Rid of Pimples

Acne during pregnancy can bring you back to earth with a crash! You are pregnant - you’re probably delighted and excited, you expect to feel great and look blooming. Then wham - all of a sudden your skin breaks out. Why, and what can you do?

Acne in pregnancy is very common. In fact, some women say that they know they are pregnant right away by the pimples! Like many other conditions of early pregnancy such as mood swings, it is caused by fluctuating hormone levels.

As soon as you get pregnant, your hormone levels change. The body begins to produce a lot more of certain hormones - the same hormones that cause acne in many teenagers at puberty by producing an excess of sebum and oils in the face. This means that even if you never had pimples as an adolescent, you may develop them now.

In fact, this is also the reason for that ‘glow’ that many newly pregnant women are said to develop. It’s simply the extra oil production moisturizing their skin.

You can be reassured that after the first trimester, hormone levels will change again and your acne will probably disappear or at least improve. But up until that time it can be distressing if it is severe. The appearance of acne can have a serious effect on the self-esteem of adults as well as teenagers, and you may be worried about scarring. So what are the treatment options?

Treatment

Regular exercise will help to control your breakouts as it increases circulation of blood to the skin, carrying away toxins and impurities from the inside. Drinking plenty of water can have a similar effect.

Cleansing your face can help but do not use harsh soaps. If you strip the skin of all its oils, the glands will simply produce more and more, increasing the problem.

When it comes to medication, you must be very careful. Unfortunately some of the most effective oral acne remedies are unsuitable for pregnant women because they are believed to cause deformities in many babies. So make sure that your dermatologist knows you are pregnant.

Do not use any creams or lotions that contain Tretinoin for the same reason. Always read the label and consult a health professional if you are unsure about whether something is safe for you to use. Do not assume that something you may have used as a teenager will be effective or safe now that you are expecting a baby.

If you are already taking acne medication and then you find tha

Cystic acne has got to be the most painful and disfiguring form of acne. Also known as nodulocystic acne, it creates cyst-like lumps under the skin that are in fact inflamed nodules. These are bigger than the small whiteheads or pimples of other varieties of acne vulgaris (common acne) although like those pimples, they usually contain white pus.

Cystic acne is rarer than other types but still it is fairly common.

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by a lack of personal hygiene. The direct cause is an excess of sebum or oily fluid in the pores of the face, neck, chest, or back. The sebum blocks the pores which then become inflamed or infected.

Acne usually begins at puberty. It is believed that hormonal changes or imbalances in adolescents are the reason why there is an excess of sebum in the first place.

Even though hygiene issues are not the cause, if you have acne it is important to keep the area clean and try not to touch the pimples, to prevent the infection spreading.

Probably the worst feature of cystic acne is the scarring that it leaves behind. If a nodule or cyst is not treated immediately with medication it can leave a scar that in some cases will be permanent. In other cases it leaves a ‘macular scar’ which is not a true scar but an area of redness that will slowly fade within about 6 months.

It is better not to try to pop the pimples of cystic acne, especially when they are deep. You will often fail to extract the pus, making the cyst look worse and probably creating a bigger scar.

There are some medications that can have a remarkable effect on cystic acne in up to 90% of cases. The main one is Isotretinoin. This is a product that is derived from vitamin A. It is marketed under various brand names - one of the most common in the US is Accutane, but there are many other names for it.

You can also get an Isotretinoin product that is not taken internally but is used as a topical cream applied directly to the cysts. Brand names for this include Isotrex and Isotrexin.

These products can act very fast to clear up cysts and prevent scarring if taken quickly enough. However, always take medical advice before beginning to take a product like Isotretinoin. It is not safe for everyone, e.g. pregnant women should not take it. Consult with your dermatologist or doctor to find the best product for your acne.

Vitamin A is found in many fresh raw fruits and vegetables including most of the ones that are colored red, orange and yellow - for example, carrots. Increasing these in the diet may help to prevent future breakouts. Be careful if considering supplementing with vitamin A for cystic acne, however. It is possible to overdose with this vitamin.