Pigmented spots in early pregnancy. Pigmentation during pregnancy: spots that mean a lot. Reasons for the appearance of a cosmetic defect

03.11.2019

With the restless running of time, our skin makes us less and less happy: every now and then a new treacherously noticeable wrinkle "pops up". But these are not the only metamorphoses that await a woman's face (and body) with age. Pigmented spots are another skin defect that can completely ruin anyone's mood.

To keep the skin of the face young and girlishly clean as long as possible, experts admonish: do not be lazy to take care of yourself from a young age! However, there is a large group of women at risk of increased development of pigmentation more than others. These are future mothers. Are age spots dangerous during pregnancy and the most effective ways to deal with them, we will discuss below.

In any trouble, cheerful women try to see something positive and useful. For example, by the number of dark spots on the skin, pregnant women calculate who is hiding in their belly for the time being - a boy or a girl? There is an opinion that girls "steal" maternal beauty and cause increased pigmentation. From a scientific point of view, this phenomenon can be explained by the increased need for a female child in the mother's sex hormones. For a sharp decrease in the level of these specific substances, the pregnant woman pays with her own attractiveness in the form of puffiness, acne and age spots on the face.

When age spots appear on the face during pregnancy

Pregnancy was and will be the most unpredictable period in a woman's life. So much happens over a long 9 months: the chest is rapidly gaining weight and the abdomen is enlarging, toxicosis alone is worth something! In addition, some women, while expecting a baby, are compelled to state with chagrin the fact that the “interesting” position does not add unnecessary attractiveness, except that the spiritual beauty is multiplied. Who likes a scattering of highly visible dark spots on skin? And it's good that such a "surprise" was found on the body, and not on the face, although the forehead and cheeks are the favorite places for age spots while waiting for the heir.

The first pigmentation marks the beginning of pregnancy: the nipples and areolas on the breast, the area around the genitals, the labia and clitoris darken noticeably at the earliest gestational age. Future mothers perceive such changes, rather, with interest than with concern. The situation is radically changing when the skin of the armpits, certain parts of the neck and face is rapidly darkening - what happens to me, is it not harmful, how to get rid of such "beauty"? The excitement of women can be understood: with each new day of pregnancy, they are more and more aware of the importance of their position, they begin to think more and more about themselves and about the health of their child.

Nature is inexorable, and the peak of skin staining in pigment "patterns" occurs in the second trimester, and individual pigment spots can appear on the skin right up to the birth. For doctors, this is not news: at a doctor's appointment, the expectant mother may hear a new concept for herself - chloasma of pregnant women, or, as it is most often called, “the mask of pregnancy”. The spots appear indiscriminately on the skin, but the most common places where pigmentation is concentrated are the cheeks, nose, forehead, cheekbones, skin under the eyes, above the upper lip, and chin. Sometimes arranged in symmetry, abstract spots form the most incredible patterns and shapes - flower petals, hearts, butterfly wings, drops.

No less often, the skin darkens in places of regular contact with clothing: on the inner thighs and armpits. In almost all pregnant women, a dark vertical strip in the center of the rounded abdomen divides it into two equal parts. The décolleté area, back and hands are also "favorite" places for the dislocation of age spots during pregnancy (photo):

Reasons for the appearance of a cosmetic defect

In truth, hormone deficiency is not the only cause of a defect. There are other factors that cause age spots during pregnancy.

The first and most important moment in this whole "spotty" story is the concentration of melanin in the skin of every person inherent in nature. This coloring pigment accumulates in specific molecules that science has dubbed melanosomes. Their main task is to protect the upper skin from contact with aggressive ultraviolet radiation. The higher the content of melanin in the skin, the darker it is, the higher the risk of age spots on it.

Completed conception becomes a trigger for hormonal changes, which makes its own adjustments to the process of synthesis and accumulation of dye in the skin. This is taken care of by the adrenal glands, which begin to diligently produce estrogens, progesterone and melanocyte-stimulating hormone. As a result, the level of melanin in the skin increases significantly. An excess amount of pigment is concentrated in the most unexpected places for the expectant mother on the face and body.

The increased concentration of the dye becomes the cause of the development of hyperpigmentation. A pregnant woman is faced with this phenomenon when she watches with horror the rapidly darkening skin on certain areas of the back, neck, chest and face. As we have already noted, hyperpigmentation becomes especially widespread at the beginning of the second trimester and slightly slows down in late pregnancy.

