Dry Skin During Pregnancy

When you find out you’re pregnant, you immediately know you’re on the precipice of severe changes in every area of your life. While a little one (or two!) is growing inside you, you may not notice the many changes your body goes through during the process.

And while a lot of these may be covered by your doctor, one thing that might not come up until you start to struggle with it is how pregnancy can affect your skin. 

How Does Your Skin Change During Pregnancy?

Your skin changes a lot throughout pregnancy — in more ways than you might expect! Not only will you have to contend with stretch marks if your body changes to accommodate your soon-to-be little one, but your hormones can affect your skin in various ways.

Even the so-called pregnancy “glow” is due to a spike in blood production. This can make your skin appear brighter, but there are some downsides to how pregnancy may impact your skin, too.

You can also experience excess oil production, which can lead to breakouts and acne.

Additionally, your changing hormones can cause your skin’s elasticity and moisture to decrease as your skin puts its efforts towards stretching to accommodate a whole second person. As a result, you may experience flaking, itching and other dry skin-related symptoms.

These symptoms are most common in the areas of your body that tend to stretch the most, like your stomach, thighs, arms and breasts. And while most of us have experienced dry skin at one point or another, addressing your skincare concerns while pregnant is a whole different ball game. You have to be sure that how you manage dry skin is also safe for your baby. 

What Makes Certain Skincare Products Unsafe for Pregnancy?

While your developing baby won’t come into direct contact with the skincare products, certain ingredients can be absorbed into your body, which means they can still affect your baby. Most over-the-counter skincare products are safe for use, but it’s best to speak to a doctor or dermatologist to decide which ingredients are best to avoid.

If you’re having trouble looking through complicated ingredient lists, stick to products labeled as pregnancy-safe.

Let’s talk about some products and remedies you can use while pregnant to help ease frustrating skincare concerns like dry skin. We don’t want you to miss out on a single minute of that mother-to-be glow! 

1. Prioritize Ultra-Hydrating Ingredients

Hopefully, you already have a good moisturizer in your life! After all, it’s the cornerstone of an effective skincare routine. But the dryness that pregnancy can bring might call for something a little more heavy-duty.

Now’s the time to look for products with intense hydration to ensure your skin is getting everything it needs to stay well-nourished and hydrated.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is your best bet here — it’s a humectant, which means it attracts water molecules and holds up to 1000x its weight in water to keep your skin hydrated. Our Hydrabalance Brightening Moisture Infusion is formulated not just with Hyaluronic Acid but also with hydrating Squalane and moisture-locking Lecithin.

Ceramides are also a great addition to your routine to help fight pregnancy-related dry skin! Our Even Tone Barrier Repair Ceramide Cream can help restore ceramides to your skin, promoting an even, moisturized complexion. 

2. Shop in the Food Aisle

While these oils are commonly used for cooking, Olive Oil and Coconut Oil can offer some intense moisture to your skin and help you retain it. If you’re struggling with dryness, these oils can help.

But you don’t necessarily have to go to the grocery store for high-quality skincare. What you want most from these oils are their occlusive properties, which means their ability to lock moisture into your skin.

Our Reti-Glow™ Gentle Resurfacing Night Oil uses pregnancy-safe Phyto-Retinol Bakuchiol to help even out and brighten your complexion, in addition to Safflower and Castor Oil to help keep your skin hydrated.

3. Moisturize While You Sleep

If you aren’t already using a night cream, it’s time to work one into your routine. While moisturizing after you shower is key, your body is in recovery mode while you sleep. Because of this, it’s the perfect opportunity to give your skin an added boost of hydration. Not only is your body primed to absorb it, but you’re less likely to lose product while you sleep due to mitigating factors like sweat and the rub of clothing.

Our Mega Moisture Illuminating Night Cream is the dry skin hero you need to get your pregnancy glow on. It’s a rich, probiotic-infused moisturizer that rescues dry, dull and dehydrated skin with nourishing Shea Butter and free radical-fighting Vitamin E. 

4. Swap Out Drying Ingredients

Several ingredients aren’t safe for pregnancy, although they may work well for you at other times in your life. Additionally, pregnancy can make your skin more sensitive than usual. So while certain ingredients like Lactic Acid may benefit your skin and are potentially safe to use in low concentrations, these ingredients can exacerbate your dryness.

You can make some easy swaps — like trading chemical exfoliants for physical options or using Bakuchiol instead of Retinol — to stay pregnancy-safe and promote hydration. But you can also benefit from these ingredients in less potentially reactive ways.

For instance, have you heard

that Cleopatra bathed in milk to get her legendary glow? That may be because milk is a natural source of Lactic Acid! So, a milk bath can help slough away dead skin cells and hydrate your skin without irritation. 

5. Cut Back on Hot Showers

Hot showers can feel relaxing, especially if you’re dealing with soreness due to all the changes in your body. However, long hot baths can strip away your body’s natural oils and exacerbate any flaking or irritation you may be experiencing. Showering with warm or even cold water can help keep your skin hydrated. 

If you have any questions about the use of any of our products during pregnancy, please consult your physician. If you have any questions about the concentration of a specific ingredient in any of our products, please contact support@urbanskinrx.com.

In Conclusion

The changes you’ll have to make during your pregnancy can initially feel overwhelming. From having to cut back on your favorite wine to child-proofing cabinets so that even you can’t open them, it’s a lot to take in! But one area that you don’t have to stress about is choosing the best skincare products for your routine.

While you may have to swap out some of your go-to products to ensure that everything in your routine is safe, Urban Skin Rx® has many options that can help restore your natural glow. With your little one on their way into the world, you’ll have a lot to glow about in the coming months!

By: Ivey Rogers Aesthetician Educator & Community
Engagement Manager