Skin Care
Why the Pregnancy Glow Is a Myth We Should Stop Perpetuating...And what to do when your skin decides to rebel while you're expecting |
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"If a person has super dry skin, the extra oil production might help them. It might make the skin less dry and look better," says Sullivan. "For someone with average skin, the extra oil might cause problems and cause acne on face, back or hair-bearing areas. Even though it's the same physiological process, it can affect mothers differently."
It's possible your immune system shares some of the blame, too. Because the fetus has half of the father's make-up, your body may look at it like a bit of a foreign invader. "Your immune system goes through changes to tolerate pregnancy," Sullivan says. "Pregnant women are more susceptible to a number of infections. We see it with the flu and bladder infections, and for some people, acne is aggravated by bacteria on the skin. Skin bacteria gets in pores and makes it worse." In those women, the immune system's shifting tolerance could exacerbate acne.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Knocking Out Acne While Knocked Up
