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| |    Skin and Hair Changes During Pregnancy by Lisa Rodriguez, R.N. and Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed and revised by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. It is amazing how pregnancy affects so many parts of your body. Your skin and hair are two areas you may not have thought of. Skin and hair variations are most likely related to a change in hormone levels after you become pregnant. Acne Many women find that their faces break out more after they become pregnant. Try to keep your face as clean as possible using a mild cleanser. If you feel you need to wear make-up, be certain it is a water-based foundation. If you need to visit a dermatologist, make sure you inform her that you are pregnant. Some prescription medications she may prescribe are not safe during pregnancy. Conversely, other women who have had acne throughout their life find that during pregnancy, their skin is clear. Enjoy it. Stretch Marks As your abdomen and breasts increase in size, your skin must stretch to accommodate them. Stretch marks occur because the skin is excessively stretched over a relatively short period of time. They emerge as reddish lines on your abdomen, sides and breasts. Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do about them. Keeping your weight gain to your practitioner's specifications may help. There are many creams and lotions on the market that claim to diminish the appearance of stretch marks. Generally, these do not work, so don't waste your money. After the baby is born, these red marks will fade over time. Some may even disappear. You will be left with lines that are silvery-white and much less noticeable. Darkening of skin around the eyes Also known as melasma or chloasma, this skin condition presents as a darkening around the eyes, forehead, bridge of nose and cheeks. Stay out of the sun and wear good sun block, as the sun can darken the skin further. You can use a light foundation to help lighten the color of your skin. This pigmentation will fade after delivery, when hormone levels return to normal. Linea Nigra You may find that you have developed a faint line from your navel to your pubic hair. This is also due to hormonal changes and will "crumble off" as the top layers of skin cells are shed a few weeks after delivery. Skin Tags The pregnancy hormones also contribute to the development of little flaps of skin that appear on your breasts, armpits, or neck. Unfortunately, they will not miraculously disappear after delivery. However, a doctor can remove them without difficulty. Belly Button Changes Due to your growing abdomen, your belly button will probably transform into something completely different than you are used to seeing. Towards the middle of the pregnancy, it might become flat instead of mostly concave. By the end of the pregnancy, many women have an "outie". After delivery, within a few months, your belly button will be a familiar-looking site again. Hair changes Pregnancy can do many different things to your hair -- some good and some not so good. If you have naturally curly hair, you may notice that it becomes straighter when you're pregnant. After you deliver, it will probably go back to being curly, although not always. Some mothers-to-be become aware of hair growing where they are not used to seeing it: on your ever growing abdomen, for instance. Some women notice that their hair becomes thicker with pregnancy. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. When the baby is a few months old, some observe that their hair falls out. This is normal in the post partum period. Your hair should return to normal within a few months after delivery.
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