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Caring for Your Skin After Having Your First Baby

For nine months, you have been carrying around your growing baby inside of you and it has not been kind on your skin. There are several conditions that can arise after having a baby that directly relate to the skin. Taking some time to care for your skin allows you to return to the way you looked before you had a baby. In some cases, you just might offer yourself some temporary relief while your body heals itself. Skin conditions you may find yourself facing include: Melasma, stretch marks and itchy skin. These are all very common in new mothers and can be eliminated with careful attention and care.

Melasma

This is a condition that is commonly referred to as the “mask of pregnancy” by doctors and parents. It not serious, and is caused when the body creates more melanin than normal. Melanin is the chemical that is responsible for the color in your skin, eyes and hair. When you suffer from melasma, you may see some dark patches in your skin. Melasma most commonly appears as dark patches on the face, which is how it got its nickname. The patches will eventually lessen in severity or fade entirely, but in the meantime, you should use a lotion with an SPF of 30 or higher to keep your skin from getting any darker. Additionally you can cover the spots with concealers. White and yellow are the best undertones for covering up this kind of problem. You can also use topical prescriptions to ‘bleach’ the dark spots from your skin. Be sure to read ingredients carefully and be alert for possible allergic reactions to any lotions or treatments.

Stretch Marks

As women enter their sixth and seventh month of pregnancy, there is a great likelihood that stretch marks will develop. The use of common bath and body lotions can help to prevent these stretch marks from happening by providing more elasticity to the skin. Look for products with collagen in them to encourage the resilience of the skin and prevent ever having stretch marks in the first place. If it is too late, you can use some sunless tanning products to cover up the stretch marks while you seek professional help in removing them. Over the counter products do not do much to eliminate the problem, but prescription strength creams with tretinoin in them can help. Some women have to undergo laser therapy to get rid of their stretch marks completely. If they are something you can live with, using lotions and creams will eventually help to fade the appearance of your stretch marks.

Itchy Skin

The skin may become itchy during and after pregnancy. This is due to the body producing more histamines than normal. They are a natural way to fight off disease within the body, but they have an unfortunate reaction with the skin that can cause you to feel itchy. The most common places for you to feel this itch are on your palms and the soles of your feet. Only time will stop the itch from occurring, but in the meantime you can find some temporary relief. Make sure the cleanser you are using is soap-free and fragrance free. This is much easier on the skin and will help to alleviate the itchiness. If you feel an itch, reach for some oatmeal-based moisturizer you keep in the fridge. The lotion helps on its own, but chilling it makes it doubly effective.

If you follow this advice, you will on the road to enjoying great looking skin again in no time. Take care of melasma, stretch marks and itchy skin and start enjoying your new baby.

Stefanie Murray

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