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Skin diseases and rapid hair fall are common in the period immediately after pregnancy and medical advice is essential to tackle the problems
All new mothers take due preparations to ensure the wellbeing of their little darlings, but are often held back by their unwilling bodies unable to handle all the biological changes and stress that occur during pregnancy. Post-motherhood many women enter a phase when they gradually lose the sheen on their face and start encountering hair-related problems. Orissa POST talks to a dermatologist about the common beauty problems new mothers face and the possible solutions to them.
“Two months after giving birth to my bundle of joy, there appeared white patches on my face which refuse to go. However, I didn’t undergo any treatment or medication in the belief that the marks would disappear with time. My baby’s welfare and health were always more important to me than my own and I neglected my problems,” says Tananya Panigrahi who lives in Singapore.
Tanaya also had stretch marks on her waist which are unavoidable during pregnancy.
Sneha Das, a homemaker from Bhubaneswar, says during pregnancy and after delivery it is quite obvious that we undergo certain changes and all women are prepared, physically as well as mentally.
“Around five weeks after I became pregnant, red welts appeared below my right eye and next to my mouth. During the seventh week, barely-there freckles darkened and expanded into what can only be described as black spots. By the end of my first trimester, itchy, ugly, concealer-defying red patches began crisscrossing my forehead, chin and chest. I was confused. Where was my pregnancy glow? After conferring with other female members of the family I gathered that the symptoms were quite natural,” says Sneha.
Dr Satyabrata Tripathy, a dermatologist at Apollo Hospital in Bhubaneswar, says, “The most common problems that women face are dark circles, pigmentation, chapped lips and stretch marks. The skin-related problems during pregnancy are temporary and disappear within a few months after delivery.”
“Sometimes, as the skin stretches, it breaks in the second layer where the collagen and elastin exist, because it doesn’t have enough elasticity. This is where those purple and white streaks called stretch marks emerge from,” explains Dr Tripathy.
To avoid stretch marks and boost your skin’s elasticity it is vital to moisturise your skin with coconut oil and lotions. Use a Vitamin E cream daily or go for professional treatments like chemical peels and lasers.
“Another common problem that new moms face is pigmentation. Doctors usually advise them to use a sunblock that has both UVA and UVB protection. Make sure to wear enough. Remember, it is a barrier. If you don’t use the right amount, it won’t work. Use creams that contain anti-pigmentation actives like lactic acid, glycolic acid, kojic acid, alpha-arbutin or liquorice extracts. Also, laser therapies like Renew, Clear lift and AFT help to get rid of all those problems that creams can’t tackle,” adds the dermatologist.
Problems & solutions
- Melasma: A condition characterised by discoloured patches mostly on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. Can be avoided by using lightening and bleaching creams containing hydroquinone, glycolic acid and retinol.
- Flaky skin: Caused either by inherent skin dehydration or unsuitable beauty products. Use of plenty of moisturiser is advised, along with a mild cleanser.
- Spots: Rashes or acne may leave marks on the skin. Spots are inflammatory reactions which stimulate melanin production resulting in marks. For post-acne marks or post-pregnancy spots, use a Vitamin C serum, sunscreen and exfoliants like glycolic acid with lactic acid.
- Chapped lips: If you lick your lips excessively, they become dry because water evaporates from the lip surface, ultimately causing dehydration. Use a ceramide-based lip balm. Exfoliate the lips often and then immediately use the balm.
