I was going through some older pictures putting together a post I want to write about outfits and clothes, and I came across this picture, completely unedited, iPhone shot they almost made me cry.
I WANT MY SKIN BACK!
I am one of those unlucky preggo women whose skin went to shit the second I conceived. Actually it started a bit earlier….
All through my teens and early 20s I would have occasional breakouts, which were annoying but went away quickly, only to be replaced by other break outs. When I got into modeling and changed the way I eat COMPLETELY, I was shocked to discover that my skin started behaving. I had a glowy beautiful clear complexion. I was loving it! It continued as I kept learning and improving my nutrition. I had been on the pill for 8 years and this was also about the time when my doctor gave me the go-ahead to skip periods, so that I wouldn’t be bothered by them when modelling and travelling. I spent 2 years without a period and my skin was THANKING ME. {which kind of makes me think that it was skipping periods and not only the nutrition per se that made my skin so awesome?}
When Novemember 2010 came and it was time for me to get off the pill to let my body adjust to my natural rhythm before we start trying in February ( that was the original plan until maternity insurance screwed it up and forced us to wait till May). And that’s when it started slowly. I went back to breaking out .
After two years of really good skin with only very rare breakouts ( usually at the most important moments lol), I was once again seeing pimple after pimple.
But maaaaaan, I had NO IDEA what was waiting for me when i get pregnant.
Whoa! It’s a nightmare!
I try to use Belli Acne Wash (pregnancy safe and tested) when I am not too sick or too tired to do that, but something tells me no product in the world will be able to battle the hormones of a pregnant chick…
Luckily, since I’m taking it super easy during this pregnancy, only few people are unfortunate enough to see me…
But going through my older pictures and seeing clear skin just made me sooooo sad.
I WANTÂ MY SKIN BACK!
{For those of you that had the same problem during pregnancy, did your skin normalize once you gave birth?}
My skin has been pretty decent until recently when I switched to a different pill. I’m actually hoping that pregnancy will give me better skin. Sorry you’re having to deal with that.
I went a year without my period…I was a healthy weight, but I was working out A LOT at the time and I had a good deal of muscle, it was my percent of body fat that was low, which knocked my cycle out of whack. Doc said it was fine as long as I maintained an overall healthy weight. Like you, best year for my skin ever!! 🙂
I broke-out something FIERCE at the beginning of both pregnancies, but I’m hoping like last time, it will clear up somewhere in around 17-18 weeks. After that point I didn’t have a true breakout again for the rest of the pregnancy. So there’s hope you won’t have to wait until post-pregnancy to clear back up!!
Your skin will do some funky stuff while you are pregnant. With my first I had this big brown spot, like a birth mark or something that took over my right armpit so it always looked dirty and with both boys I developed terrible skin tags. They would just pop up everywhere! I broke out too with both, but only in the first trimester. In the second trimester, things started to normalize a little for me, and that’s when I noticed that beautiful pregnancy glow. All the skin issues, eventually went back to normal within a few months of giving birth.
My breakouts came near the end of each of my pregnancies. And mostly cleared up after a few months once my boys were each born. But for me, Im almost 30, and Im finding that I am having the worst breakouts of my life NOW! And, I dont get a period and Im not pregnant…its just my age! Ick =[
You are gorgeous either way and what is happening in your body is a beautiful thing <3
My skin broke out an excessive amount in my first trimester and then about halfway through my pregnancy — I stopped getting blemishes! From 5 months until I gave birth I had ZERO acne, which is crazy for me because I have always had break outs. After I gave birth, my skin started breaking out again. So, hopefully your skin will improve later in your pregnancy. Good luck!
I broke out like crazy, especially on my forehead, with my first (a girl) but not at all with my second (a boy). So…if you believe in old wives tales…it’s a girl who is “stealing your looks”. 🙂
Your skin is ridiculously amazing in that pic. Perfection.
And it will get there again I’m sure!
xo
babymama
I was one of those who never had any breakouts at all. My first real zit was when I was 19! When I got pregnant with my 1st (boy) that’s when I started getting a few. And a couple on my back! wtf. first ever. Anyway, I have 3 boys now. My youngest just turned 1 a few days ago. I’m still breastfeeding so I know my hormones are off a little. Also, the lack of sleep will cause breakouts too. And stress! But I swear the worst part about pregnancy skin is the Melasma! I’m very fair like you (light light skin, blonde, blue) and each time I had Melasma on my face. There is still some on my cheeks but I’ve noticed that my lemon & sugar scrubs really helped to lighten them, as well as putting peroxide on my face after washing it.
