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Pregnancy is a major life event for most women. If this is your first pregnancy, it is bound to a very special experience. This time in your life will also be characterized by many changes in your skin and body. One of the recurring complaints most women have is acne in pregnancy.

If you have had acne as a teenager, you have high chances of breaking out into acne in pregnancy. You might have considered the hormonal changes of your teens as something which might not recur, but pregnancy also has similar hormonal fluctuations and this time around it is on a much bigger scale. For those of you who have had acne continuing into your adult years, pregnancy is likely to make the situation more severe.

Here are some pointers regarding acne in pregnancy and what you can do about it.

When does it start?

For most women, acne in pregnancy is most severe in the first trimester. This is because the hormonal changes in the first three months of pregnancy have the most fluctuations. The hormonal changes taking place in your body affect your sebaceous glands which secrete sebum, a substance which keeps your skin smooth. Under the influence of hormones, the glands become hyperactive and this causes your skin to break out into acne.

Where does it occur?

Acne in pregnancy is not limited only to your face. If you have never had acne before, acne in pregnancy will generally appear on your cheeks and to a lesser extent on your forehead. For those of you who have had acne before, you are more likely to see it on your face, neck and back as well. In severe cases you might get pimples on your shoulders and chest as well. If you have always had a severe problem with acne you might have to watch out for complications which could infect the pimples and scar your skin as they heal.

What can you do about it?

You don't have to lose heart if your skin breaks out into acne in pregnancy. The only thing you must keep in mind is that you are pregnant and so you must be careful about any sort of medication you take.

You can follow a few simple tips to reduce the severity of your acne. You must never rub, squeeze or break your pimples manually. This will only cause infection and it might scar your skin. Avoid touching your pimples, you hands can also transfer infection making the acne worse.

You must try and wash your face at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser or face wash. You can use natural skin products which are safe and mild. This will gently cleanse your face of the excess oil, dirt and make-up. It will go a long way in ensuring that new pimples do not erupt. A word of caution though. Do not over do the cleaning part as it may harm your skin, repeated washing, and using harsh cleansers or soaps can stimulate your sebaceous glands causing them to hyper secrete.

If your acne is really severe you should consult a doctor. Never take any medication on your own without consulting the doctor first. You must avoid oral antibiotics and and retinal preparations as these have been proven to cause damage to the baby when taken by pregnant mothers. Your doctor or nurse will be able to prescribe medication that will help clear out your acne without any adverse effects on your growing baby.