Pregnancy & postpartum skincare in focus

Becoming a mother brings many wonderful changes and challenges to our bodies and lives, while your skin may seem low on the list of priorities during this time, it is often a key factor in our confidence and comfort, and thus we believe it deserves the right support. Many women experience changes to their skin during pregnancy and in the postpartum period that require a pivot in one’s skincare routine; common conditions we see include hormonal acne, increased sensitivities to products, dehydrated skin, hyperpigmentation and rosacea, eczema or dermatitis flare ups…. Unfortunately it’s not always the pregnancy glow one was hoping for!

A considered approach to wellness and your skin care can support you through these issues; and help you to feel nourished from the inside out during this special time of life. At FENN we truly believe in a dual approach to skincare; offering facial treatments and skin care alongside naturopathic support. For healthy, nourished skin you cannot disregard your diet and lifestyle and our naturopath Alice Flannary of @theherbal_collective is able to support clients to achieve holistic wellbeing and brilliant skin.

Despite best efforts, many skin care issues in pregnancy are simply caused by the large fluctuations in hormones, and while these symptoms generally subside in the postpartum period (FYI the “postpartum period” is more than just the first 6 or 12 weeks post birth, it’s hard to put a precise time limit on as all women are different in their healing and adapting to motherhood. hormonal fluctuations postpartum can continue well throughout the first 12 months, particularly if a woman is breastfeeding / pumping breast milk) the approach to treatment is to manage symptoms as best as possible externally with the right skin care products and treatments coupled with naturopathic support that troubleshoots key symptoms.

Whenever clients experience significant changes to their skin we recommend a consultation with a professional therapist to identify what and why this may be occurring. At FENN we are able to adapt our treatments to suit your skin’s current condition and to curate a routine with appropriate products to nurture your skin. Some of the most common issues we see client’s struggle with throughout pregnancy are listed below with our general recommendations; as always we firmly believe in the benefit of bespoke and holistic skincare and encourage you to get in touch if you require information and support for your skin.

Coupled with increased sensitivity to sunlight, women can experience a surge in pigment-stimulating hormones while pregnant and these can contribute to melasma which are patches of discolouration generally on the face. Whilst melasma often fades post-pregnancy, it's worth remembering that many pregnancy-related hormones still stay elevated during breastfeeding, and can take six-to-nine month to settle after you stop feeding. To minimise melasma we recommend always using SPF and a gentle Vitamin C serum to promote a brightened and even complexion.

Studies show that alpha hydroxy acids can be beneficial in treating hyper-pigmentation, and they are generally safe to use in pregnancy. Medik8’s Surface Radiance Cleanse offers a gentle dose of AHAs.

Pregnancy acne isn't a special form of acne. Some women simply seem to have trouble with acne during pregnancy. The general culprit is an overproduction of oil (sebum) — which happens when certain hormones go into overdrive, diet and lifestyle do play a role so it’s beneficial to take these into account, naturopathy can provide guidance for managing and reducing acne. If you are experiencing an increase in blemishes we recommend doubling down on your (gentle) exfoliation, maintaining skin barrier health with a nourishing serum and moisturiser, targeting blemishes with a natural spot treatment and including a detoxifying mask such as Lesse Bioactive Masque . We recently did a deep dive on hormonal acne which includes some more tips, treatments and products, click here to read up.

During pregnancy many women experience increased sensitivity and reactions to skincare and makeup products where previously there was no issue. Redness and tingling, along with itchy, irritated skin are common symptoms. Many women opt for more natural or clean beauty products in this case as are safe in pregnancy and generally don’t trigger sensitivities (nb: do tread with caution around products containing essential oils, whilst natural, they can cause irritation)

For sensitive and irritated skin types we always recommend Medik8’s Calmwise Serum, which aptly soothes the skin. Maryse’s Treatment Balm is another handy product to keep near by should your skin be prone to irritation, The formula contains chamomile and Manuka honey for their soothing, healing and antimicrobial properties. It can be used as a spot treatment to soothe sensitive or dry patches, plus doubles as a lip and cuticle balm.