You are totally having a girl! LOL. Of course it’s just a myth about them “stealing your beauty,” but it was true for me! The sickness and the bad skin equaled girl for me. I also am pretty sure that going off the pill had something to do with the poor skin as well. At least for me it did.
The skin goes back to normal, but the hair says buh bye. Stock up on biotin to replenish your gorgeous hair!
My skin after pregnancy is the BEST it’s EVER been. I have never had this clear of skin. And it’s not dry nor oily, it’s just clear. I love it!
Thanks so much for you replies guys! Makes me feel much better that bad skin isn’t one of those permanent changes of pregnancy, like stretch marks or wide hips. {fingers crossed for dodging the stretchmarks bullet}
My skin acted a little funny in the 1st trimester. After that it evened out and has looked better than ever. There’s still hope! I use Aubrey Organics for skin care, if you’re interested in other lines that are paraben free. Good luck and congratulations 🙂
Aubrey organics is good. I was searching for a good shampoo and theirs was one of the best. The problem is aside from parabens there’s a ton of other new chemicals they put into organic products to preserve them. Check out goodguide.com
I think I discounted their shampoos cuz they all have vit A, which in pregnancy in retinol form can be dangerous especially since I don’t know the amount. Otherwise, it was some of the best products.
My skin wasn’t too bad during pregnancy, but afterwards (even now) my skin is awful! I It’s just getting better this past month. I had no idea pregnancy hormones could stick around so long… no idea if they can but nothing else has changed in my life (ie, food, diet, exercise) except for sleep — but I had less sleep when I was pregnant than I did with a newborn…
I knew the moment I had all sorts of unusual blemishes that I was pregnant. My skin had never broke out in that way (just a monthly pimple, not tons of little ones). Sure enough, I tested positive! My skin never balanced out during pregnancy but after birth and while I was breastfeeding, it was perfect. As a matter of fact, everything was perfect when I was breastfeeding. My skin was clear, I lost weight at a healthy pace, I had energy… I felt the healthiest I’ve ever felt before. Good luck! xx
OMG, that’s EXACTLY how my skin is breaking out right now: tons of little ones, all over the place!
Thanks!
Elena- Did your skin clear up after baby?
Yes, it did! It’s now breaking out again occasionally, just like it would before I was pregnant.
Hi. Just a note since maybe.you’ll have more children: Bee Magic works great! Google it. Seems a little over the top when you first use it b/c consistency is akin to Vaseline maybe, but it is all natural and simple. Ingredients and more info on their website. I had NO breakouts when using it. I’m over 40 & preg for first time, but I used to have small but regular breakouts and I used Paula’s Choice BHA gel as.a.spot treatment which worked great ques quest to go as natural and organic as possible pregnancy w pregnancy was on my mind I discovered Bee Magic.My boyfriend uses it now b/c he had a bad burn that healed without scarring in two weeks during summer without bandages b/c he faithfully used Bee Magic. I came across your blog while researching best toothpaste while pregnant (I’m still torn) but I saw your skin care comments so I followed them here as I remembered fearing the return to breakouts with hormones flying, but I have had two pimples (prob more stress related and being too tired to wash my face before bed). I dabbed witch hazel on them after washing, then Bee Magic on my face. I started out with just around eyeand on lips, but now I am used to how to put it on, so I use everywhere (including belly and especially on my nipples when I have itching from the new changes starting there). I’m still new to pregnancy but I’ve studied natural medicine for years: had MANY female issues for years to point of one doctor suggesting hysterectomy, but most kept me on the pill but besides the emotional rollercoaster I went on, why on earth would you want to be on the pill?? It is syntheticized horse urine. Maybe they’ve upgraded in the past few years, but the point is, it’s NOT natural. Don’t believe the hype – it’s there to keep pharmaceutical companies in business. Beauty is as beauty does. Look at the skin of any friends that are vegan, or those that do raw diets even if temporarily, and you will see the differences from friends that don’t care about what they eat. I “lean” vegan, but b/c I’m pregnant, I will occasionally have yogurt IF and only if I crave it. The most important thing I’ve learned over my years of studying natural remedies is to LISTEN to my body b/c it is able to heal itself. I rarely crave eating meat, even when I love the smell of it cooking mainly b/c I don’t digest it well. I will always have a tiny nibble to taste it but only grass fed. I’m working on a website of my own where I will compile info like this and link to other blogs and sites like yours. Keep up your quest, but please research that tiny little pill you take to avoid your cycle and keep your skin perfect. There are alternatives. 🙂