#SafeForPregnancy Skin Care Tips

Photo courtesy of flickr user Schwangerschaft 

Doctors will always tell you what to eat and how to exercise during pregnancy, but they don’t always provide you with information about the outside of your body. We all know what’s on the inside matters, but it’s always nice to look just as good on the outside. Unfortunately, when you become pregnant, there are a few changes you may have to make to keep your baby safe.

Getting a Glow

Many women have fond summer memories of laying out with their girlfriends at the pool or beach. It’s natural to be proud of your baby bump and for you to have a desire to show it off. But is it safe?

The reality is that laying out or getting a tan is never safe. It always puts you at risk for skin cancer. But when you are pregnant, your body is more likely to being burned, which could lead to hives, heat rash or melasma, which causes dark spots to appear on your face. And that’s an on top of the skin cancer risk.

Does this mean you should never go outside during your pregnancy? No! Enjoying the sunshine is still possible, but it is important that you take care of yourself and your baby first. Since pregnancy makes it easier for your body to dehydrate, it is imperative to bring more than enough water with you. It is also a good idea to set up an umbrella, sit in a cool, shaded area and wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. But if you still want a light tan to amplify your pregnancy glow, a sunless tanning lotion is a safe alternative.

Spray tanning is also a safe option because these products simply stain the skin and do not absorb into the bloodstream. Sunless tanners use DHA (dihydroxyacetone) as the active ingredient, which is safe for the skin whether you’re pregnant or not. But, doctors will tell you that you must use protection for your nose, eyes, ears and mouth when getting a spray tan, and they suggest that you wait until after your first trimester.      

Zap the Zits

When you are pregnant, your body is making extra hormones that can take you back in time to your acne-prone teenage years. The primary breakout areas are surrounding the mouth and the chin.

You may hear about oral medication that can aid in preventing or treating the breakouts, but this medicine can be dangerous for the baby. Instead of oral medication, use face soaps that are meant for a person with oily skin. Products that include either erythromycin or azelaic acid can prove to be very effective against the pesky acne and safe for your baby. You can also try Visha Skin Care’s Mommy Brightener, a new product developed by our own Dr. Purvisha Patel that is safe for treating acne and melasma during pregnancy.

Pamper Yourself Carefully

When you are pregnant, there are sure to be some days when you would love to relax and use common aromatherapy oils. But make sure you know what you’re using.  Some of these oils can be harmful to you and your baby during this time. Here are the main oils that you will want to stay away from:

• Nutmeg - can cause hallucinations
• Rosemary - can cause your blood pressure to rise
• Basil - may contribute to abnormal cell growth
• Jasmine and clary sage - known to trigger early contractions
• Sage and rose - can cause bleeding in the uterus 
• Juniper berry - may affect the kidneys

While it’s important to avoid the above ingredients, there is a wide selection of safe oils available to pregnant women, including lavender, citrus, spearmint and eucalyptus. It is good to remember not to mix oils and to use small dosages for short periods of time so you will not experience negative side effects.

You may also notice that the above are often found in foods, too. It is OK for you to eat foods that contain ingredients from the list of discouraged oils because the amount of these herbs in food is generally much lower and much less potent. 

What’s in the Milk?

While you are pregnant and when you are breastfeeding, you are sharing nutrients with your baby. Your body is also not as capable of fighting off infection, and your baby’s immune system is not completely developed, which means it’s important to avoid food-borne illnesses. Easy ways to prevent them are to cook all foods thoroughly and refrigerate them properly, as well as to make sure your hands and cookware are clean before making and serving food.

Seafood is a tricky food to eat during this time because there are many that are good food options as well as many potentially dangerous foods. Seafood provides a good source of omega-3 fats, and they are good for the development of an unborn baby or infant. When choosing seafood, make sure that you do not get one with a high level of mercury. Large fish like king mackerel, shark, swordfish and tilefish are very high in mercury and can cause damage to your child’s developing nervous system. Aside from seafood, it’s important to just have a healthy diet and include all the food groups when applicable. Check with your obstetrician for more information on a recommended diet during pregnancy.  

Have any more questions about your skin during pregnancy? Be sure to leave a comment and we will try to help you find the answers you need. 

Bruising 101

If you’ve ever said a few choice words to your bedpost after a not-so-lovely run-in that left a mark on your thigh, you have contributed to the very high statistic of people who attain bruises from their furniture. Although bruises are not pretty, they are a sign of blood vessels and skin cells recuperating after a bedpost bump-in or even heavy trauma.

What are bruises? 
A bruise, also known as a contusion, is a collection of damaged blood vessels that surface beneath the skin. It can appear red, black, blue, purple or yellow in color. Don’t let these colors alarm you, though. A change in color can be an indication of healing, and as the color changes the bruise should get less sensitive.

What causes bruises? 
Bruises are caused by a multitude of things. Most of the time when you think of a bruise, you think of a child who falls on a playground or an elderly person who has very sensitive skin and develops bruises easily. What you might not know is that athletes, weightlifters, frequent gym users and all you Crossfit addicts out there are more susceptible to bruising because of the microscopic tears that take place in your blood vessels under your skin during rigorous exercise. We’re not saying you should stop the exercise. Just beware that your healthy daily routine may be causing some of that unexplained bruising that develops later on throughout your day.

A vitamin C deficiency can also leave your skin more susceptible to bruising. If you want to prevent the potential bruises, eat a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. It will do wonders for your skin. 

