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By: ePregnancy

You’ve heard all about the pregnancy glow and right now, it’s one of the few things you feel like you can look forward to. So why is your face blotchy? Why have you been cursed with acne reminiscent of your middle school years? And for the love of all that is good in the world, where did those spider veins come from?! 

Well Mama, unfortunately, the same hormones responsible for the coveted rosy bloom are also likely to bring on bouts with blemishes, veins and sometimes even strange changes, like red palms or odd rashes.


Here's a rundown of what you might encounter in this strange new world of pregnancy skin:

• Acne --    Your old nemesis is back, and unless you delight in pimple-popping, it’s a disappointment. You may decide to revisit your SeaBreeze days, but be careful, too, because you shouldn’t use treatments like Accutane or Retin-A while pregnant -- there is a risk of birth defects with these medications. Abrasive scrubs will probably only irritate your skin further, so opt for gentle cleansers and skin-soothing treatments.
  
  
• Rashes --    From heat rash to strange pimply eruptions, your skin is just extra sensitive right now. Heat rash -- caused by the combination of your higher body temperature, increased perspiration and your skin rubbing against itself or your clothes --  usually pops up under your breasts, inner thighs and just under your gorgeous baby bump. (Hint: a little cornstarch lightly scented with lavender does wonders.)
  
  
• Skin tags -- You may develop tiny little polyps in areas where your skin rubs against clothing or other skin. You are most likely to develop them under your arms, where your bra falls and around your neck. They may or may not disappear after pregnancy, but if you are especially bothered by them, your doctor can remove them for you.
  
  
• Spider veins -- Those squiggly purple veins on your mom’s legs that you vowed you would never have? You’ve got them. Spider veins are caused by a combination of pregnancy hormones and an increase in blood volume. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that they will disappear after your body returns to its pre-preggo state, but they can be easily covered with makeup if you are particularly bothered by them. (We prefer to wear them as a badge of honor, though.)
  
  
• Red palms -- No, you haven’t been henna-d in your sleep. The increase in estrogen has caused one of those many quirks of pregnancy, and its name is palmar erythema. Your palms and the soles of your feet will redden and may even itch. Use this as a good reason for a foot massage, and remember that as your estrogen levels return to normal post-pregnancy, so will your palms.
  
  
• Chloasma -- Commonly referred to as the “pregnancy mask,” chloasma may appear on your face (most often in your T-zone) as large patches of freckles or brownish patches. Once again, pregnancy hormones are the culprit, stimulating the production of pigment-producing melanin. You can help limit the effects of chloasma by staying true to your sunscreen-slathering habits and limiting your exposure to ultra-violet light. As with the other skin changes, your dark spots should fade after your hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels.
  
  
• Linea nigra -- In your second trimester you will develop another of those pregnancy badges: a dark line extending from your navel to pubic area. In some women, the line will also extend upward as well. This is simply a result of the same increase in melanin that causes chloasma, and will likewise fade after pregnancy.
  
  
• Stretch marks -- Stretch marks are the most well-known of pregnancy changes and probably the change that women most want to prevent. As your breasts and belly swell, you may develop streaks of differently textured skin, which may be pink or brownish, depending on your own skin tone. You might also discover that you have them on your rump, hips and thighs. Because your skin stretches so rapidly and so dramatically during pregnancy, tiny tears occur in the tissue just below skin level, leaving you with stretch marks. While they won’t disappear completely after pregnancy, the stretch marks will fade and become less noticeable. There are any number of balms, salves and creams on the market that claim to prevent and treat stretch marks -- while there is no proof that they work, at the worst, you will have skin so soft that it could rival that of your baby!
  
  
• Pregnancy glow -- Finally, a skin change that feels (and looks) fab! It’s not just a myth -- when your friends tell you that you are glowing, you actually are. The same increase in blood volume that helps cause spider veins causes your cheeks to take on a charming blush. And the increase in oils give you a lovely shine (not to be confused with the oil slick of your teenage days). Your flush is not unlike the one that comes with exercise, or dare we say, orgasm. So you can toss that Nars blush for a while and delight in your natural glow. 

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