Pregnancy brings about a number of changes in a women’s body due to hormonal changes and the most prominent ones bothering women would be skin changes. Temporary changes such as dull skin is quite common during and after pregnancy, but the good news is that these can be treated with some healthy solutions.
Infographic Click Here | Skin health is dependent on both internal and external factors, in simple terms, skin that is healthy inside glows from outside! The best part is that you don’t have to go anywhere looking for these solutions, as you can simply find them in your kitchen! Wondering how? |
Let us look at some of the most important tips that you can keep in mind for healthy, glowing skin during/after pregnancy:
- Eat healthy!
Diet is the most important factor in maintaining your skin health. Plant-based foods including green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, iron rich foods and nuts are rich sources of antioxidants which help to clear toxins and give your skin the glow it needs!
Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli are good sources of vitamin E and iron which protect the skin from free radical damage. Citrus fruits like lemon, orange, grapes provide high vitamin C content, which also help to fight free radicals and bacteria underneath the skin. Nuts such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, etc. are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats required for healthy skin.
- Easy to make face packs
Some simple face packs using kitchen ingredients can give your skin a healthy glow!
Oats, yogurt and honey face pack: You may take 1 tablespoon of yogurt, 1 teaspoon of oatmeal and few drops of honey and mix them all together to form a paste, apply onto your face for 10 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Oatmeal contains a compound called saponin which helps in exfoliation of a dead skin cells, nourishes skin and treats dark spots. Yogurt and honey have antimicrobial properties and help to add moisture and brighten skin.
Turmeric and lemon juice mask: You may make a paste using 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder. This paste may then be applied on a cleansed face for 10-15 min and washed off. Turmeric and lemon juice have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to fight infections, improve collagen production and give you healthy glowing skin.
- Stay Hydrated!
Skin requires adequate amounts of water for healthy functioning just like any other organ in the body. Dehydrated skin results in inability to flush out toxins, leading to dull and damaged skin.
Consuming enough amount of water and fresh fruit juices is a simple way to keep yourself hydrated. The juices may include fruits and vegetables such as lemon, watermelon, cucumber, pomegranate, tomato, beetroot, carrot, etc. These foods are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and most importantly, they have high water content. They help to keep the skin hydrated, eliminate toxins, and make your skin look more clear and glowing!
- Get enough sleep and manage your stress!
Last but not the least, getting enough sleep is one of the most essential factors associated with healthy skin. Your body undergoes maximum amount of repair and recovery when you are at rest. It increases blood flow and helps in the formation of new collagen. Stress and sleep deprivation may result in decreased blood flow to the skin, making it dull and more prone to damage. Therefore it is recommended to get atleast 8 hours of sleep per day!
Conclusion:
The above mentioned are few of the simplest tips that you can follow at your home! After all, this special phase of your motherhood should be one of the most cherished moments of your life and problems like dull skin must not come in your way! So what are you waiting for? Try out these simple tips and flaunt your glowing skin!
References:
- Pregnancy and Skin. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care (2014); 3(4): 318–324.
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- Postpartum Diet and Exercise. Parent Help 123.
https://www.parenthelp123.org/pregnancy/after-pregnancy/postpartum-nutrition
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- New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Encourage People to Make Every Bite Count. Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/blog/2021/new-us-dietary-guidelines?gclid
Accessed on 25 June, 2021.
- Helping women stay healthy. Hesperian Health Guides.
https://en.hesperian.org/hhg/A_Book_for_Midwives:Chapter_4:_Helping_women_stay_healthy
Accessed on 25 June, 2021.
- Skin care tips during pregnancy and after birth. Health Hub.
https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/998/pregnancy-skin-care-tips-during-pregnancy-and-after-birth
Accessed on 25 June, 2021.
- Pumori S. Vitamin C in dermatology. Indian Dermatology Online Journal (2013);4(2):143–146.
Accessed on 25 June, 2021.