Note that a sharp increase in the level of melanin in the skin can be dictated not only by the natural laws of physiology, but also by other reasons:

the appearance of dark spots on the skin sometimes becomes a consequence of prolonged use of oral and antiepileptic drugs before pregnancy;
in some cases, hyperpigmentation will indicate to the specialist a lack of folic acid in the body of the expectant mother;
increased pigmentation makes itself felt in case of liver dysfunctions, pituitary diseases, ovarian pathologies, excessive enthusiasm for the use of perfumes and decorative cosmetics of dubious quality;
"Spotted" skin color in a pregnant woman is more likely to appear after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. No wonder, freckled people (and freckles are the most common age spots) are called sun-kissed;
most often, hyperpigmentation is a hereditary factor.

When pigmentation spots disappear after pregnancy

The most pleasant thing for the expectant mother, who is concerned about the manifestation of pigmentation on the skin, will be the news that the scattering of dark spots on the face after childbirth will first turn pale and then completely disappear. Indeed, many of the nuances of appearance acquired during pregnancy are temporary phenomena. The extra pounds go away, the abs will appear again, the swelling on the legs and puffiness on the face will disappear, and the hormones will finally calm down. The same applies to hyperpigmentation: the skin will clear up in 3 or even 2 months after a woman becomes a happy mother.

Do not be discouraged if individual dark spots linger for a longer period: pigmentation can persist for several years. Ultimately, she will become much paler too. In addition, with the support of modern cosmetology and traditional medicine, you can improve the condition of your skin both after childbirth and during pregnancy.

How to get rid of age spots during pregnancy

From the point of view of clinical medicine, it makes no sense to conduct a targeted fight against age spots during pregnancy, since they do not pose any threat to either the mother or her child, and disappear some time after childbirth. However, women always want to be beautiful and are not going to make any compromises - today there are countless recipes that will help lighten the skin and make age spots less noticeable.

Facial cleaning products

There is no giver more generous than nature. For example, fruit acid can transform the skin beyond recognition!

Lemon juice is at the top of the list of natural whitening agents for the skin of the face. The expectant mother can be convinced of this herself: squeeze the juice from a large slice of citrus, add water to it in a ratio of 1 to 5 and refrigerate. The brightening agent should be used regularly, wiping the face with a cotton swab dipped in the solution, morning and evening. It will take several months to achieve a visible effect, but the result is worth it: the skin will acquire a lighter tone, and pigmentation rashes will decrease.
Shock freezing of forest and garden berries is a great opportunity to indulge your gastronomic addictions even in the cold season. The skin will also benefit from these gifts of nature. It is enough just to knead a couple of berries of lingonberry, raspberry, cranberry or strawberry and cover the skin of the face with this gruel. If you introduce this cosmetic procedure into a habit, the skin will eventually become clearer for a few age spots.
The price of pharmacy castor oil will suit any wallet, and the composition will “suit the taste” of the skin, mottled with pigmentation spots. To get rid of the defect, in the morning and in the evening, wipe the places of the greatest accumulation of specks on the face and body with a piece of cotton wool dipped in castor oil. Healthy skin is not affected.
Let's share with you another effective recipe from pharmacy ingredients for removing unattractive age spots. You need to mix 1 tsp. 30% hydrogen peroxide, 2 tsp boric alcohol and 1 tsp. glycerin. The prepared product is used to wipe the skin of the face once a day until a noticeable whitening effect appears.

Lotions for age spots

Lotions are considered one of the most effective ways to remove age spots from the face at home. It is enough to use them once a day before going to bed for 2 weeks.

1 tbsp. l. combine fresh lemon juice with 2 tbsp. l. honey. Cover your face with a gauze cloth soaked in the product and rest for 20 minutes, then wash yourself with warm water.
Moisten gauze in curdled milk, apply to the places of greatest concentration of age spots on the face, then rinse off the remains of the dairy product with warm water.
Mash 5 tbsp. l. fresh red currant berries until puree, then transfer the mass to a thermos and pour a glass of boiling water over it. The product will take 3 hours to infuse. Cool the finished berry infusion, strain and pour into a glass dish. Saturate a gauze cloth with the solution and apply a lotion on age spots for 20 minutes. After the procedure, wash yourself with warm water and lubricate your face with moisturizer.

