How Does Pregnancy Affect Your Skin, Hair & Body?

As a mother of three children, I know pregnancy. Having seen the changes in my skin, hair and body through my own three pregnancies, I’ve become more aware of how much women want to become more informed about these changes and how to advise on the best possible beauty treatments and products worth investing in during this evolutionary time in a woman’s life.

During my pregnancies, I experienced morning sickness, which in turn left me with dull and sensitive skin, a common and wide-spread effect pregnancy can have on the skin. With the knowledge I now have, the use of the highly-recommended and luxe Yon-Ka Lait Hydratant body milk cream can really help to moisturise and hydrate, helping to avoid stretch marks, discolouration and further irritation as pregnancy continues.

So, here, we take a look at some of the most common effects pregnancy can have on the skin, hair and body and some of the basic things you can employ and use to ease these side effects and cause fewer long-term changes for your body.

Hyperpigmentation, Melasma or Chloasma

The skin can change in appearance and texture lots during pregnancy. Hyperpigmentation, also known as melasma or chloasma is the darkening of patches of the skin usually on and around the face. These skin issues don’t need to be directly treated during your pregnancy as they will fade and normalise following the months after birth but always use a high SPF during the day, 50 being the recommended product to look out for.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks can be very common during pregnancy and are caused by the change in elastic supportive tissues in the dermis of your skin as your body changes during pregnancy. Although stretch marks can often fade after birth, there are products that are safe to use during pregnancy that have been proved to help reduce their appearance. We’ve taken a look at some of these further down the blog.

Often stretch marks can cause irritation and itching. Try to avoid scratching in this case and whenever itching does occur, moisturise the area giving the skin as much hydration as possible.

Sensitivity

Certain products, foods and the sun can all affect the skin differently to normal during the months of pregnancy. It’s always important to ensure that your skin is protected with SPF during this time when you might experience an added sensitivity to sunlight and heat.

During pregnancy, any form of beauty treatment, use of new products or massage should be discussed with a health professional beforehand. Always check which products are being used during the massage and if you’re not too far along in your pregnancy just yet, remember to always inform your beauty professional so that they can ensure to provide you with the right and best possible treatment.

At Rani Mirza Knightsbridge, I use only all-natural and non-invasive products during all the facials and massages, making them safe for pregnancy.

Hair Texture & Strength

Another change that many women experience during pregnancy is the texture and strength of their hair. Because of the change in levels of oestrogen during these months, your hair can become weaker and even change from curly to straight or vice versa. 

I myself experienced a change in my hair but this occurred after the birth of my children. At this point, I experienced hair loss and extreme dryness when it came to the texture of my hair. Using high-quality shampoo, such as Philip Kingsley can help to fight these kind of issues, alongside nutritionist advised supplements for hair care during and after pregnancy.

Top Beauty Products to Use During Pregnancy

Let’s now take a look at some of the top beauty products I would recommend to use during pregnancy.

Stretch Mark Oil

As we mentioned previously, many women will experience stretch marks during and after their pregnancies. There is a range of stretch mark solutions at a wide range of price points, depending on your individual budget. At a lower budget, Bio-Oil is a traditional and still highly recommended option for use throughout pregnancy. At a slightly higher price point, Elemis Japanese Body Oil Blend is a popular choice, providing hydration and elasticity for the skin that helps with stretch marks and itchiness around the skin on the bump. 

Face Creams

Night creams can become even more important during pregnancy when your skin can become irritated, dull and discoloured. Manuka Doctor Restoring Night Cream is infused with honey, ready to boost your natural collagen and return the natural plumpness and freshness to your skin.

Another face cream I highly recommended is the luxurious Yon-Ka Pamper Mousse which helps to brighten the skin and provides a vital defence for your skin’s nourishment.

Lip Cream

Around the time of being pregnant, your lips can become cracked, sore and swollen. To help with this problem and sooth these effects of pregnancy, you can try Bloom & Blossom’s Nip & Lip Soothing Balm, which can also be used during and after pregnancy in the case of sore and cracked nipples. 

A great product I highly recommended is also the Yon-Ka Nutri-Contour lip and eye cream, which works hand in hand with both areas, helping to provide additional nourishment in these fragile areas of the face.

As Mother’s Day approaches in the UK this week, on behalf of me and the team at Rani Mirza Knightsbridge, we wish all the mothers and pregnant mothers-to-be a beautiful, relaxing and special day with their families.