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Pregnancy is a beautiful state for most women but the rapid hormonal ups and downs can stimulate some less desirable changes in your looks. There are many changes that your body undergoes when you are pregnant. Your skin is the first thing to take the brunt of all this. Some of the common problems include very dry, itchy skin, dark patches, acne, stretchmarks etc. Do not despair, these can be treated during and after pregnancy to leave you with a flawless complexion. Do remember that it is better to take preventive measure to avoid these problems:

From your second trimester you might having very dry, taut skin that is sand papery to the touch. Especially around your stomach, hands and legs. This condition vanishes after your delivery. But till then be sure to keep your skin extra moisturised with a creamy body lotion. Almond oil or cocoa butter based creams tend to work wonders in soothing the skin during this period. Apply twice a day at least after bath on a slightly damp skin.

The hormonal changes combined with exposure to the sun can cause pigmentation problem around the eyes, on the cheeks and sometimes above the lip. So a sunscreen all the time is a must during this phase. This pigmentation vanishes post delivery naturally, but if you want, you can try AHA or retinoid based creams post pregnancy. But consult a dermatologist first. Avoid laser therapy though during pregnancy.

During your pregnancy you will find your skin glowing due to the xtra flow of blood. But some of you might experience a bad case of breakouts or acne. Try not to treat this with any prescription cream or drugs during pregnancy and when nursing. To keep under control, use an oil control face wash with salicylic acid. You can try tea-tree oil based products to minimise the problem.

Stretchmarks are the biggest problem that almost all pregnant women worry about. This happens when the skin loses its elasticity due to stretching of the upper and lower layers of the skin. They generally appear as red marks, which slowly fade to form white strip like marks across your stomach. It is really tough to fight stretch marks but with timely treatment you can lighten the marks. You can use an emollient with vitamin E oil. Take zinc supplements to strengthen the skin from within. Avoid scratching the area. Laser also works but it is best to wait until after your pregnancy to try the treatment.