Should I be concerned about bruises? 
In general, bruising should not be alarming unless you experience:
- Unexplained bruising
- Bruising accompanied by swelling and extreme pain
- Bruising underneath a fingernail or toenail where you may suspect a broken bone
- Bruising caused by a heavy impact that may lead to a hematoma

In these cases, you should contact your doctor for proper medical care. Regardless of what kind of bruise you have, the good news is that most bruises don’t carry the same risk of infection as a cut or a scrape that breaks the skin.

What about black eyes? 
Fun fact about black eyes: most black eyes occur because of an impact that occurs right ABOVE the eye, not below it. The bruise appears below the eye because of gravity, which makes the blood vessels travel to the area just under the eye. This causes discoloration above and below the eye.

Although bruises aren’t pretty and bumping into furniture is not on your weekly to-do list, it is pretty amazing how the human body can heal itself through the bruising process.

Have any questions about bruising that we didn’t address here? Leave them in the comments and we’ll try to answer them there.

Nine Common Winter Skin Conditions and How to Ease Them

Photo Courtesy to Flickr User Chris Buhr

Winter is not easy on your skin. From the dry air outside to the lack of humidity inside, skin can easily get irritated and dehydrated, causing itching and flakiness. Dry skin is a winter condition we’re all familiar with, but do you know all of the conditions that are caused by harsh winter air? Below are common conditions that occur from exposure to cold air and ways that you can ease the pain. 

Acne 
Over-production of oil can lead to clogged pores, dead skin cells and bacteria on the skin, but dry skin can cause acne as well. Acne can happen on any part of the body, but it is most common on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Reducing the number of times that you touch your skin, especially your face, can help reduce acne, as well. A dermatologist can also recommend a topical regimen to help rid your skin of acne issues. Gentle cleansers and moisturizers can also help pesky acne that is caused by the cold. 

Eczema 
Eczema causes skin to become itchy, dry and irritated. It’s most common on the elbows, knees, hands and face. The best way to treat the irritated skin is to use a fragrance-free moisturizer and to avoid bathing more than once per day, since eczema is worsened when water settles on your skin. If the breakout is severe, there are steroids that can help relieve symptoms, as well. 

Chapped Lips 
Nothing is worse than cracking, red, chapped lips during the winter months. Chapped lips are one of the biggest issues people complain about during the winter season. Lips have a very thin layer of skin and are the most likely part of your face to dry out due to the dry winter air, wind and low humidity indoors. Splitting and cracking can also occur in severe cases, which is painful, does not heal easily and can act as a breeding ground for infection. One of the most common mistakes people make is licking their lips while out in the cold. This causes severe lip irritation and can making the chapping worse. Lip balm can ease and heal chapped lips by adding moisture and extra hydration. Many lip balms also contain healing medication that can cool and ease lip pain, as well. For more information on chapped lips, read our previous blog post on the topic here. 

Raynaud’s Disease 
For a person suffering from Raynaud’s disease, when the body gets too cold, the blood vessels spasm and constrict, resulting in a circulation issue. The affected area often becomes extremely pale, and the coloration between the affected skin and the healthy skin is apparent. If the body is exposed to the cold for a long period of time, the affected area can turn a deep purple from the lack of oxygen. When the skin finally warms up, it gets red, swollen and tingly, and it can be very painful. People who suffer from Raynaud’s can manage the symptoms by dressing in layers and wearing protective winter clothing, such as gloves, thick socks and insulated shoes, when they will be outside for long periods of time. 

Windburn 
Is the wind causing you to look like Rudolph? Cold winter wind can cause windburn, a skin irritation that causes dry, red, burning skin. To ease windburn, wear clothing that covers exposed skin when you’ll be outside. Scarves, coats and hats can help reduce the skin’s exposure and keep your skin protected and healthy. 

Winter Itch 
Do your hands and feet feel like sandpaper? Dry skin is not fun to experience. However, it’s nearly unavoidable when you’re forced to stay inside with the heat on during the cold winter months. Heat can dry skin out and make it flaky, irritated and itchy. The cold, outside air is also extremely dry and pulls the moisture out of skin. Using moisturizer and skin healing lotions can replenish your skin’s hydration. 

Psoriasis 
Psoriasis is a condition that is activated when the body’s defenses are alerted and your skin produces too many skin cells, which results in dry, flaky, scaly patches on the skin. The condition starts as a collection of small red bumps, then it progresses to these patches that are commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, hands and feet. The condition is incurable, but there are treatments that can calm the symptoms, including hydrocortisone, vitamin D and vitamin A creams, as well as treatments containing coal tar. Stress can exacerbate the condition, as well, so you can also try common relaxation techniques to keep psoriasis under control. 

Cold Uriticaria 
We’ve all heard of sun allergies, but have you heard of an allergy to the cold? Cold uriticaria is also known as cold hives. Large red welts, resulting from an allergy to the cold, appear on the skin. These welts are itchy and uncomfortable and can be as large as an inch in diameter. Some people may receive relief from antihistamine cream, but the most effective way to relieve the pain is by avoiding prolonged exposure to the cold. 

Rosacea 
Rosacea can cause your skin to look like you just ran a marathon, as it causes flushing and reddening of the face. An extremely common condition, rosacea isn’t just a winter issue, but it can flare up in any kind of extreme weather. It mainly affects the face, and it often looks and feels as though the person is blushing. Some people get bumps and pustules or dry eyes and eyelids along with the redness. If you suffer from rosacea, stay away from caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, wine, cheese and yogurt, as they can make rosacea worse. There are antibiotics that can ease rosacea, and skin peels and other treatments may help as well. For more information on rosacea, read our previous blog post on the topic here.