Masks to improve the appearance of facial skin

Dissolve a spoonful of starch in lemon juice until the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply the mixture all over your face and soak for 15 minutes, then rinse off with plain water and apply a nourishing agent. Do the mask twice a week.
Peel a medium-sized cucumber and grate the vegetable on a fine grater. Pour so much oatmeal into this mass so that you get a not very thick mask. Apply the product to your face and wash off with cool water after 20 minutes. The mask can be done up to 3 times a week.
Combine equal parts of liquid honey, lemon vinegar and table vinegar and stir until smooth. Before applying the mask, steam your face, then apply the mass on the skin in an even layer and leave for 25 minutes. You will need a lot of warm water to remove the mask. The whitening effect of this procedure will not be long in coming.
Grind a bunch of fresh parsley in a blender and cover the pigmented skin with the resulting gruel. Leave the mask for half an hour, then wash with cool water and lubricate your face with a nourishing cream.

When going to give a categorical rebuff to age spots on the face and body, the expectant mother should remember that some ingredients of home cosmetics (for example, honey, strawberries) can provoke the development of an allergic reaction, so they need to be used wisely.

How to prevent the appearance of age spots on the face during pregnancy

These recommendations, most likely, will not save the pregnant woman from all dark spots (hormones not controlled by us are involved in this business, remember?), But they will definitely help to reduce their number several times. From noon to 6 pm, you should not be in direct sunlight - this is the most dangerous part of the day for ultraviolet-sensitive skin. For the same reason, you need to adopt cosmetics with a high protective level from the sun.
Cosmetics in the arsenal of a pregnant woman should be tested and of high quality.
The expectant mother should make sure that no chemicals get on the skin.
Regular intake of multivitamin preparations on the recommendation of a doctor is the key to a good mood and beautiful appearance.
The food that a pregnant woman eats will certainly be "tried" by her baby. Consequently, during all 9 months of waiting, healthy foods should prevail in a woman's diet: vegetables, fruits, cereals, liver, fish, vegetable oils.

What to do if pigmentation remains after childbirth

In 98 cases out of 100, all age spots that appeared during the gestation of a baby disappear 2 to 3 months after childbirth. But if after 10 - 2 months the dark areas of the skin stubbornly do not want to leave the woman's face or body, you can seek advice from doctors. A dermatologist, gynecologist or therapist will help you in this matter. A consultation with a competent specialist will help to find out if the age spots are the result of any disease that is not related to pregnancy.

If the remaining pigmentation is not a consequence of the disease, salon procedures in the form of medical cosmetics or a laser will help cleanse the skin of unattractive spots.

Ways to eliminate age spots. Video

Pigmentation is the active production of melanin in the layers of the skin as a result of external and internal factors and health problems. Dark spots can be localized in different areas of the skin, more often they attack the face and décolleté. Age spots during pregnancy can cover different parts of the body. A cosmetic defect worries many expectant mothers and pushes them to take active steps to combat it.

A substance called melanin is responsible for the color of human skin. It is present in the retina, hair, and tissues. It is important for the body, protects against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Often in the production of the coloring pigment, malfunctions occur, and a dark brown, reddish stain appears on the skin. This phenomenon is observed in pregnant women.

Causes of pigmentation during pregnancy:

using oral contraceptives or epilepsy medications before conception;
pathological changes in the work of the pituitary gland, liver, ovaries;
heredity;
the use of low-quality cosmetics and perfumes;
change in hormonal levels;
deficiency of folic acid and vitamins in the body;
prolonged exposure to the sun;

It is impossible to recognize the signs of pigmentation, it can appear unexpectedly. Often women observe the appearance of spots in one place in another, and then they quickly and imperceptibly cover larger and larger areas.

Localization features

A mother-to-be can find dark areas on any part of the body - face, arms, back, abdomen, chest, thighs, genitals, etc. Women who are prone to freckles are highly pigmented.

Hyperpigmentation on the face

The face is a favorite place for age spots. The largest number is located in the eye area, around the mouth, on the bridge of the nose, forehead, cheeks. The shade of the formations can range from light yellow to dark brown. The borders are uneven, vague. "The mask of pregnant women" is not dangerous and does not cause physical discomfort, but tends to increase brightness by the third trimester.

