What Happened To My Skin During My Pregnancy?
August 2010
During My Pregnancy?
Pregnancy causes many changes to a woman's body. As you went through your pregnancy, you may have seen changes in your skin as well. Most of these changes are due to the effect hormones have on the skin. Not all pregnant women will experience skin changes. Some of the more common changes noted include: formation of stretch marks and spider veins, an increase in acne and pigmentation (melasma or chlosma), and an addition of body fat and cellulite. Harmony Laser Center has numerous treatments that can help to reverse or minimize the appearance of these skin changes.
Spider Veins
The hormone changes during pregnancy, coupled with increased blood volume, can cause those tiny, squiggly red or purple capillaries just below the surface of the skin to branch out and become more visible. It is common for spider veins to pop out on the face during delivery as well. Some of these spider veins on the legs or torso may not go away on their own. Vein specialists at Harmony Laser Center can treat these spider veins with Sclerotherapy, the Yag Laser, or a combination of these treatments. It usually takes two to four sessions to obtain the best possible results.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are one of the most talked about skin changes that can occur during pregnancy. Stretch marks are so common, that it is estimated that up to 90% of pregnant women will experience them. They appear as pinkish or reddish streaks that most frequently happen on the abdomen, hips, breasts, and thighs. Stretch marks can be diminished with the use of both non-ablative (Affirm™) and ablative (CO2) lasering. Most patients respond well with just one treatment with the CO2 laser. The Affirm™ laser has less downtime than the CO2, but patients usually will need more than one treatment to obtain the best results possible. Photos courtesy of Donna Donald, MD.
Irregular Pigmentation
Melasma can affect anyone but is particularly common in women; especially pregnant women or those who are taking birth control or hormone replacement therapy medications. It shows up as dark, irregular patches found on the upper cheek, nose, upper lip, and forehead. Sometimes it is known as the Mask of Pregnancy and is thought to be caused by a fluctuation of the female hormones which over-stimulates the melanocyte. The Melanage™ peel at Harmony Laser Center is especially effective in treating melasma or pigment issues. This superficial peel involves a medicated masque and an at-home regimen. The masque is applied during an office visit where it is compounded freshly by highly trained technicians to ensure its potency and reliability.
The Melanolyte™ Tx cream is a product to help maintain your results after a Melanage™ peel and or can be used alone to help improve irregular pigmentation. Most brightening or lightening products can cause skin irritation and have harsh chemicals in them that need to be done in cycles. MelanoLyte™ is a blend of botanical ingredients to help reverse and prevent pigment issues and is safe for long term, everyday use.
At times, pregnancy can make acne worse due to the elevation in androgens, particularly in the first trimester. Androgenic hormones can excite your oil glands into producing more oil, which may lead to more acne. There are many treatments and products that we offer to help with acne. Depending on your skin and what your own individual needs are, you can choose from our product lines Epionce® and Sanitas® to help maintain the skin or one of our Esthetic grade exfoliation procedures, FotoFacial® (IPL), Affirm™ fractional laser treatments or our new Actinage™ Peel to improve acne and the appearance of the skin. While some of these treatments can not to be done when pregnant, they can be performed after birth and/or nursing. Please speak with one of our skin care professionals to find out more and what treatment may be best for your skin.
Hormonal Acne
Body Contouring and Cellulite
Pregnancy can have quite an effect on your weight, resulting in additional body fat, cellulite, and inches. As the body expands during pregnancy, the elasticity of the skin can decrease, which contributes to a loss of tightness and tone.
On the cutting edge in the rapidly expanding field of body sculpting is the VelaSmooth™ laser. Velasmooth™ is a modern, noninvasive treatment that utilizes an innovative approach to reducing cellulite and leaving skin smoother and less dimpled. The treatment combines infrared light and radio frequencies along with mechanical massage and vacuum suction to manipulate fatty tissue, resulting in reduction of cellulite, increased collagen, and improved circulation to the area.
VelaSmooth™ is safe for any skin type, and particularly effective on large areas of the body such as the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, or upper arms. Harmony Laser Center can help you re-contour the problem areas you may experience during your pregnancy.
"I got great results from the Body Beautiful Treatments. I was most impressed with how smooth and firm my thighs looked after just a few treatments. Although the cellulite is not completely gone in all treatment areas, it's a major improvement compared to how it looked when I started treatments. I now have the confidence to wear shorts to show off my great results."
-B.M.
M'lis™ Detoxifying body wraps also aid in the reduction of cellulite. This is a patented wrap, developed by a biochemist. Our wraps encourage the circulatory and lymphatic system to work more effectively, freeing trapped toxins within the cells. Body wrapping is used to help in healing a wide range of skin problems, including toning and tightening, circulation, muscle and joint pain, and disintegrating fat so that it can be expelled from the body.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the treatments mentioned, please schedule a FREE consultation with one our experienced technicians.
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- Phone: 970-282-8266 |
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