From a Naturopathic Perspective

Pregnancy is a joyous and often exhilarating time in a woman's life. As your body works to create another life, momentous changes occur within your body, some needing special attention. The most visible are skin problems which occur during pregnancy primarily as a result of a great shift in your body's hormonal milieu. Stretch marks, rough brown patches, spider veins and acne are all related to these major hormonal changes.

The best way to minimize these skin problems is to use natural based treatments both topically and internally. Your skin is a reflection of your internal health and striving to achieve healthier skin will result in a healthier core. You and your growing baby will be the beneficiaries.

Suggestions for External Care
Moisturize Daily
Keeping your skin well hydrated is essential for reducing dry skin and blemishes. The turnover of skin cells is accelerated during pregnancy, so make sure you nourish and moisturize more than normal to keep skin looking healthy.

Excess Oil
Many women find that their skin becomes oilier during pregnancy. Consider trying an all natural, vitamin E enriched soap that cleans but doesn't remove essential oils from your skin. A high-quality facial cleanser may help reduce acne.

Take Care of Your Skin
Your abdominal skin is under a lot of physical stress during pregnancy. Massaging your belly with a good all natural salve can keep skin supple and elastic in areas prone to stretch marks (i.e. down the center of your abdomen and the entire area of expansion below your rib cage to your pubic bone)

Be Careful of Sun
If you are out in the sun make sure you use sun blocks with high UV filters. Pregnancy may change skin pigmentation resulting in a greater likelihood of being burned. Second degree burns from the sun both damages and ages the skin.

Check if Products are Pregnancy Safe
Before using any product, make sure it is completely pregnancy safe. Your doctor, health provider or health food retailer can usually advise you as to which of the many products are ideal. Look for all natural products without synthetic chemical additives.

Suggestions for Internal Care
In order to treat the underlying cause of your skin problems, and to provide more permanent solutions to these issues, there are a number of natural health products to be taken internally.

Hydrate! And Eat Your Greens!
Stay hydrated by consuming three or more litres of a clean water supply. Water and the consumption of dark leafy greens are important supports for your liver. The liver is an organ that acts as your own personal blood filtration device. It is critical for dealing with the hormonal excesses that may be contributing to acne as well as affecting your energy levels and overall mood.

EFA Supplement
Supplementation with essential fatty acids (EFAs) is useful for preventing stretch marks and is an excellent addition to support your baby's brain development. EFAs are abundant in ocean dwelling fish like salmon and herring. However, it may be best to use an EFA supplement to get the amounts needed to benefit your baby and ensure optimal skin elasticity. Check to see if your EFA supplement of choice is micro filtered so that you can be sure that you or the fetus are not overexposed to pollutants or heavy metals.

Take a Good Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement
Important antioxidant micro nutrients for the skin include vitamins A, C, E, selenium, and zinc. Depletion of a number of nutrients during pregnancy is inevitable as the fetus develops. Taking a good multivitamin/mineral supplement during pregnancy is an important way to help replenish your body's lost stores. If swallowing capsules and tablets is difficult, consider using a liquid multivitamin/mineral supplement. If you don't want to take a multi, eat plenty of organic fruits and vegetables. Berries of all types provide an excellent source of antioxidants.

Get Enough Protein
Adequate protein intake is important so that tissue repair and growth are effective and unimpeded. If you are a vegetarian, then this may be especially important and a protein powder may be indicated.

Eat A Healthy Diet
Finally, a healthy diet is essential to overall skin health. It is hard to go wrong with the consumption of a whole-foods diet low in processed and fried foods and high in fruits and vegetables.

Pamper Your Body & Soles
Don't forget to pamper yourself . If you can afford it, indulge by going to an all-natural spa where you can receive facials, pedicures, and massages. Your feet in particular can become swollen and tired while pregnant and a good foot massage can be wonderful. Make sure the therapists are specifically trained in pregnancy related health care to ensure that you do not end up with facials that irritate the skin, or massages that leave you more uncomfortable than when you arrived.

A Healthy Spirit
Finally, pregnancy related stress can be intense and needs to be addressed. According to traditional Chinese medicine, a healthy spirit is reflected in healthy eyes and skin. Do not subjugate your own psychological and spiritual health as these are critical to your well being. Other ways to care for yourself include aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, and emotional nourishment. Replenish your reserves as you are going to need them in abundance when your little one joins you on this plane of existence. EX

Published in March 2007