By the 12th week of pregnancy, a lot of those early pregnancy changes are already changing again. Some women begin to show, the morning sickness and other early pregnancy symptoms fade, and the rush of hormones have begun. Your skin presents some of the most obvious changes. As the rest of your body begins to alter in response to the tiny person growing inside you, your skin will undergo many great and not so great adjustments.
Stretch Marks
Some of the most common skin changes pregnant women face are stretch marks. Over 90% of women will develop stretch marks on their bellies as their pregnancy advances. Also called “striae,” stretch marks occur when the body's shape is stretched faster than the skin's ability to adapt. Fortunately, most stretch marks fade considerably over time, although they may not disappear completely. The use of Vitamin E lotion is often used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks by strengthening the skin to endure the growth. Don’t wait until striae are already there—start slathering on lotion in the first trimester.
Melasma
Melasma is sometimes called “the mask of pregnancy.” It appears as a series of dark, splotchy spots on the face, typically on the forehead and cheeks. Although Melasma can be frustrating and sometimes frightening, it is completely normal. When your hormones go into overdrive during pregnancy the pigment in your skin can change. Since your face is the part of the body most exposed to ultraviolet rays, facial skin tends to react to the sun more dramatically, leaving these splotches. Although treatment options are available for more drastic occurrences, experts generally recommend waiting it out. Within the first two or three months after birth, the spots will disappear on their own as hormone levels return to normal.
Varicose Veins
No one looks forward to varicose veins, or “spider veins”, and old age is not the only factor. These darkened, corded veins can develop in response to—once again—hormones that essentially thin the walls of blood vessels. The increased amount of blood circulating during pregnancy may also play a role. Women with a family history of varicose veins, who are overweight, or maintain the same position for long periods of time may be more likely to develop spider veins.
To prevent them, try increasing your Vitamin C intake and alternate standing and sitting still. Gentle exercise or a daily walk can help minimize the appearance of varicose veins. Exercise increases your heart rate, which encourages blood to pump and keeps veins from expanding too quickly.
Linea Nigra
Linea Nigra can be a little alarming if you don’t know what it is when it pops up. This faint line forms on your abdomen, running from your belly button to pubic bone—like someone ran a brown marker over your pregnant belly. Why is shows up is a mystery, but it is totally harmless. About 75% of pregnant women develop up, and it should slowly fade after your baby is born.
