New Tips: How to Look and Feel Better during Pregnancy

For the next six months, we will feature a series of tips to help women look and feel better during pregnancy and the early days of motherhood. While you may long for your old body back, remember pregnancy is a beautiful time.  Revel in the wonder that is taking place inside of you and follow these pointers to help you really enjoy the whole nine months.

Skin Care
Keep your "Pregnancy Glow" looking great.

Pregnancy can affect your skin in many ways - good and bad. While most women enjoy that glow of pregnancy at some point during the nine month journey, they will also likely experience some of the less-charming effects that come with the surge in hormones and increased blood flow.

The most common skin issues pregnant women struggle with are:

• acne
• melasma (mask of pregnancy)
• hair growth in undesirable places like the chin and lip
• broken blood vessels on the face, neck and chest
• itchiness or rashes on the abdomen and sometimes thighs called PUPPP Syndrome (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy)

While you may not be able to avoid these issues altogether, Dr. Nina Deep, founder of Nina Deep Aesthetics and partner with Tallo and Associates, offers the following tips to help minimize them:

• Wear sunscreen. This is the single most important thing you can do to protect your skin during pregnancy. Melasma, or the mask of pregnancy, will become darker with sun exposure. Wearing a hat in addition to sunscreen will offer the best protection.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water. This will not only help you feel great and provide your growing baby with all the nutrients he or she needs, but can also help keep your skin looking great.
• Exercise. Moderate exercise, as prescribed by your physician, is as important during pregnancy as it is when you're not with child.
• Review your medications - including topical preparations - with your doctor. There are many over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help with these skin conditions and are safe to use during pregnancy. However, it is imperative that you talk with your doctor before using any medications. Even common topical over the counter preparations (like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, for example) are absorbed into your body and may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Women who are thinking about getting pregnant should also take this into consideration and determine whether or not their medications - even topical ones - are safe if they become pregnant.

The good news, according to Dr. Deep, is that most of these conditions can be treated effectively and often completely resolve by themselves after pregnancy. While they are generally not cause for major concern, it is always wise to discuss any changes or questions with your doctor.