Proper skin care during and after pregnancy

IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, SO IS YOUR SKIN. THE RIGHT SKIN CARE DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY.

Pregnancy. An exciting time that many women find unfamiliar at first. Many questions arise that you have never asked yourself before. When you are pregnant, you no longer think only for yourself. You want your baby to be born healthy and protected and looked after.
This is usually a time when you think more than ever about which substances, foods, medications and care products you really want and are allowed to use. Are you also looking for the right skin care that you can use without worry during pregnancy? Since I receive a lot of messages about suitable care during pregnancy, I would like to shed some light on the subject here.

HORMONES CONTROL THE CONDITION OF YOUR SKIN

Pregnancy changes your hormone levels. But I probably don't need to tell you that. Because when you're pregnant, who will know better than you? But you may not be aware of how many processes these hormones really control in your body. Among other things, estrogen and progesterone are responsible for the condition of your skin.

It is often said that during pregnancy a woman is radiant and blessed with smooth skin, full hair and happiness. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and many pregnant women struggle with itching, burning, dry skin, discoloration and acne.

What's more, our skin absorbs many of the substances we put on it! Another reason to be well informed. And not only, but especially during pregnancy. So what's in the creams and serums you use? Here are a few tips for you:

YOU SHOULD AVOID THESE INGREDIENTS DURING PREGNANCY:

Retinal or retinoids (also known as vitamin A)

You will find these ingredients in the INCIs as follows: retinyl palmitate, retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, adapalene, tretinoin, isotretinoin and tazarotene. If these substances enter the bloodstream, they can cause developmental disorders in the fetus and should therefore be avoided at all costs.

Parabens

These preservatives, which already have a pretty bad reputation, are hormonally active. They are similar in structure to your female hormone estrogen and thus interfere with many processes in the body. Although parabens are not completely banned in cosmetic products, there is still a lack of experience about their long-term effects. You can find them in the ingredients under the ending -paraben, such as methylparaben.

Hydroquinone and skin lighteners in general

Especially during pregnancy, some women get pigment spots and discoloration of the skin. Unfortunately, this mostly occurs on the face (more on this further down in the text). In this case, please do not use skin lightening products. The substances used to lighten the skin enter your bloodstream and thus the fetus. They can also irritate your skin and trigger allergies. I will go into the topic of pigment spots and discoloration in more detail further down in the text.

Phthalates (plasticizers)

You should also avoid phthalates, which you often find in shampoos, various hair products, shower gels and sun creams. These plasticizers have the ending “-phthalate” or you can recognize them by abbreviations such as DEP and DMP. They are considered carcinogenic and can have a toxic effect on the embryo.

formaldehyde

You're probably already familiar with formaldehyde as a substance you should avoid. However, it can still be found in various nail and hair products, so it's worth keeping an eye on it here too.

Fragrances and essential oils

You should also be careful with artificial fragrances, perfumes and selected essential oils. They can harm the embryo and avoiding similar ingredients has little disadvantage for you as an expectant or breastfeeding mother. You should therefore prefer unscented cosmetic products. Fragrances are declared as follows: citral, citronellol, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, linalool, limonene, alpha-isomethyl ionone, benzyl alcohol and benzyl salicylate. Essential oils that promote circulation such as anise, fennel, rosemary and sage should also be avoided because of their labor-inducing properties.

Triclosan

This is also a preservative that is used in various cosmetic products to reduce microbial contamination. However, it is also said to have a neurotoxic effect on the unborn child. It should be put on the red list.

In our junglück products, we avoid almost all of these ingredients from the outset. Except for retinal – we don’t want to do without this active ingredient with its many good properties. Retinal is normally harmless and you should only avoid the active ingredient during pregnancy. You can find out more about this topic here.

YOU SHOULD GENERALLY AVOID THESE INGREDIENTS!

We consider the other ingredients to be unnecessary. Although not all of them harm the skin, they do not provide any benefits either. They are generally simply cheap substitutes for high-quality vegetable fats and oils - another reason to avoid them. Not just during pregnancy.

Silicones

Silicones are oily, petroleum-based synthetics that only work on the surface of the skin. They seal the skin and harm the environment. Look out for names ending in -cone or -xane, terms such as dimethicone, methicone, cyclomethicone and polysiloxane.

Mineral oils

Mineral oils are artificial fats derived from petroleum. The fats known as Vaseline, Paraffinum Liquidum, Paraffin, Microcristallina Wax Ceresin/Cera Microcristallina, Ozokerite, Mineral Oil and Petrolatum also have an occlusive effect (ie they seal the skin). The skin can no longer breathe properly under them and the sealing layer provides a good breeding ground for microorganisms.

