The surge of extra estrogen during pregnancy can cause significant changes in skin and hair. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), blood volume will also increase by 45 percent. For many, these transient changes result in smooth skin and shiny hair, but not everyone has the same experience. Here, 25 women share the surprising changes they’ve experienced to their skin and/or hair during pregnancy. If you’re preparing for pregnancy and have had a similar experience, hopefully this will make you feel less alone.
What pregnancy can do to your skin
“I developed painful cystic acne in the beginning of both pregnancies, so I knew I was pregnant both times! Then my skin stayed dry and I had to put very moisturizing creams on my face. Also, my lips got very plump during both pregnancies, which I didn’t hate.” -Jules H.
“During my pregnancies, I had very good skin! For the first time ever, I didn’t have a single pimple for an entire nine months.” -Lindsay F.
“I had a lot of new moles and freckles appear on my body and my existing moles and freckles changed. It was very strange for me. After having my daughter, I had to have two moles removed by a plastic surgeon because they thought it could lead to melanoma! Both freckles appeared during pregnancy and not from sun exposure.” Emily E.
“My skin became very dry and flaky during pregnancy.” Katie E.
“I developed a lot of skin tumors! All over the place. After giving birth, they magically disappeared.” Corinne P.
“I developed something that looked like rosacea on my cheeks and after a couple years it still hasn’t really gone away. I used Vitamin E every night after washing my face. it came and went but never really went away. I thought it would go away after I had kids, but it never did.” Nora F.
“I developed psoriasis on my eyelids! I’ve never had it before. My dermatologist prescribed steroid cream. It’s a good thing this is my second pregnancy, if it was my first I might have been a little scared. I didn’t realize psoriasis could be hormone related.” Jenny L.
“I developed a lot of hyperpigmentation, mostly on my chest.” -Sherri C.
“I had the most ruptured blood vessels on my face and body! They were tiny, like red dots on my cheeks. The weirdest thing is that during both of my pregnancies, they appeared in the same place. But when I’m not pregnant, they subside.” -Brittany L.
“During my pregnancies, I had bad acne, and “During my pregnancies, I had bad acne, and I’ve never had it this bad. I had to seek help from a dermatologist and take some safe treatments.” -Anna B.
“My skin became very sensitive, especially to the sun’s rays. I had to always wear sunscreen or I would get a bad sunburn.” Sarah M.
“I developed stretch marks during my pregnancy. I developed some dark spots on my face, especially around my forehead and upper lip. I have been using whitening products with limited results.” Elena K.
“My skin became very oily and I often had to wipe it off with blotting paper.” Liliana R.
“I developed eczema during my pregnancy. I developed red and itchy rashes on my arms and legs that were very uncomfortable. I used some mild eczema skin care products to relieve the symptoms.” Rachel C.
“My skin gets very dry, especially in the winter. I need to apply a thick body lotion often to keep my skin moisturized.” Amelia M.
“My skin became very sensitive and even had allergic reactions to the skin care products I usually use. I can only use specific mild products and have to be extra careful.” Sarah J.
Possible effects of pregnancy on hair
“My hair became very thick and shiny. I’ve never had hair like this before and I love it!” Emma B.
“I hardly lost any hair during my pregnancy and it became thicker. However, a few months later, when I stopped breastfeeding, I started losing a lot of hair and it was frustrating.” Emily E.
“My hair became very greasy and I had to wash it more often to keep it clean.” -Emilia M.
“My hair became very dry and frizzy. I have to use more hair care products to keep it soft and smooth.” Katie E.
“My hair became very curly and I had never curled my hair before. I love the change because it gives me new possibilities for styling.” Kelly K.
“My hair became more prone to tangles, especially after washing. I have to spend more time combing and detangling knots.” Rachel C.
“My hair has become more voluminous and voluminous. My hair was flatter before, so I love the change.” Liliana R.
Keep in mind that everyone’s experience can be different and that skin and hair changes during pregnancy are normal. If you have any concerns about your own skin texture and hair, it’s best to talk to your doctor or dermatologist for professional advice and treatment options.
