Can I Continue to Get Facials During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time to pamper yourself and focus on you. As you’ve been told, when baby comes, you may be lucky to catch your daily shower! A visit to a spa is a wonderful way to relax, and there are numerous treatments to benefit your mind and body.

During pregnancy, there are a lot of changes going on in your body. These changes show up on the face and skin in general. These are some common skin changes you may notice:

The “Glow” – The increased volume of blood in your body causes the face to take on a blush. In addition, the increased activity of the oil glands cause the skin to take on a shiny appearance.

An increase or a reduction of acne – Some women feel like they’ve returned to adolescence with a face full of pimples. Others have the opposite affect and have skin that looks extra amazing.

The “Mask” – Brown patchy skin changes during pregnancy called chloasma (often called “the mask of pregnancy”) can appear on the face. This is because the pregnancy hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are stimulating the skin to produce extra pigment. Darker-skinned women may notice dark circles around their eyes. Chloasma can’t be prevented, but can be limited by reducing exposure to the sun and wearing sunscreen.

The darkening of existing freckles and moles – This is also a result of the increased pigment production by the hormones.

The appearance of spider veins – This may be a problem all over the body or just on the face.

The appearance of skin tags – This is a growth of small excess skin (kind of like a colorless mole). Skin tags are most commonly found on the neck, arms or chest and is a result of the hyperactive growth of skin.

Thankfully, many of the above-mentioned skin changes will not stick around forever, and your skin will likely return to normal after your pregnancy.

A facial can be a great way to relax and feel more beautiful during pregnancy. It is important to keep in mind, however, that your skin will be more sensitive than usual, and may react very differently than you are used to. Your skin is likely to be extra-sensitive because of increased blood flow. Please let your aesthetician know you are pregnant, and ask that she use products for sensitive skin. Your aesthetician must not use any products containing retinol (retinoids), salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These products may possibly be absorbed into the skin, and are not proven safe.

As an alternative, products containing glycolic acid or alpha-hydroxy acids may be used.

If you would like to schedule a facial or other treatments to help you feel your best during this special time in your life, please contact us.

We wish you a healthy and happy pregnancy. Keep glowing!