Monohydric alcohols

These alcohols dry out the skin and damage the skin barrier at the same time. Irritation occurs. These alcohols should therefore generally be avoided in high concentrations. You can find them under the names Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Ethanol, Ethyl Alcohol, Methanol, Propyl Alcohol, Propanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Isopropanol and Benzyl Alcohol.

HOW TO DEAL WITH VARIOUS SKIN PROBLEMS AND CHANGES DURING PREGNANCY

Unfortunately, the skin is not always spared and "beautified" during pregnancy, and many pregnant women - as already mentioned - have to deal with one or two skin problems. But don't worry, there are a few ways to combat these:

Impure skin during pregnancy?

Yes, this is where hormones come into play again. Similar to puberty, the body undergoes major changes during pregnancy and the new hormone cocktail changes the sebum production and blood circulation in the skin. Pimples can be the result.
And what helps with blemishes and pimples during pregnancy?

• Mild cleansing agent (pH value between 5.5 - 6.5) - clean the skin without rubbing, then pat dry // e.g. cleansing oil or cleansing gel (both suitable for oily skin)
• The Azelaine Serum takes care of impurities and at the same time has a matting effect against oily shine.
• Moisturizing day cream with few to no fats and oils // e.g. hyaluronic acid concentrate , aloe vera gel or spray – because well-moisturized skin has a faster self-healing process
• The clay mask clears and frees your skin of blackheads and dead skin cells. After it has taken effect, you can gently massage the mask in with moistened hands to create an extra peeling effect. Then wash it off thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• To care for hormonal pimples during pregnancy or breastfeeding, you can use the pimple paste selectively.
• Do not press! This prevents pimple marks and the spread of bacteria
• If you use make-up , make sure it is non-comedogenic and always remove your make-up thoroughly

Tip: A similar care also applies to very sensitive skin or rosacea during pregnancy.

Skin discoloration and pigment spots during pregnancy?

Melanin production in the skin also changes during pregnancy. Melanin is there to enable the skin to protect itself from UV radiation. The increased activity of the cells that produce melanin leads to the light yellow to brownish spots that can disturb the reflection in the mirror. The so-called melasma tends to appear on areas of the skin that are particularly frequently exposed to the sun, such as the forehead and nose. Even though these spots are harmless and often disappear after pregnancy, some pregnant women would probably prefer not to have them.

One thing in particular helps here: Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 ! Every day. This is the best way to prevent the formation of pigment thickening.

Gentle chemical peels are also often recommended to stimulate the skin's regeneration process. However, I would always advise consulting a dermatologist. Especially during pregnancy, BHA peels, i.e. peels with salicylic acid, should be used with caution and only in very low concentrations.

Do you want to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?

This is probably one of the biggest fears of every pregnant woman: stretch marks!
If your skin is stretched too quickly and too much, it may not be able to keep up with the stretching. There is not enough elastin in the subcutaneous tissue and reddish, purple cracks appear. Your predisposition also plays a big role here and unfortunately there is no miracle cure yet.

The best way to prevent stretch marks is: oil, massage, oil and massage again! Ideally every evening and every morning. This way you constantly supply your skin with important nutrients and it stays healthy and elastic for longer. The risk of stretch marks developing is therefore slightly lower. Almond oil, for example, is particularly well tolerated.

Tip : Don't forget your hands and feet. These often get neglected, especially towards the end of pregnancy. But regular care is more important for your well-being than you might think.

As you can see, there are several ways to care for your skin holistically and comprehensively, even during pregnancy, and in the case of more extreme skin problems, I always recommend consulting your gynecologist or dermatologist.

And after breastfeeding? What care is best

After pregnancy, you are of course in the throes of baby bliss. But your skin also needs a little attention to regenerate as quickly as possible. Spots and pigment spots often disappear on their own. Stretch marks are a little more stubborn.
Retinal products, fruit acid peels and light treatments such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or Pulsed Dye Layer (PDL) are used here to free the skin from the reddish streaks.

CONCLUSION: BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHICH PRODUCTS YOU USE!

Whether you're pregnant or not: We deliberately avoid all questionable ingredients in our junglück products. This means you can use our entire range even when you're pregnant. Caution is only necessary in the following cases: Retinal cream and serum and AHA peeling. The AHA peeling is a bit of a special case, because the concentration is the most important factor here. Low-dose AHA and BHA products should generally not be a problem, because the concentration is the most important factor. However, as a precaution, I would avoid them.

In general, there is still a lack of experience with the use of many ingredients during pregnancy. So if you are not entirely sure, it is best to always consult a doctor.

In short: It is important that you take a close look at the products you want to buy and question all the ingredients. Acquire your own knowledge. This will make you more confident in dealing with cosmetic products and at some point you will read the INCI information like baking ingredients! 🙂

All love,

your Leonie