Does Pregnancy Cause Acne?

Like all those times in life when hormone fluctuations cause the annoying condition of acne, pregnancy is no exception. It is actually quite common to experience bouts of acne and harrowing breakouts during pregnancy. This is because when a woman is pregnant her hormone levels increase dramatically, often resulting in androgens. These androgens or high hormone levels, cause the sebaceous glands to swell up and increase the production of sebum, an oily substance naturally produced in the body.

The combination of these factors results in lots of little red bumps and inflammation which can be treated by consulting a dermatologist.

If a woman is already prone to or affected by adult acne, pregnancy will often aggravate or worsen this condition due to the sudden influx of hormones. Acne in times of pregnancy can vary from mild to extreme cases and can come in bursts or last throughout the duration of the pregnancy. Some steps one can take in order to deal with this form of acne are as follows: Washing gently with a mild soap or cleanser twice a day, making sure that moisturizers are oil-free, wearing make-up that is water-based and avoiding the urge to scrub your face when washing as this will further inflame the acne.