No sooner does a woman announce her pregnancy than she finds herself bombarded with a list of skincare changes due to hormonal increases. Some of the most common pregnancy skin issues include acne and stretch marks, but adding the right products to your regime can be a big help.

Pregnant women go through many physical changes, many of which can impact their skin. As hormones fluctuate and your belly continues to expand, skin health becomes increasingly important.

Whether you’re a new mum or have a little one on the way, here are some pregnancy skin care hacks every pregnant woman should know. 

One of the biggest tips for pregnancy skin care is staying hydrated. Mums-to-be should be drinking at least ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day and adding an extra 1.5 cups for each hour of exercise. Fluid intake is important during pregnancy for many reasons, such as improving your skin’s elasticity.

With pregnancy hormones in overdrive, new skincare challenges can emerge that include breakouts and pregnancy acne. But, try to resist the urge to touch any blemishes, as that can lead to scarring. With all of these internal changes, your usual face wash may not still have the same impact. Instead, find a gentle cleanser to use morning and nightly to avoid irritating your skin.

Use SPF, regularly. This will help you avoid another skincare challenge known as “Pregnancy Mask” that affects nearly 50 per cent of pregnant women. Pregnancy Mask refers to those dark melasma blemishes that result from sun exposure. These pigmentations can appear anywhere on the body and can last beyond pregnancy. The best solution? Use sun cream whenever you are in the sun for more than a few minutes. Most daily moisturisers have SPF in them, use it every morning on your face even if you don’t plan on leaving the house. 

Studies show one top worry pregnant women have is stretch marks. During the natural enlarging of your bump, the collagen of your skin is stretched past its limit. This causes fissures which appear on the skin as brown, purple or red stretch marks. Genetics play a role in the likelihood of you getting stretch marks: it’s probable that if your mum had stretch marks, and her mum before her, you will have them too. There is no way to truly stop stretch marks, but including vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc in your diet can really help to minimise them. 

Help prepare your skin, especially your breasts, thighs and belly, to stretch by keeping it well moisturized. After your shower or bath and again before bed, lather up with a moisturizing lotion. Moisturizers with oat can be particularly helpful. (Use the opportunity to take an extra three minutes to massage, focusing especially on your legs and feet which are bearing the brunt of that extra weight.) When it comes to your face, use a mild, oil-free facial lotion that moisturizes but doesn’t clog pores.