the pregnancy glow on your face.
- The oil glands are stimulated to produce extra oil during pregnancy, that results in acne. Thus, if you frequently wash your face to get rid of the acne, your skin may become dry.
- Pregnancy-related stress is another reason for dry skin.
- The elasticity of the skin is also affected by dietary changes during pregnancy.
Complications associated with dry skin during pregnancy:
With dry skin comes the problem of itchiness, which on scratching can cause small tears or cracks in the skin, thus further makes your skin more prone and susceptible to other infections. At times, you may also need medical care to treat red dry skin in case it fails to get cured by natural home remedies. We will look at some of the natural home remedies that can help you to get rid of dry skin during pregnancy.
Natural Remedies to Treat Red Dry Skin During Pregnancy:
Avoid harsh soaps
Highly avoid using harsh soaps and rather try a cleanser that does not consists of actual soap or perfumes. Also, do not wash your face frequent times a day. Wash your face once a day and that too at night if you have got to remove your makeup.
Read More: Is Your Skin Changing During Pregnancy?
Moisturize daily
You have to make sure that your moisturizer does not consists of any irritants. Thereby, ensure that you check the ingredients of your moisturizer for fragrance and alcohol. Also, use moisturizers that consists of olive oil.
Be gentle
Don’t go too harsh on your skin by rubbing briskly with a towel. Instead, wash your face and gently use a towel to just blot the water off your face.
Use lukewarm water
As we know that hot water is also responsible for dry skin, thereby it is recommended that you wash your face with lukewarm water. Also, keep your showers to somewhere between 10-15 minutes to be on the safer side.
Read More: 11 Home Remedies for Itchy Skin During Pregnancy
Healthy diet
Healthy food plays an important role in keeping your skin healthy. You should thus eat foods such as avocado, olive oils and canola oil to keep your skin moisturized. In addition to this, you must drink plenty of fluid, mainly water and other non-caffeinated drinks.
Good face mask
Chemicals and harsh soap will only worsen the condition. Thus, look around for natural ingredients in your kitchen and use natural masks to nourish your skin. Take half an avocado and stir it in a tablespoon of olive oil, honey and orange juice and mix them all together. Now, apply this mask on your face for 30 minutes. You may do this for twice to thrice a week but not more than that.
Read More: Skin Tags During Pregnancy
Avoid chemical scrubs
Remember, chemicals will only irritate your skin, thereby you should avoid the usage of products that consists of any such ingredients like alcohol. Apart from this, these chemicals may even get into your body through your skin and may not be good for you, especially during pregnancy. Therefore, you should always consult your health care provider before deciding to use any products for your skin.
Dry skin is very common among pregnant women. There are several home remedies that one can rely on to cure this skin issue. But remember that the issue of dry skin can also be prevented since the very beginning of pregnancy as this makes your skin more susceptible to the infections. The best way this can be done is by keeping your lifestyle healthy.
Read More: Skin Tags During Pregnancy: Will They Ever Go Away?
