Pigment changes during pregnancy

Changes to your skin during pregnancy

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As your pregnancy develops, you may find that you experience changes to your skin and hair. Some women can develop dark patches on their face and hormonal changes can make your skin a little darker.

You may also develop stretch marks on your body, particularly around your stomach where your skin is stretching to accommodate your growing baby.

Chloasma - dark patches on the face

Some pregnant women develop dark irregular patches on their face most commonly on the upper cheek, nose, lips, and forehead. This is called 'chloasma'. It is also sometimes known as 'melasma' or the 'mask of pregnancy'.

Chloasma is thought to be due to stimulation of pigment-producing cells by female sex hormones so that they produce more melanin pigments (dark coloured pigments) when the skin is exposed to sun. Some women develop these patches when they take oral contraceptives (the pill).

Women with a light brown skin type who are living in regions with intense sun exposure are more likely to develop these patches. The patches usually fade over a period of several months after giving birth, though they may last for several years for some women.

Careful protection of the skin using broad spectrum sunscreens every day during pregnancy and while taking the pill may make it less likely that chloasma will develop. It is necessary to continue to use sunscreen after pregnancy as sun exposure may cause the patches to reappear. Some creams that need to be prescribed by doctors may help to fade the patches.

Skin and hair changes

Hormonal changes taking place in pregnancy will make your nipples and the area around them go darker. Your skin colour may also darken a little, either in patches or all over. Birthmarks, moles and freckles may also darken. Some women develop a dark line down the middle of their stomach, called 'linea nigra'. These changes will gradually fade after the baby is born, although your nipples may remain a little darker.

If you sunbathe while you are pregnant, you may burn more easily. Protect your skin with a good high-factor sunscreen and don't stay in the sun for a long time.

Hair growth can also increase in pregnancy, and your hair may be greasier. After the baby is born, it may seem as if you are losing a lot of hair but you are simply losing the extra hair.

Stretch marks

Many women develop stretch marks during their pregnancy, usually in the last 3 months.

They usually appear on your stomach or sometimes on your upper thighs or breasts. Stretch marks are not harmful and over time, your skin will shrink and the stretch marks will fade into white-coloured scars.

Find out more on stretch marks.

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Last reviewed: January 2020

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Related pages

• Common discomforts during pregnancy
• Stretch marks

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Most of the skin changes seen in pregnancy are due to the effects of hormones on various body structures. The effects on the skin may be considered normal and not disease-related. However, these same effects may be viewed as pathologic to the woman who has new skin changes. Some of these changes are permanent, but others are present only during or for a short time after pregnancy.

Pigment Changes

The most common pigmentation change in pregnancy is called hyperpigmentation, or darkening of the skin. It is believed that higher levels of estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone cause this skin darkening. The latter is a hormone that causes the pigment producing cells, or melanocytes, to make more melanin. Areas that were darker prior to pregnancy such as the areolae, nipples, genital skin, armpits, and inner thighs tend to get even darker. Sometimes a dark line, called linea nigra, forms on the abdomen. Other women experience a darkening of facial skin called melasma.

Hair and Nail Changes

Hair changes in pregnancy can vary from too much to too little. Many women notice more, darker hair on the face, arms, and legs. The same women may also notice a thinning of the hair on the scalp. This condition is known as telogen effluvium and is caused by a shift of these hairs to the telogen, or resting, phase. It is during the telogen phase that hairs are shed. This shedding may last from 1 to 5 months but may not stop until 15 months after delivery. Nail changes in pregnancy include brittleness, groove formation, or a separation of the nail from the end of the nail bed called onycholysis.

Melasma or Chloasma

Melasma or chloasma is a brownish discoloration of the face that occurs most often in women. Men can also develop this problem. The brown color often fades in winter and gets worse in the summer.

What causes it?

Pregnancy (mask of pregnancy) is the most common cause of melasma. Women who are taking oral contraceptives are at risk of developing melasma. Sunlight is a major factor in the development of melasma.

How do I treat it?