The color increases in red-haired women with freckles and in blacks. To avoid darkening, doctors do not recommend sunbathing in the second and third trimester.

Pigmentation on the chest

A spotted breast during gestation is a normal process. The nipple pigment is caused by changes in the hormonal background, it is impossible and unnecessary to influence it. If spots began to appear in the décolleté and under the breasts, this may be caused by a lack of vitamins, stress and insomnia.

It is impossible to get rid of existing darkening, but it is possible to prevent their further spread. To do this, the doctor must study the test results and, in the event of a lack of vitamins, prescribe medications to replenish them. Folic acid is an indispensable companion for a pregnant woman.

Try to avoid overstrain, get more rest.

Pigmentation on the belly

Pregnancy is a time to change and explore your body. Most of the questions are caused by the dark stripe on the growing belly. The longer the period, the clearer it becomes. It originates from the pubis and goes to the navel or continues to the chest.

The hormone melanotropin is the main reason for the development of pigmentation in the abdomen. Its increased production is provoked by changes in the level of estrogen and progesterone.

Most often, the pigment appears in women with dark skin.

If during the first pregnancy there was pigmentation, then in the second belly a dark stripe will again cross, but its color will be brighter, and it will appear at an earlier date.

At what period of pregnancy appears

Pigmented spots most often appear in pregnant women in the second trimester. During this period, the body prepares for the upcoming delivery and breastfeeding, hormones rage and provoke various consequences. The process can start much earlier. For many women, the appearance of spots is an early sign of conception.

It is impossible to avoid this, but it is possible to prevent the darkening of existing pigmentation. Some rules should be followed:

avoid the sun in the summer during its activity;
do not consume large quantities of caffeine and strong tea;
care and decorative cosmetics of only good quality, without the addition of preservatives, alcohol and parabens;
walk more often, be in the fresh air;
eat easily digestible, low-fat food;
add fruits and vegetables to the diet;
in the presence of chronic diseases, regularly undergo examinations and take medications that are prescribed by the attending physician.

Do age spots depend on the sex of the unborn child

According to popular belief, the dark stripe that crosses the entire belly of the expectant mother indicates that she will have a boy. If the line is interrupted near the navel and does not have a pronounced light color, it is worth preparing for the birth of a girl.

Modern medicine advises against trusting dubious omens. The doctors' opinion on this issue is unanimous: pigmentation is a natural process and has no relationship with the sex of the unborn child.

Disposal methods during pregnancy

A cute freckle looks perky and beautiful, but if the pigment has captured a large area and has a strong dark color, a woman will experience psychological discomfort and look for methods to deal with the problem.

Cream with whitening properties is forbidden to be used by expectant mothers due to the high concentration of harmful substances. Recipes of traditional medicine, distinguished by naturalness and safety, will come to the rescue.

Compresses

Treatment with compresses is effective, the main condition is regularity and respect for proportions.

№1 Dip a clean gauze napkin into fresh yogurt. Apply lotion to face, leave for 20 minutes. Remove residues with warm water.

No. 2 Honey 20 gr. and mix the freshly squeezed juice of one medium-sized lemon until smooth. In the finished mixture, moisten a gauze or napkin and apply to the pigment area. To whiten in this way, 20 minutes is enough.

No. 3 Fresh parsley is crushed and applied to each speck. Getting rid of a cosmetic defect takes no more than 30 minutes.

Masks

You can remove age spots or lighten them, but any homemade mask recipe should be used in combination with compresses. In this case, stains can be removed faster and there are chances to look beautiful with clean skin after a month of intensive treatment.

# 1 Use a blender to grind a medium-sized fresh cucumber. The mixture covers the problem area and the entire face. The exposure time is 30 minutes.

№2 Fresh berries of currant and viburnum, taken in 2 tbsp. combine each component in a container with fresh bee honey 5 gr. Grind the mass thoroughly to a state of gruel. Cover defects for 20 minutes. Clean gently with a cotton swab and warm water.

No. 3 Milk 1 tbsp. mixed 25 gr. dry yeast and 10 ml. freshly squeezed lemon juice. The mask is evenly distributed over the skin surface. Wash off after 15 minutes with carbonated or filtered water.

Getting rid of cosmetic problems with masks is effective and useful, they cleanse the skin and give relaxation to the whole body.

