Dry Skin During Pregnancy

A woman’s pregnancy is a remarkable journey that is characterized by significant hormonal and physical changes. While expecting a new life to blossom inside, a pregnant woman may also experience various discomforts, including dry skin. Dry skin during pregnancy is a common occurrence, affecting many women due to hormonal fluctuations and other contributing factors.

Dry skin during pregnancy can be annoying, especially if you are also dealing with other pregnancy discomforts. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and appropriate remedies is essential to managing dry skin effectively during this period. This article delves into the nuances of dry skin during pregnancy, offering valuable insights and self-care tips to help expecting mothers maintain healthy, radiant skin throughout their journey.

Understanding Dry Skin During Pregnancy

Dry skin, also known as xerosis, is a common skin condition characterized by a lack of moisture or natural oils in the outermost layer of the skin (epidermis). The skin’s outermost layer consists of dead skin cells and a protective lipid barrier, which helps trap moisture and keep the skin hydrated. When this barrier is compromised or the skin’s ability to produce natural oils is reduced, the skin loses water more rapidly, leading to dryness.

Related Reading: 8 Common Pregnancy Skin Problems

This can cause the skin to become coarse, flaky, and irritated, which may cause it to crack or break out into wrinkles. Certain factors, such as climate, age, genetics, and lifestyle, can make individuals more susceptible to this condition.

According to Dr Ankita Patel Tayal, our panel gynaecologist, pregnancy-induced hormonal changes significantly contribute to this condition. She explains that the rise in estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy affects the skin’s natural barrier, leading to increased water loss and a diminished ability to retain moisture.

Symptoms Of Dry Skin During Pregnancy

Dry skin is one of the most common skin concerns during pregnancy, and it’s easy to miss the signs. From persistent itching to skin that’s dry and flaky, here are some of the most common signs of dry skin and how to deal with them:

• Tightness and discomfort: Dry skin often feels tight and uncomfortable, especially after bathing or washing. The skin may feel rough or have a flaky appearance, especially on the arms, legs, hands, and elbows. Small, white, or grayish scales appear on the surface
• Itching: Pregnant women with dry skin may experience itching. Itching can sometimes be intense and lead to scratching, further damaging the skin’s protective barrier
• Redness: The skin may appear red and irritated, particularly in areas where scratching occurs. In severe cases, the redness in the skin can become inflamed, leading to cracks and even bleeding
• Cracks or fissures: In severe cases, dry skin can lead to small cracks or fissures, which can be painful and increase the risk of infection
• Sensitivity: Dry skin may become more sensitive, making it prone to irritation from harsh soaps, detergents, or environmental factors
• Fine lines and wrinkles: Dry skin can exacerbate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin look aged
• Dullness: If the skin isn’t getting enough moisture, it can start to look ashy or dry, especially for darker skin types

Causes of Dry Skin During Pregnancy

Usually, dryness during pregnancy is an indication of dehydration. This could be a result of insufficient water consumption or high blood pressure. As a result, you may suffer from dry skin and lips. Let us explore some of the primary causes of this dryness and understand how factors such as hormonal fluctuations could be a leading cause of your discomfort.

1. Fluctuations in hormones

Pregnancy hormones can contribute to dry skin in some women¹. During pregnancy, the body undergoes significant hormonal changes to support the growth and development of the baby. These hormonal fluctuations can affect various systems in the body, including the skin.

One of the key hormones involved in pregnancy is progesterone. Progesterone levels increase during pregnancy and play a crucial role in maintaining the pregnancy. However, higher estrogen levels can lead to a reduction in the production of sebum², the natural oil that keeps the skin moisturized. As a result, some pregnant women may experience dry skin.

Additionally, Progesterone can also cause dilation in the skin’s blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow. Though this is necessary for the fetus’ well-being, it can harm the skin. Increased blood flow during pregnancy can lead to higher water loss through the skin, which can also contribute to dryness.

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2. Increasing blood volume

Women will experience an increase in blood production during pregnancy as the body endeavors to support the growing needs of the developing fetus. This increase in blood volume can greatly help bring more nutrients and oxygen to the baby.

However, this will also result in a rather significant shift in the distribution of fluids within your body, likely drawing more water away from your skin. Once again, this can lead to dryness and discomfort in your skin.

3. Dehydration

Dry skin is one of the typical signs of dehydration³. Pregnant women will experience an increased demand for fluids as their bodies undergo substantial changes. In addition to the increased demands of the developing baby, the maternal body will also require more water to keep up with the increased physiological needs.