A strong sunscreen such as Elta Block, Ombrelle, and Shade Lotion SPF 45, etc. , should be applied to the face each morning. Hydroquinone 4% cream (available by prescription) applied to the face twice a day (in the morning before applying sun screen and later in the day) is the main treatment for melasma. Retin-A cream applied to the entire face each night before bed has been shown to be an effective treatment for melasma. Dr. Guccione and Anne Carlisle, FNP, can also prescribe a combination of prescription medications that may be effective in treating your melasma. Most importantly, however, avoid intense sunlight! This brings out more brown discoloration. It is your body's natural protection response from the sun.

Pemphigoid gestationis is also known as herpes gestationis, although the latter name is misleading since this condition is not associated with any virus. This is a rare, itchy, autoimmune disease that occurs during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and around the time of delivery. Pemphigoid gestationis occurs in 1 per 7,000 to 50,000 pregnancies.

It begins with very itchy, red hives or small bumps around the belly button. Within days to weeks, the rash spreads, and the hives and bumps join to form bizarrely shaped circular patches that cover a wide area of skin. The rash can involve the trunk, back, buttocks, forearms, palms, and soles. It usually does not involve the face, scalp, or inside of the mouth. After 2 to 4 weeks of this rash, large, tense blisters form at the edges of the rash or in apparently normal skin.

This condition usually starts during the second or third trimester, although it has been reported in the first trimester and a short time after delivery. The average appearance is at 21 weeks gestation. Spontaneous clearing of the rash may occur later in the pregnancy, but uncomfortable flares occur immediately prior to delivery in 75% to 80% of women. The rash may also recur when menses resumes or with the use of oral contraceptives. With subsequent pregnancies, pemphigoid gestationis usually recurs earlier and may be more severe. Only 8% of women do not develop pemphigoid gestationis in subsequent pregnancies.

Treatment

A few women with very mild cases of pemphigoid gestationis can be treated with steroid creams and antihistamines. However, the majority of women require oral steroids to control their symptoms. A high dose is usually used to get symptoms under control and then tapered as the rash improves.

Effect on Baby

Because antibodies cross the placenta, the antibodies that cause pemphigoid gestationis can affect the baby. A noticeable rash has been reported in 5% of newborns born to moms with this condition. This newborn rash is transient and resolves on its own without treatment. There is evidence that women with pemphigoid gestationis have an increased risk of premature delivery. Current studies indicate that there is not an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

This condition was first described in 1981. It is believed to be more common than previously thought. One study showed the incidence of this disease to be 1 per 3,000 pregnancies.

Appearance

The rash consists of several small red bumps that may or may not be filled with pus. These bumps are usually on the shoulders, upper back, arms, chest, and abdomen. The condition looks like acne. However, culture of the bumps does not reveal any bacteria. The rash can be very itchy.

Timing

Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy typically develops in the second half of pregnancy. It resolves spontaneously within 2 to 3 weeks after delivery.

Cause

The cause of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is unknown. Some investigators believe it is caused by hormonal changes.

Treatment

Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is typically treated like mild acne. Benzoyl peroxide has been used with some success, but antibiotics are not needed. Oral antihistamines are useful to treat the itching.

Effect on Baby

There are differing reports about the affect of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy on the baby. One study showed an increase in lower birth-weight babies. However, other studies did not confirm this. This condition does not increase the risk of prematurity or of stillbirth.

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Dry skin in pregnant women

During pregnancy, hormones - estrogens - are intensively produced in the body of a woman. They have a strong specific effect on the skin, reducing the secretion of sebum, which makes the skin drier. If you had oily skin and were worried about acne, then pregnancy will only benefit your skin. It is much more difficult for those who initially had dry skin. If you notice increased dryness and flaking of the skin, then you should start using intensive and extra moisturizing creams exclusively based on natural herbal extracts. nine0007

Skin care needs to be supplemented with nourishing and moisturizing masks on a natural basis. You can use fresh fruits and vegetables. In any case, only personally “tested” and “tested” means should be used. No need to experiment with new brands and cosmetic lines. During pregnancy, the skin is most sensitive.

