I’m going to talk about pregnancy pimples here. Not the kind that women get here and there that go away after a few days of a breakout, or may just experience as their hormones adjust in their body due to pregnancy. I mean the kind that are lifelong, annoying and detrimental to self esteem + dare I even say it, get worse with pregnancy. (I’ve written this before, read here: I seriously hate this four letter word: A-C-N-E.)

Each pregnancy of mine has come with skin + breakout issues. My first pregnancy wasn’t terrible, but I only say that looking back. It felt pretty terrible at the time, because I was constantly battling breakouts while trying to manage them as naturally as possible. And pimples have always influenced my confidence level. My second pregnancy was an acne nightmare. Not only did my skin start reacting worse than my first pregnancy in the first trimester, but I also began receiving weekly progesterone injections in the second trimester that amplified every pimple to the maximum. (A terrible side effect of this very necessary intervention to prevent pre-term labor in my high risk pregnancy.) On top of it, I was on hospital bed rest which changed my activity level and likely my diet – both of which influence your overall health (including skin). The postpartum period did not do any better for my skin either.

To all the women that experience this type of detrimental acne, I see you (and your beauty) and I acknowledge how incredibly challenging it can be on your entire life. When you have those type of breakouts, you likely don’t want to leave your house. Couple that with your ever changing and growing body, it can leave you a bit of a mess.

I was determined in my third pregnancy to manage my pimples more closely and love on my self more than I have in the past. I’m on a journey of self love and I know that if I’m not making it a priority and seeking out the resources to do so, no one will do it for me, so I had to come up with some solutions. My solutions are actually pretty simple so I’ll share them with you here. They do require you to determine what your comfort level is with treatment protocol while growing a baby inside of you, though. Trust me, I know there are difficult decisions to make when you don’t want to put anything on your skin or in your body to be absorbed by a baby while in the most fragile developmental state. If I could go completely chemical free, I would. But, my skin has proven that especially during pregnancy, that the acne will sustain and that is not good for me in many ways + influences the decisions I personally make.

Foundation Free Selfie: I removed all face makeup (kept eye makeup on) before my last laser treatment (34 weeks pregnant) and snapped this photo to show you. My skin is not perfect, but it is far superior to what it has been in the past.

Third Pregnancy Pimple Journey

The journey I’ve taken to have a smile and a glow with pregnancy number three started very early on. I teamed up with my amazing dermatologist to voice my concerns. She knows my history and is a huge advocate of treating my skin to make me feel and look my best while keeping pregnancy safety top of mind. She is also an amazing supporter of communicating with my OB to ensure we are making the right decisions together along the way. I had been having regular but spaced dermatologist appointments during my post-partum and trying-to-get pregnant phases after Sylvie, so really, my treatment plan started then — how I managed acne during breastfeeding, to during Clomid + Femera to during pregnancy itself. The treatment has changed throughout those phases and even throughout pregnancy, but I’ve struck a good chord for the time being that I want to share in hopes it gives ideas and encouragement to any mamas that may have the same or similar experiences.

My recommendations:

Get the right dermatologist to team up with.
My dermatologist is a KEY player in experiencing a healthy pregnancy with a smile and a glow. She gets it. She knows that during my second pregnancy I cried over and over and over about the cystic bumps that wouldn’t go away on my face and even (once) was so bad it caused my eye to swell. She knows how important skin health is in general as well as how it contributes to mental health and self esteem. I literally would not let anyone see me without makeup on during my last pregnancy and she really helped me get to a point that didn’t require that to be the case any longer. She also is extremely knowledgeable in pregnancy safe skin treatments + is willing and able to consult with my OB to make sure we are all on the same page with treatments and decisions that will effect both me and the baby. Finally, she is always willing to hear what my concerns are and try to come up with new (and the best) solutions. (Even as I ask her what the plan can be when I’m finally done having babies and breastfeeding.) I tell you all of these things about my dermatologist because without the right one on your side, I can confidently say you will have a harder time getting through this tough period of pimples.

Try V-Beam Laser Treatments.
I have been seeing my dermatologist about monthly throughout this third pregnancy. Almost every visit I get a V-Beam Laser treatment which is an entirely pregnant safe acne treatment alternative. It’s a bit uncomfortable and usually causes a small breakout within the days following the treatment, but it’s entirely manageable and worth it. One or two treatments alone may not be enough; the first time I had the treatment, I’m not even sure I noticed a difference, but with continued treatment, there was progress. And honestly, it has made a remarkable difference with the consistency over time. Here’s the thing though, insurance views this as a cosmetic procedure. In simple terms: they won’t pay. It is an investment to be able to have this done. If you want to try this treatment option, look into the availability with your dermatologist for sure, as not every derm office has this laser capability.

