Pregnancy acne... anyone else? help :(

[Sophie0983]

I am 15 weeks pregnant and suffered with sensitive skin prior to pregnancy. I react to makeup quite often but never had major acne, just red pimples. I now have red pimples and spots all over my face, chest, and back and shoulders ! I am mortified, it is putting me off going on holiday and wearing a bikini and I feel rubbish about myself.

Has anyone else had bad skin during pregnancy? Do you know of any pregnancy safe cleansers or creams that helped?

Thanks xxxx

Hi I have also been suffering. Face, back and chest. I’m now almost 24 weeks and my face and chest have improved but back is still awful. I’ve not found anything that worked I’m afraid. Will keep an eye on the thread to see if anyone has any suggestions!

Hello!

I Also suffer with acne, i had before pregnancy but am now suffering a lot worse! it is the worst feeling not knowing how or what is the best thing to use while pregnant.
If you hear any treatments or facial washes i'd be also happy to try.
x x x x

I've had bum acne this entire pregnancy. Yes bum acne. I find Sudocream lessens the redness but I've yet to find a complete cure. But then I haven't used it consistently at all, you might find that it helps if you use it every night or something because it's very good stuff.

I've heard this glamorous pregnancy symptom can disappear afterwards due to hormone levels going back to normal.

Same here but like babykim I also had it before and now it's got worse! I've been using benzoyl peroxide but it seems to dry my skin out a bit more than usual. I've also been using The Ordinary niacinamide which seems to improve my skin over all. Both of which are fine to use in pregnancy. The only thing to avoid as far as I'm aware is retinol.

@Paradiselaundry - I was told definitely no to the benzoyl peroxide by both GP and midwife when I went begging for help with the pregnancy acne. For me it's all on the face only and I'm 28 weeks now and it still hasn't gone, although it's not quite as bad as it was. It's really destroyed my self confidence - don't want to go out unless I have to or have my picture taken - I'll be so annoyed if I've been suffering all this time and could actually have been using benzoyl peroxide all along!

I've battled acne on and off since the beginning of adolescence and I had a particularly bad flare-up once I got pregnant. I did also get HG though so skincare was impossible as I was so poorly for the first few months. Once my HG improved a lot better my skin then slowly improved a lot as well. So probably from around 16 weeks it started to improve. By 24 weeks or so it was fab and stayed fab and pretty clear until I stopped breastfeeding around 12 weeks PP. I think it's hormonal and it should clear up later in your pregnancy.

FWIW I got told not to use benzoyl peroxide by the dermotology nurse and the GP.

Me too on this. I'm 26+3 and I've had bad acne on my chest and back, thankfully not too bad on my face.

To top it off, at the other end of the spectrum I've also got horrible eczema on my hands that is so painful unless I moisturise every 30 mins or so. My midwife said there's nothing to be done but keep using E45 on the eczema and soap and water on the spots.

Pregnancy is so glam.

Acne in pregnancy is usually caused by the liver not being able to process the excess hormones in pregnancy. Try googling safe liver support supplements during pregnancy

@CritterTamer I know how you feel, I think people really don't appreciate how much acne can affect you, especially when you're pregnant and might not be feeling your best anyway.

Did they say why you shouldn't use the BP when pregnant? My midwife said it was fine at my booking appointment so I never really gave it another thought and from quick google I can't see any information on how it's harmful. It has made such a difference but my skin does seem a bit more sensitive in general. I wonder if that's the reason?

I've suffered with bad acne since my early teens, my skin since being pregnant has got a lot worse. I've exhausted doctors and premium creams and washes. The only thing I find that works is Germolene. It's cheap and stops any itching or redness too xx