Removal of pigmentation using folk recipes should be carried out in compliance with safety measures. During pregnancy, there is a high risk of developing an allergic reaction to the components of the formulations. To prevent negative reactions, it is necessary to do a preliminary skin test: the hand is treated with the mixture at the bend. The occurrence of itching, rash is a contraindication to use.

What to do if pigmentation has not disappeared after childbirth

It is not recommended to treat pigmentation during pregnancy, it is useless. Childbirth will solve the problem. It takes 2-3 months to cleanse the skin, the armpit, intimate areas or the area around the nipple brighten longer. The maximum time for tone equalization is a year. If there is no whitening effect, go to a therapist, gynecologist and dermatologist. It is necessary to undergo an examination to exclude problems with internal organs.

The reason is established, a method of dealing with pigment is selected: whitening cosmetics, home recipes or salon procedures.

Pigmentation of the face during pregnancy is a common complaint of expectant mothers to observing doctors. It will develop without warning and at any time. The activity of the process may differ in women with different skin types. Stain prevention is difficult and challenging. If they decide to arise, then it is better to postpone their removal until the baby is born. After childbirth, the skin on the face and body will cleanse itself, and the memories of the "mask of pregnant women" will remain only in the photo. Do not torment yourself with unnecessary worries, get ready to meet a new family member.

Changes occur in the body of a pregnant woman, in particular, the hormonal background changes. As a rule, it is hormonal changes that cause the appearance of age spots on a woman's body. This and other reasons will be discussed below, and measures will also be described that will allow you to get rid of pigmentation, if it has not gone away even after childbirth.

What does pigmentation look like and why does it appear?

Melanin is the substance on which our skin color depends. It is found in hair, retina, tissues. Melanin is formed in special molecules - melanosomes, which, when ripe, appear on the surface of the skin, protecting it from ultraviolet radiation. We can say that pigmentation is a useful property of the body and should not create discomfort for a person.

When melanin is produced in excess, darkening or lightening appears in areas of the skin, which is called pigmentation. What will be the color of the spots - light or dark, depends on the color of the pregnant woman's skin: for fair-haired, dark spots are characteristic, and for dark-haired ones - light ones.

As a rule, pigmentation during pregnancy is provoked by such reasons as:

Change in hormonal levels. With the onset of pregnancy, the woman's body begins to rebuild, as a result of which the production of melanin increases, which is concentrated on certain parts of the body or face. This is due to the fact that the production of such hormones - estrogen, progesterone and melanotropins - increases.
Late pregnancy. As a rule, hyperpigmentation is noted in the second half of pregnancy. It provokes the appearance of spots of brown shades on the back, neck, mammary glands (area around the nipples), décolleté and face (on the forehead, cheeks, chin or upper lip).
Taking oral concentrates before pregnancy, using low-quality cosmetics and perfumes. Pigmentation is enhanced by the lack of folic acid in the body of a pregnant woman.
Hereditary predisposition. In women prone to freckles, the pigmentation increases and the color of the spots becomes brighter.
Problems with internal organs. The cause of pigmentation during pregnancy can be problems in the liver or ovaries, the pituitary gland.

It should be taken into account that pigmentation can be caused by a long stay of a pregnant woman under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. To prevent this, a woman should avoid sunburn.

Age spots on the face during pregnancy

Pigmentation in a pregnant woman appears anywhere on the face, and is also called a "pregnant mask". An example of such spots is shown in the photo:

Typically, spots appear on the following areas of the face:

bridge of the nose;
the area around the lips;
eye area;
cheeks.

Pigmented spots on the face have uneven borders, the color is from yellowish to dark brown. They do not bring any discomfort, but intensify by the third trimester, and if there are freckles on the face, then they also enhance their color. If the complexion is dark, then the pigmentation will appear more pronounced.

Pigmentation on the abdomen during pregnancy

Changes in a woman's body occur both internally and externally. Everyone is interested in the strengthening of the pigment strip on the abdomen, which is also called the Alba strip. It can be less visible to very clear. A photo of pigmentation on the belly of a pregnant woman is presented below:

Changes in the hormonal background in a woman's body provoke an increased production of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. By their action, they provoke the production of the hormone melanotropin, which becomes the cause of pigmentation on the abdomen. Women with darker skin color are more prone to dark streaks, but most women still have a pigment streak on their belly.