Explore your options and determine your comfort level with treatments.
As pregnant women know, there are classes of medications that describe the risks associated with taking/applying it and the development of your sweet, growing babe inside. Some women may say they don’t want any risk at all so they avoid any + all treatments. (Or choose only natural options. I’ve used natural, I know + get it.) I’ve surpassed that point, not because I want to pose any risk to my growing baby, but because the influence of uncontrollable acne on my overall mental health / self esteem status is so great, that some level of treatment needs to be taken – of course, with precaution. Perhaps you will decide which “Pregnancy Category” is safe for you, with the guidance and advisement of your dermatologist and OB as a team. Or, maybe you make a treatment by treatment decision based on how your skin is reacting throughout different stages of pregnancy.

For me, I’ve made determinations based on my skin throughout this pregnancy. When my skin was really starting to get worse in my first trimester, I made decisions (with my medical team) on treatments to take, understanding the risk-benefit details and also knowing we would try these for a short period to manage the acne and wean off of them at some point, therefore not having it in my system for the entire duration of pregnancy.

Photo by the lovely Katie Bingen Photography

Pimple Update

At 34 weeks pregnant, I am currently only receiving the V-Beam laser treatments and it has been that way for the last 4 months or so. No oral or topical treatments, and I’m managing A-Okay. I have noticed, and reported at my last appointment, that I’m no longer breaking out with large and swollen cycts, but rather seem to have some smaller filled pores and blackheads. This is new for me since I’m used to the big stuff! We determined that in the next couple weeks I’m going to move forward with a sulfer wash (safe in pregnancy and during breastfeeding) as well as begin a specific topical ointment (also pregnancy + breastfeeding safe) during my transition from third trimester to postpartum. We are going to take a break for the next two months from appointments so that I can have my baby sometime in there ☺️ and I will call her if there’s any sort of emergency. But, with a plan in place, I’m confident that transitioning from baby in utero to baby in my arms will be okay for my skin.

As a summary, things have been managed much better in my third pregnancy based on my previous experiences and knowledge. I have done a few things differently and I’m so happy to say that I’ve been a more confident and happier pregnant woman who may even have a touch of a glow (something I never would have said before)! Also, after asking my dermatologist a million questions and soaking in all her advice, I came up with a list of the top things that have helped my acne prone skin this pregnancy. Each of these could be easily implemented in your routine and combined with my recommendations above.

Things I’ve changed in my third pregnancy that have made a huge difference in my skin and confidence:

• Washing less – I’ve been using this Skin Medica cleanser which is extremely gentle and does not contain any acne or skin-drying agents. I used to wash morning + night + all showers taken. But now, if I shower at night and wash my face then, I do a quick rinse in the morning before putting my makeup on without the wash.
• Very minimal topical treatments – While trying to limit the risks of medications while pregnant, I limited topical treatments as much as possible. Over the counter benzol peroxide just doesn’t cut it for me anyway! I do have to say the best thing that I was given via prescription was a topical steroid to use only sparingly when I would feel one of the worst, big kinds of pimples coming on. This was a great management tool and eliminated many other topical treatments that could have been used/offered + placed on my skin daily.
• Regular laser treatments – As I mentioned above, I believe the regularity of these treatments is what made the difference. I felt comfortable with the safety of them and with time, saw even further improved results.
• Good foundation – Let’s face it. I’m not one of those women who has skin that can just go out in public after washing my face in the morning without a stitch of makeup on. (Some day — It’s my goal and my dermatologist knows it!) So, investing in a good quality foundation that doesn’t wear heavy but provides enough coverage to boost my confidence was really important to me. I’ve ended up with this Lancome foundation and while it’s pricier than I would normally prefer, it’s totally worth it + lasts a long time.
• Washing my face earlier in the evening – I used to not want anyone to see me without makeup. It was a terrifying thought! But, as I’ve managed the breakouts a little better, it’s been easier for me to keep up with this habit of washing my face earlier at night, rather than just before bed. Also, I just kind of get ready for bed and go through the makeup removal process while getting my kids ready for bed, so the timing works there. This gives my face more breathable time, which is good for skin health.

Something I want to note: As someone who has struggled with this issue for almost her entire life. I have tried it all. You name it – ProActive, Rodan+Fields, BeautyCounter, Norwex body cloths, prescriptions, etc. I also understand what using products that are not considered ‘clean’ do to your system. I am doing the best I can to make wise and healthy decisions for me, so this advice may not be suited for all.

These points here aren’t the end all, cure all. I do still get some pimples here and there. BUT, there is a dramatic difference from where my skin used to be. I’m excited for the day to come to have laser treatments that are actually for cosmetic purposes, such as removing acne scars, rather than to prevent future breakouts. As I mentioned, I’m on a journey to having beautiful, make up-free skin and I’ll be sure to share more with you along the way.

Drop any questions you have below and I’ll be sure to answer them. And tell me, what has your experience with pimples and pregnancy been?

Sending you beautiful, confident, glowy vibes, mamas!

 

XO

 

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