Acne/spots plus dry skin in pregnancy - advice needed

[lucamom]

Since conceiving (and to some extent before but to a lesser degree), my skin has been dry & flaky in parts but also very red and spotty on the cheeks.

I had spots as a teenager, but then my skin was oily. Now it's dry and the spots are just red bumps, but there are lots of them and they're uncomfortable and really unsightly.

Is it pregnancy related, could it be an allergy (although to what I don't know - I've always used good skincare brands, alternating between 2 or 3 for years without reaction, and have always used the same soap powder etc)? A few months before becoming pregnant I went to see my doctor, who gave me antibiotics which didn't work (although I had fake tan on at the time so it was difficult for her to fully see them). If anyone has any ideas I'd be eternally grateful x

[Penelope1980]

I had the same between about weeks 20 - 24, simultaneous dry skin and massive pimples. It sucked! I think it is normal though - the dry skin has gone now though (am 27 weeks) although my skin is still worse than since I was 15. I don't know what to do about it either except wear my hair to cover the worst of it (on my neck and jaw)

[sebs71]

It could be rosecea - it usually appears as red pimple like spots, on the cheeks and chin. I've had this for years, and usually get it treated with antibiotics which clears it up for a while, but I can't take these now as they are complete "no-no's" whilst pregnant. My face has flared up the whole time I've been pg (and before as I'd stopped using the antibiotics whilst ttc) but there's little I can do about it. I went to Debenhams and asked the assistant for advice - and now using "redness solutions" clinique make up which is really good and does cover it. Can't even start using the antibiotics when LO born as they even effect breast feeding, which I intend to do :(

I've read up on rosecea and pregnancy, and with the hormones etc it does flare up more during pg. Also, many women who've never had it before do get it whilst pg... which is why I thought your's might be that?? Have a look on the web (there are photos of it) and see if it's similar to what you have.

Otherwise, they do say that spots/acne flare up a lot whilst pg,again coz of all the hormones...

I just figured that it's something I'll put up with and use the make up...

[Penelope1980]

I don't think it's rosecea, but that looks like it's a pain to have too. Sadly, it's just lots of massive pimples around my jaw line for me! I might try the better makeup trick too though

[fridayatlast]

I had exactly this when pregnant with DS2, I was so embarrassed going to work, I looked like a teenager and it made me so self-conscious and miserable. At around 24 weeks I started drinking copious amounts of water every day (1 litre plus), within two weeks they had gone. I don't know if it was coincidence or the water that did it. Worth a try?