The strip is located across the entire abdomen, and can run from the navel to the pubis. And the longer the gestation period, the greater the expression of the streak.

According to popular statements, if the strip is dark and passing through the entire belly, then a boy will be born, and if the strip is lighter and is above the level of the navel, then a girl will be born. But do not trust beliefs, since the pigment strip is a natural process, and does not affect the fetus in any way. After childbirth, the strip brightens and disappears.

It often happens that a woman's spots on her body are considered pigmented, while this is not at all the case. Many pregnant women develop lichen, which looks like pinkish, brownish pulls. Therefore, if any skin lesions occur, you should consult a dermatologist.

When will pigmentation disappear on the body of a pregnant woman?

Many changes in the body of a pregnant woman are temporary, and age spots in this case are no exception. As a rule, with the return of prenatal weight, the appearance of abdominal muscles and the establishment of hormonal levels, pigmentation also disappears. This will take about 2-3 months after delivery.

Some women note that the pigmentation that appears during pregnancy does not go away even several years after giving birth. In such cases, you can contact a specialist to get rid of age spots, namely, a beautician or dermatologist.

Prevention of pigmentation during pregnancy

A pregnant woman can avoid pigmentation or reduce its effects if she remembers the following rules:

In the summertime, avoid sunlight, come more in the shade, use sunscreen, wear a hat.
Include in large quantities in the diet vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins C and E, foods containing folic acid. Lean more on lactic acid products.
Eat food that is not greasy and easily digestible. Cook all products in a multicooker, that is, steam.
Exclude strong drinks, coffee, strong tea from the diet.
In the presence of diseases of the liver, ovaries, thyroid gland, it is necessary to undergo a full course of treatment before planning a pregnancy. Before conception, take folic acid and foods rich in folic and ascorbic acids.
Try not to use cosmetics or use creams from the children's series.
Come more outdoors (but not in the open sun at noon) and lead a healthy lifestyle.

If, nevertheless, you are worried about age spots, then you can resort to folk remedies.

What if the pigmentation does not come off?

Pigmented spots during pregnancy should not be treated - with the normalization of the hormonal background, everything will pass by itself. However, if this creates discomfort for the pregnant woman, it is better to use folk remedies. For example, instead of cosmetic lotions, it is better to use cucumber juice, apply bell pepper, cranberries and cucumber crushed into gruel. It is recommended to apply parsley to problem areas.

Of course, stains can be dealt with by applying masks. The following recipe is especially effective:

Prepare a small piece of gauze or special masks with slits for the eyes.
Add any fresh berries to a bowl and mix with a blender until gruel is formed.
Mix with mashed low-fat cottage cheese and sour cream.
Apply the mask for 20 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.

Masks not only help to get rid of pigmentation well, but also give a relaxing effect to the whole body.

In the fight against pigmentation, lotions that can be done before bedtime are also effective:

Squeeze the juice from 2 lemons, mix with 2 tablespoons of honey. Soak a gauze pad with the mixture and hold it on your face for 20 minutes. Wash off the rest of the lotion with warm water.
Prepare fresh curdled milk, apply on face with gauze and after 20 minutes rinse with warm water.
Mix equal amounts of milk and sour cream, apply on a gauze pad and hold on the face for about 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

How a woman is going to fight pigmentation after childbirth, you will learn from the video:

During pregnancy, pigmentation appears not only in the form of a strip on the abdomen, but also in the form of age spots on the face, nose, forehead, chin, around the eyes, and back. In addition, the color of the mammary glands darkens. These changes in a woman's body are natural and, as a rule, disappear within 2-3 months after childbirth. If this does not happen, you can contact a beautician or dermatologist who will tell you how to quickly eliminate these spots.

Pigmented spots during pregnancy, as a rule, appear as a result of hormonal disruption. Doctors call them pregnant chloasma. During the period of bearing a child, the hormonal system of a woman is significantly rebuilt. Hormones come into play, such as - they prepare a woman for future childbirth and breastfeeding. This leads to the appearance of age spots, since as a result of hormonal changes, the function of the pigment system is disrupted: the melanin contained in the skin is distributed unevenly, and yellow-brown spots appear on it.