As such, it can be rather easy for pregnant women to not consume enough water to meet their requirements. As expected, this dehydration can lead to decreased moisture in the skin, thus leading to dryness.

3. Nutritional deficiencies

The importance of a nutritionally balanced diet for the health of the mother as well as the child during pregnancy cannot be overstated. Among the various nutrients your body requires, certain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, and omega fatty acids can have a sizeable effect on the health of your skin. Not having enough of these nutrients can therefore lead to dry skin and other skin-related ailments.

4. Environmental factors

Needless to say, environmental conditions, particularly humidity, and temperature, can have a significant effect on your skin. Low humidity levels, commonly found in dryer climates or during the winter, can significantly reduce the moisture levels in your skin. In addition to this, harsher climate conditions such as heat can also negatively affect the skin, causing dryness, rashes, and so on.

Remedies For Dry Skin During Pregnancy

Proper skin care is vital to maintaining healthy skin during pregnancy. Dr Ankita Patel Tayal, practising obstetrician for last 10 years, advises pregnant women many things which they can do to achieve just that. Let us look at some of those things below:

1. Moisturize regularly: Gently apply a moisturizer of your choice to soothe dry skin. It is highly advised that the moisturizer be fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, etc. are particularly effective
2. Avoid hot showers: Hot showers may end up removing natural oils from your skin, which can lead to more skin dryness. As such, they are best avoided. Cold or lukewarm showers are recommended instead
3. Hydrate: As mentioned earlier, proper hydration is vital to maintaining healthy skin conditions and preventing dryness. So, it is strongly advised that you consume plenty of fluids
4. Choose mild cleansers: Choose more mild cleansers over harsh soaps, as they may strip your skin of moisture and natural oils, thus leading to dryness and irritation
5. Humidify the air: Using a humidifier can be a wonderful way of increasing humidity levels in the space around you, thus preventing excessive loss of moisture from your skin.
6. Wear comfortable clothing: It is better to opt for loose-fitting and more breathable clothes over tight ones with harsh fabrics, as the increased friction can irritate your skin. Choose your maternity wear carefully and sensibly
7. Sun protection: During pregnancy, your skin may be more sensitive to the sun. As such, it is strongly advised that you use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and avoid direct exposure

Related Reading: Shaving During Pregnancy

Self-Care Tips For Pregnant Women With Dry Skin

Maintaining healthy skin during pregnancy goes beyond external remedies. Here are some self-care tips that pregnant women can incorporate into their daily routines to support skin health:

There is a lot you can do other than use external remedies to maintain healthy skin during pregnancy. Here, we take a look at some of them:

1. Balanced diet: Consuming a well-balanced and nutritional diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, and so on can provide your body with everything it requires to maintain healthy skin
2. Gentle skincare routine: A gentle and healthy skincare routine that avoids the use of harsh chemicals and other unhealthy products can significantly help prevent dry skin
3. Stress management: Stress is an overlooked yet significant factor that can contribute to unhealthy skin, particularly during pregnancy. Stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and so on can be immensely helpful in this regard, and can go a long way in maintaining healthy skin
4. Stay active: Maintaining a moderate, healthy level of physical activity during pregnancy can help manage blood circulation and thereby enhance skin health. That being said, It is highly advised that you consult your physician regarding your physical activities. The benefits of exercising during pregnancy cannot be stressed enough.
5. Moisturize from within: Increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables rich in water can be very helpful in hydrating your body from the inside
6. Consult a dermatologist: If the dryness in your skin becomes too much to handle, or you feel it necessary to do so, it is highly recommended that you consult your dermatologist. Being professionals in the field, they would be better suited to guide you with advice tailored to your specific situation

Related Reading: Top 10 Activities To Avoid During Pregnancy

Conclusion

Dry skin is an all-too-common occurrence among pregnant women and can be attributed in large part to things like poor hydration, increased blood volume, deficiencies in nutrition, environmental conditions, and so on. Understanding these causes is essential for expecting mothers to take the necessary steps to prevent dry skin and other skin-related ailments during pregnancy.

Some of the steps you can take to maintain healthy skin during pregnancy include proper hydration and diet, moderate physical activity, a healthy skincare routine, and so on. Self-care should be a priority for you during this time. If these skin conditions are persistent or overwhelming, it is strongly advised that you seek the guidance of your dermatologist⁴.