Let's talk skincare

piphigirl

Have any of you noticed major changes in your skin since pregnancy, and how are you dealing with it?

Before being pregnant, I had what I would call good skin.  I got a couple blemishes each month, usually around my period.  I used an exfoliating cleanser in the AM and Cetaphil for normal/oily skin in the evenings.  I also used toner, acne gel when needed, and "normal" make-up.  I had used mainly the same products throughout my teens and twenties and was very happy with them.

When I was pregnant, I was a little oily and found that the toner made it worse.  I switched to a gentler toner and carried on as usual.

Since having the kid (yes, TWO years ago) my skin is awful.  I mean awful - worse than many of my high school students.  I have tried a variety of cleansers and moisturizers, none of which make any difference.  I've had two spa facials (one last summer and one this summer).  At the last one, it was recommended I give up exfoliating.  Now I'm just using Cetaphil twice a day along with toner and acne gel.  I am seriously an oil slick and I have 8-12 huge, disgusting, painful blemishes all the time.  I've basically given up wearing make-up because I don't want to put anything on my skin that might exacerbate the problem.  It sucks.

What could this be related to?  Any similar stories or product suggestions?  Could this be a sign of a more serious problem?  (Given my inability to lose weight, totally altered appetite, and high level of anxiety, I'm getting more and more worried because NONE of these "postpartum" issues has gone away.)

SJandVA

You could try the oil cleaning method. You'd have to google it to find what would work best for your skin and better details than I can give. But basically you put an oil base on your skin at night and leave it on a few minutes then use hot water and wash cloth to wash it off and exfoliate the skin. The more products we use on our face the more it strips the natural oils and that makes your body over produce oil.

alrighthamilton

I have the opposite problem. My skin is really dry. So is my hair. I have to buy extra moisturizing products. Have you seen a dermatologist? I think I would have that be my next step. Your insurance may cover it.

vvvvvfee

came here to recommend oil cleansing (here's an overview: https://www.crunchybetty.com/nitty-gritty-on-the-oil-cleansing-method). i was doing it for a while and i do feel like it made a difference. then i got lazy. i ordered castor oil from amazon and mixed it with olive oil. i think i ended up using about 2/3 olive oil and 1/2 castor oil. i was thinking about starting up again. RE your symptoms in general- those can be symptoms of an underactive thyroid. have you had your thyroid levels checked? some women develop thyroid issues after pregnancy, since it puts stress on your thryoid. i had high TSH levels at my last physical, but my other levels are normal so i haven't done anything yet.

SBmomma

My skin is now red and blotchy since having my son. Oh, and that lovely darkening of the skin just about my upper lip….gotta love the mustache! LOL Thank God for makeup. Most of the time I go without it though, let the skin breath.

I've just started using Vitamin C serum on my face…we'll see how much of a difference it makes. 

shakinros

I've always had bad skin like you describe and I'd say I'm now a little drier. Pregnancy helped me in the end. During my bad years though, my skin got worse with literally anything I put on it: cleanser, acne meds, makeup. It would only stay at acceptable equilibrium (which for me meant only a couple blemishes at a time) with cetaphil face wash and facial moisturizer. No other products if any kind.

See a dermatologist and try some retinol creams or an oral medication. It's such a blow to self esteem to deal with this day in, day out. You deserve some help figuring this problem out!

Beevol

Are you on hormonal birth control? It can really help clear up those big cyst-like painful zits. 

I agree with the idea of seeing a dermatologist and seeing if there is something stronger available.