The reason for this phenomenon is a lack of vitamins - B, C and folic acid, as well as copper, iron and zinc. In this regard, a pregnant woman should take care of their timely replenishment - first of all, adding food products containing these necessary substances to her diet - lettuce, greens, cabbage, spinach, cereals with bran, wholemeal bread. It is also necessary to take vitamin complexes with a high content of folic acid, designed specifically for pregnant women.

During pregnancy, age spots can appear on any part of the female body, but most often they occur in the facial area - on the cheekbones, cheeks, upper lip, on the forehead, nose and chin, as well as on the arms, shoulders, back, in the decollete area and below - on the nipples, abdomen, labia and in those places where the clothes are close to the body. Chloasma can occur suddenly, and at any stage of pregnancy. Pigmented spots usually disappear some time after childbirth, usually with the onset of the first menstruation.

Chloasma does not pose the slightest danger to either the child or the pregnant woman, so doctors recommend not to pay special attention to them, and even more so not to worry and not get upset. The only problem associated with chloasma is purely aesthetic. It can be partially solved with the help of decorative cosmetics. It is advisable to choose high-quality natural remedies for this purpose, since any substances that are absorbed into a woman's skin somehow enter the body of her unborn child. It is necessary to avoid the use of whitening creams, which are far from safe during pregnancy and at the same time dry and age the skin. It is best to use mild folk remedies - masks using vegetable, berry and fruit juices, as well as gruel from cucumbers, lemons, cabbage, parsley, berries and sweet peppers. They need to be applied only in the evening, so that after that the skin is not exposed to sunlight.

It happens that age spots after childbirth do not disappear immediately, and in some cases even remain for a long time. In these cases, it is necessary to start protecting the skin from the sun's rays from the end of February (the same can be done during the period of bearing a child). You should always use creams with a high SPF - at least 30. Their duration of action is no more than 4 hours, and if you apply a foundation on top - up to 6 hours. It is advisable to refrain from walking in the open air during the most active hours of the sun - from 11 am to 5 pm. When walking, you can wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Red age spots during pregnancy, allergic reactions

Sometimes, in addition to yellow-brown age spots on the skin of pregnant women, there are others - red; their appearance may be accompanied by itching and burning. As a rule, the appearance of red spots indicates an allergic reaction. Since the female body during pregnancy becomes especially sensitive to various kinds of external influences, just one chocolate or orange can cause the appearance of such red spots, even if a woman has never experienced an allergy before pregnancy.

When red spots appear on the skin during pregnancy, a woman should completely exclude all possible allergic factors, since this can affect not only her condition, but also the health of the unborn baby. Allergens can be both food and household ones - for example, new bedding, washing powder or nourishing cream. Even multivitamin complexes, tested by experience and time, often cause allergic reactions in expectant mothers. In such cases, a woman expecting a baby should seek advice from a dermatologist or allergist - the doctor will examine her, identify the cause of the disorder, give the necessary recommendations and prescribe a course of treatment. Take care of yourself and your unborn child and be healthy!

Pregnancy is certainly a very pleasant period in every woman's life, but at the same time, this period is full of surprises, and not always pleasant ones.

Physiological and emotional new sensations, the first signs of pregnancy, various changes throughout the body, in all organs and systems, exacerbation of old latent diseases, and sometimes the emergence of new ones - all these are possible companions of the period of bearing a baby. One of the surprises of pregnancy is the appearance of age spots in the expectant mother. These spots can appear not only on the face, but also on the whole body, in the most unexpected places.

Causes of age spots during pregnancy

There may be several reasons for the appearance of age spots during pregnancy:

