You had heard about pregnancy glow before you conceived from friends on many occasions. Now that you are pregnant and you are not sure if you have that pregnancy glow but notice dark patches on your skin. Fret not! Skin conditions during pregnancy differ from person to person.
So, don’t be surprised if you see dark and blotchy spots on your skin – a condition, which is known as melasma or chloasma (“mask of pregnancy”).
What is Melasma, and What Causes It?
These are usually brown, irregular [pigmentation] on the cheeks, around the eyes, underarms, and inner thighs. Moreover, parts of your breasts – like the areolas and nipples, that already appear dark become darker.
Are you feeling just a tad above feeling scared?
Don’t worry! Studies have revealed that 50% to 70% of you experience Melasma or Chloasma during pregnancy. It may take place due to the soaring oestrogen, progesterone hormones, as well as melanocyte-stimulating hormones1 and at any point in time of your pregnancy.
What are the Ways to Treat Melasma During Pregnancy?
As you proceed with your pregnancy journey and enter the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy, you will find this condition to be more common.
So, here are the natural ways to deal with melasma:
Use These Homemade Masks
Try to use things like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, cucumber juice, oatmeal, and honey from your kitchen.
- The acid in the lemon and cucumber juice may reduce the appearance of the pigmentation of the skin.
- Try to mix a solution of half Apple Cider Vinegar and half water and use it as the toner on the dark areas especially.
- Mix some well-grinded oatmeal and raw honey and apply it on your face. Leave it for 10 minutes. Once it is dry, wash it off with plain water. This helps in exfoliating your skin, and the honey lightens the enzymes.
Take Help of Shades and Sunscreens Once You’re Out Under the Sun
The nine months is a long journey. So, whenever you’re out under the sun, and try to walk under the shades. It is not a good idea to get exposed to the sun and increase their condition. Add pregnancy-safe sunscreen to your pregnancy skincare routine. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on your face will be helpful.
Make the Concealer Your Best Friend
Choose a concealer and foundation that is designed for your pregnancy hyperpigmentation. In case you want to deck up for your baby shower, or maybe you have a party to attend, apply the concealer on the patchy areas first and then use foundation on it. Finally, use compacts of wide-ranging colours.
Dress in Comfy Colours
If it is hot outside, wearing sun-protected clothing is the best. Try wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothes. Try to keep your legs covered as well. Wear wide-brimmed hats to cover your face. Along with this, try not to forget a pair of fashionable glasses.
Eat Right
Your pregnancy platter should definitively be full of fresh fruits and veggies. So, besides having omega-3 fatty acids from the natural ingredients, have the supplements as well.
Drink enough water, sleep as much as possible, and be patient with yourself. Although this condition will tend to reduce once you hold your baby in your arms, until such time that you reach that stage, try out these natural remedies to treat melasma.