10 Home Remedies Against Acne During Pregnancy
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the world, affecting about 85% of young adults. Pregnancy is no exception and to treat it, home remedies are a good option. However, many of them don’t have scientific support, so it’s important to take certain precautions. Today, we’ll share 10 useful alternatives for treating acne during pregnancy, so take note!
Acne during pregnancy
Many women develop acne during pregnancy, mainly during the first and second trimesters. This is because the increase in hormones encourages the growth of the sebaceous glands.
As a result, stimulated skin glands produce more sebum that can clog pores and lead to inflammation, bacterial overgrowth, and breakouts.
All of these changes are usually temporary and disappear after the postpartum period when hormones return to normal.
Home remedies for acne
Acne during pregnancy is one of the reasons that most leads women to seek home remedies to manage or prevent it.
According to a study conducted in Saudi Arabia, 77% of people with acne seek alternative treatments at some point in their lives. For this reason, we’ll share some interesting options with you.
1. Facial masks
Facial masks have the property of fighting bacteria on the skin or reducing inflammation, which are two of the most important factors that trigger acne breakouts.
Their use is recommended periodically, every 15 days, as an important complement to the skincare routine.
2. Zinc supplements
Zinc is one of the essential nutrients for the production of hormones, cell growth, the functioning of the immune system, and metabolism.
Some studies published in Cutaneous and ocular toxicology indicate that people with acne tend to have low serum levels of this element in the blood.
Also read: Oily Skin During Pregnancy: Advice and Care
3. Tea tree oil
Tree oil is an essential oil that comes from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a tiny species from Australia.
This product has the ability to reduce skin inflammation and fight bacteria. As it’s a very powerful concentrate, it’s best to dilute it before applying it to the skin surface.
4. Green tea
Green tea has a large amount of antioxidants and its consumption is very beneficial for health. One of the advantages of its consumption is that it helps reduce acne breakouts.
According to some publications in the journal Antioxidants, the polyphenols contained in green tea favor the reduction of inflammation and the elimination of bacteria from the skin.
5. Hamamelis
Witch hazel, or hamamelis, comes from a North American bush (Hamamellis virginiana) and has important anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, due to its high tannin content.
It’s not only recommended for treating acne, but also for different skin conditions such as dandruff, eczema, burns, bruises, and insect bites.
6. Aloe vera
Aloe vera gel is a component widely used in the manufacture of creams, lotions, soaps, or ointments. Therefore, its use is very frequent in the treatment of rashes, abrasions, burns, or other common skin conditions.
This natural product contains sulfur and salicylic acid, substances that are used quite frequently in the treatment of acne lesions.
You may be interested: 10 Benefits of Rosehip During Pregnancy
7. Regular peelings
Exfoliation is the procedure by which the most superficial layer of the skin is removed, and to achieve this, chemical products or equipment (such as the diamond tip) can be used.
During pregnancy, a gentle peel with microgranule or mechanical creams is recommended to remove cells that clog pores. This favors the control of acne breakouts.
8. A balanced diet with foods with a low glycemic load
Although there’s great controversy regarding diet and the development of acne, this pathology is associated with certain dietary factors, such as the glycemic index and insulin.
Foods with a high glycemic index increase insulin levels in the blood, which stimulates the production of sebum that leads to acne.
9. Lower dairy consumption
The consumption of dairy products is largely related to the development of acne. Dairy foods, including milk, contain IGF-1, a hormone capable of promoting flare-ups.
According to a systematic review published in the journal Nutrients, there’s a close link between acne and the consumption of dairy products.
10. Stress management
Hormones released in the body during times of stress can increase inflammation and sebum production in the sebaceous glands. Even the bacteria of the normal flora can also be altered.
Therefore, some of the recommendations include getting more sleep, practicing physical activity, yoga, or meditation.
Habits that help control acne
In addition to home remedies to treat acne during pregnancy, it’s essential that women implement healthy habits to help control acne breakouts.
Exercising, drinking enough water, avoiding excessive use of makeup, and performing a skincare routine every day are important guidelines to follow.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Ozuguz P, Dogruk Kacar S, Ekiz O, Takci Z, Balta I, Kalkan G. Evaluation of serum vitamins A and E and zinc levels according to the severity of acne vulgaris. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2014 Jun;33(2):99-102. doi: 10.3109/15569527.2013.808656. Epub 2013 Jul 5. PMID: 23826827.
- Hammer KA. Treatment of acne with tea tree oil (melaleuca) products: a review of efficacy, tolerability and potential modes of action. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2015 Feb;45(2):106-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2014.10.011. Epub 2014 Nov 13. PMID: 25465857.
- Saric, S., Notay, M., & Sivamani, R. K. (2016). Green Tea and Other Tea Polyphenols: Effects on Sebum Production and Acne Vulgaris. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 6(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox6010002
- Juhl CR, Bergholdt HKM, Miller IM, Jemec GBE, Kanters JK, Ellervik C. Dairy Intake and Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 78,529 Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Nutrients. 2018 Aug 9;10(8):1049. doi: 10.3390/nu10081049. PMID: 30096883; PMCID: PMC6115795.