Pregnancy and Acne: Are they related?

The pregnancy term and its effects differ from woman to woman. While someone react in one way, others may do so in a completely different manner. The same holds true when talking about pregnancy and acne. While there are women who actually develop beautiful, glowing and mark-free skin during pregnancy, there are others who are afflicted by severe cases of acne. There is no hard and fast rule which states that your skin will retain its natural condition when you are pregnant. It may change for the better or for the worse, or it might not react at all.
 
Pregnancy often leads to acne because of the increase in the levels of hormones in the body. Increase in progesterone which is an Androgenic hormone causes the oil glands to secrete excess oils which leads to a skin break out into acne. Another cause of acne is that due to the alterations of hormonal levels, many women drink lesser amounts of water than normal. Because of this, the excess hormonal secretions do not get diluted, thus leading to bad skin.
 
While it is possible for acne to develop at any time during the entire pregnancy period, it happens most often during the first trimester when the changes in the hormonal levels are the most pronounced. As the case of each woman is different, the acne too clears up according to the individual body conditions. Mostly, as the term continues, the acne clears up as the body begins to produce estrogen. Also, in most cases the acne is removed a few months after the birth.
 
While discussing pregnancy and acne the inevitable question of how to deal with the acne arises. Many medicines contain chemicals that can harm during the pregnancy. It is more advisable to follow some simple skin care routines. It is important to exercise regularly. This helps to improve blood circulation in the body and ensures healthy skin. Eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables is the next step as it improves nutrition and ensures that your body is getting all the nourishment that it needs. The third step is to drink a lot of water throughout the day. The water helps to keep the body hydrated and it also helps to dilute the hormonal secretions, thus minimizing the acne-causing effects of the increased hormones.