Firstly, the color of the skin of any person always depends on several factors at once, but the main one is the concentration of the pigment (coloring matter) - melanin. Its concentration takes place in molecules called "melanosomes".
These melanosomes act as a natural filter that protects the uppermost skin layer of a person from the harmful external effects of ultraviolet radiation;
Secondly, since hormonal changes occur in a woman's body with the onset of pregnancy, the process of melanin production undergoes changes. The adrenal glands begin to increase the production of estrogen, progesterone and melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
Therefore, melanin during this period is produced in extremely large quantities, and begins to concentrate on certain areas of the skin of the face and body of a pregnant woman. This, in turn, leads to hyperpigmentation;
Thirdly, hyperpigmentation is manifested brownish spots, of various shapes on the back, on the neck, around the nipples on the mammary glands, in the decollete area, on the face (usually the forehead, cheeks, chin and upper lip are subject to pigmentation).
As a rule, hyperpigmentation begins in the second trimester, less often, it may occur somewhat earlier;
Fourth, hyperpigmentation can occur if a woman has used oral contraceptives or drugs for the treatment of epilepsy before pregnancy. Or, hyperpigmentation may indicate a deficiency of folic acid in the female body;
Fifth, hyperpigmentation can occur due to abnormalities in the function of the liver, pituitary gland, ovaries, or due to incorrect use of perfumery and cosmetics. Low-quality cosmetics can also cause skin pigmentation during pregnancy;
Sixth, pigmentation can occur due to a hereditary predisposition.
Increased pigmentation occurs with ultraviolet radiation, from which we can conclude that pregnant women need to hide from the sun;
And the last, as a rule, chloasma (appearance of pigmentation) disappears within the first two months after childbirth.
True, it happens that stains remain for several years. But this is a rare occurrence. If pigmentation gives a woman uncomfortable sensations, it is worth consulting a dermatologist and cosmetologist for advice.

How to get rid of pigmentation?

In general medical terms, getting rid of age spots during pregnancy is absolutely not advisable, since they have no harmful effect either on the health of the mother or on the development of the fetus. It is best to wait until the pigmentation disappears by itself in the postpartum period.

But, if the expectant mother is still uncomfortable with age spots, there are some ways to remove them that are quite acceptable for use during the period of gestation. Below are several popular recipes that will help to reduce the intensity of skin pigmentation in the expectant mother during pregnancy.

Folk recipes for skin pigmentation

Means for cleaning: you can wipe your face with freshly squeezed juice of parsley, cranberries, onions, fresh cucumbers, red currants, strawberries, bell peppers, raspberries. After soaking the swab in the juice, simply rub your face several times a day. There is no need to wash off the juice from the skin.

Lotions:

Mix lemon juice with two tablespoons of honey, moisten a gauze swab in the solution, hold it on your face for twenty minutes, then rinse with warm water;
soak gauze in fresh yogurt, apply to face, rinse off with warm water after twenty minutes;
mix one to one milk and sour cream, moisten a gauze swab with a solution, apply on face, rinse off with running warm water after twenty minutes.

It is enough to do such lotions once a day before going to bed.

Masks:

it is necessary to grind any bleaching berries (the berries are listed above), make a face mask from the resulting gruel for fifteen minutes;
directly lubricate the age spot with fresh kefir for fifteen minutes, after kefir, wipe the spot with freshly squeezed parsley juice;
chop fresh cucumber in a blender, apply on face for twenty minutes. Then rinse off with cool water;
chop the parsley in a blender, put the gruel on your face for thirty minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Any of these folk remedies should be used if the woman is not allergic to any component of the recipe. And in order not to cause an allergic reaction, you must use any of the recipes with great care.

To mask age spots during pregnancy, it is necessary to use cosmetics that are made on natural plant bases. It is necessary to take into account the fact that everything that is absorbed by the mother's skin also gets to the child. Therefore, you should not risk the health of a new developing organism.

Prevention of skin pigmentation during pregnancy

In order not to provoke the appearance of brown spots on your skin during pregnancy, first of all, you must follow some rules:

Absolutely exclude exposure to the sun at a dangerous time - from noon to eighteen o'clock in the evening. At this time, you need to be in a shady place;
Before going outside, be sure to use a sunscreen with a high level of protective factor;
Strictly avoid contact with the skin of various chemicals;
Use only proven and natural cosmetics;
Take multivitamins on the recommendation of a doctor;
Follow a balanced diet, which will contain a lot of vegetables, beets, cabbage, liver, fish products, vegetable oils, cereals.

And the main thing to remember is that any age spots, in ninety-eight percent of cases, disappear shortly after childbirth, so you shouldn't worry about their appearance at all.

Red spots during pregnancy

Sometimes women have spots similar to pigmented, but red in color on the face and body. In most cases, this is one of the manifestations of an allergic reaction to something. With this type of spots, you should consult a doctor and undergo an additional examination. After it, it will be clear to what the body reacts with this manifestation.

Having eliminated the irritant from the life of a pregnant woman, red spots, as a rule, disappear by themselves. You should not be surprised at an allergic reaction during pregnancy, since the body can present various surprises throughout the entire period.