Pregnancy skin pigmentation

The production of the melanin-producing hormone MHS during pregnancy causes pigment spots on the skin. Spots appear on exposed areas of the skin, usually on the face. Do not worry, three months after childbirth, pigmentation disappears. The best way to avoid pigmentation during pregnancy is to spend less time in the sun. This is especially true of the fourth month, during this period it is not recommended to be outdoors during the day, even in partial shade. If you absolutely cannot avoid the sun, then you should definitely use sunscreen. At the same time, it is better to choose a cream with physical UV filters - zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Chemical UV filters are derivatives of para-aminobenzoic acid and cinnomates, and they are strong allergens. nine0007

If you are still concerned about pigmentation, you should get rid of it very carefully. You can use natural masks from parsley, kefir, sour cream and so on. Also, you can use whitening preparations or a pigment spot corrector, but only after consulting a cosmetologist specializing in the management of pregnant women. Since many whitening products contain harmful components such as bismuth, mercury and so on.

During pregnancy, do not do procedures associated with pain and discomfort, such as facial cleansing, peeling, epilation, and even more so resort to hardware cosmetology. nine0007

Pregnancy stretch marks .

Hormonal changes during pregnancy lead not only to changes in the skin, but also to subcutaneous structures, including disruption of the synthesis of fibroblasts - cells that produce elastin and collagen. In order to avoid the appearance of stretch marks, it is necessary to increase the elasticity and firmness of the skin in time. To do this, you can use a contrast shower, special massage, massaging with a brush or massager. nine0007

Starting from three months of pregnancy, you can start using gels, creams and oils that are rubbed into the skin of the body or used as shower products, choosing from a specialized series for pregnant women. If, nevertheless, stretch marks have appeared, then you need to understand that it is almost impossible to get rid of them completely on your own. It is easier to fight newly formed striae, therefore, if you are concerned about the problem of stretch marks, but you need to start treating them during pregnancy. However, the preparations that really help get rid of stretch marks, as a rule, include quite expensive elements. Therefore, you should not look for miracle cures from the manufacturer of mass cosmetics. The maximum that you can achieve from such drugs is a slight preventive effect, with a high risk of causing allergization. A professional cosmetologist who is familiar with the peculiarities of the period of pregnancy can choose a rehabilitation course for you, taking into account your individuality. nine0007

Cellulite in pregnancy

Significant weight gain affects not only stretch marks, but also the formation of cellulite and skin laxity after childbirth. To avoid this cosmetic problem, it is recommended to use moisture-retaining oils. They should be rubbed into the skin of the body twice a day. Also, experts recommend, starting from the third month of pregnancy, to use special preparations designed strictly for pregnant women. In addition, in the prevention of cellulite and sagging skin, such time-tested things as physical education for pregnant women, swimming and massage for pregnant women help. nine0007

Hair changes during pregnancy

During pregnancy, under the influence of estrogen, hair growth begins and increases. Sometimes, the hair becomes thicker and more resistant to external influences. That is why it is not recommended to dye or perm during this period, not only because an allergy may appear, but nothing will come of this venture at all.

During breastfeeding, on the contrary, due to hormonal changes, the hair begins to fall out. Many misinterpret this as calcium deficiency in the body. In fact, this is a natural state, with the end of feeding, the process of loss stops, as the hormonal background returns to normal. nine0007

What calcium deficiency really does is brittle nails. In addition to the use of calcium, it is advisable to make salt baths for nails. Even better, use sea salt or special Dead Sea salts for baths.

Varicose veins during pregnancy

Due to the increased load on the legs and loss of tissue elasticity, varicose veins may appear in the second half of pregnancy. To avoid this, you should use special gels and creams from preparations for pregnant women. Do not rush with foot baths, be sure to consult a doctor, as pregnancy imposes its own characteristics on the prevention of varicose veins. nine0007

other drugs, vacuum therapy. During pregnancy, it is better not to visit beauty salons, but to contact a beautician with a medical education who specializes in working with pregnant women. nine0005