We also recommend women tread with caution when using chemical exfoliation products such as glycolic acid, lactic acids or salycic acid, as the skin tends to be drier and more sensitive you can experience more irritation than benefits. Opt for milder acid exfoliation with AHAs and plant enzymes, Emma Lewisham Illuminating Exfoliant is a great pregnancy safe option.

Probably the most common skin concern in pregnancy is dehydrated skin; hormone changes cause your skin to lose elasticity and moisture as it stretches and tightens to accommodate a growing belly. This can lead to flaky skin, itchiness, or other symptoms often associated with dry skin. We recommend a dual approach for managing dry skin; moisturising appropriately and through your diet. Ensuring you are drinking and absorbing adequate water throughout the day - consider minimising / removing dehydrating beverages such as coffee or other caffeinated drinks, processed and salty foods. This is even more important during the postpartum period if you are breastfeeding as your body has increased needs for h20 as it produces breastmilk. Flannery recommends 3 litres minimum for breastfeeding mothers and 2+ litres throughout pregnancy. Skin hydration and barrier health can be supported nutritionally by including a quality fish oil supplement, ensuring your consume healthy fats such as oily fish like salmon, plus avocados, hemp seeds and quality nuts. Topically we recommend lathering your body daily where possible in a rich body oil such as Sans Ceuticals Activator 7 Body Oil which will replenish and repair the skin barrier, soothing dry skin. Stretch marks are another common concern worth mentioning, whilst they tend to have genetic causes, ensuring your skin is adequately moisturised and nourished with the right diet and skincare products can go some of the way to reducing their appearance.

Synthetic Vitamin A based products are generally considered best to avoid in pregnancy, we recommend switching out your vitamin A based products (those containing retinoids or retinols etc) for more natural alternatives such as Emma Lewisham’s Supernatural Triple Vitamin A Oil which contains naturally derived Vitamin A that is safe to use in pregnancy. The Emma Lewisham range was actually born out of a desire for effective, natural and safe skincare for the company’s founder and namesake, Emma who was unable to find products that were clean and efficacious to use throughout her pregnancy.

In the postpartum period our key focus for skin is maintaining nutrient levels to ensure healthy skin and maintaining hydration. Lack of sleep coupled with increased hydration needs (if breastfeeding) and increased nutrient needs as your body recovers from pregnancy mean skin can be prone to looking lacklustre, dry and sensitive. Self care can be tricky in those early months as you juggle feeds and nappies and cuddles! We try to offer new mums some potent products that deliver big results in little time; these are our go to’s;

• Medik8 Ultimate Recovery Mark is a deeply hydrating and soothing sheet mask - pop on for 10-20 minutes a few times a week to give your skin an extra boost of moisture. If you can we recommend popping a mask on once baby is asleep and trying a 10 minute meditation (or nap!) for a mini recharge, but mask can also be worn while doing the laundry because multitasking is how mum’s get it done!
• Sans Ceuticals Superdose Sleep Masque is another handy addition to your routine and does all the heavy lifting while you sleep. Simply apply before bed and wake up to refreshed, hydrated skin.
• To restore skin barrier health and deeply moisturise skin we recommend applying our favourite Josh Rosebrook Hydration Accelerator Mist regularly throughout the day (a great addition to your feeding station on the couch!) but also before applying a nourishing oil such as Maryse’s Intensive Omega Treatment Oil
• We also love the Being Bootie Balm and Boobie Balm - soothing and protecting, these calendula rich balms are perfect for mum and baby.
• Drink extra water throughout the day, try and drink when the baby drinks - have a big water bottle ready to go at your “feeding station” on the couch - this is a great job for your partner or family to manage; making sure your water bottle is always full! Warm water or herbal teas are another great way to amp up your intake and are soothing on your digestion.
• Continue taking your practitioner prescribed Prenatal Vitamin as this delivers the diverse range of vitamins and minerals your body requires for recovery, breastfeeding and general wellbeing
• Supportive, easy to digest and nutrient rich foods should be in focus - a postpartum planning session with a doula or naturopath can be a great way to prepare for this time, batch freeze some nourishing meals and snacks so you have nutritionally supportive food on hand to help your body heal and adapt. We’ve included our naturopath Alice’s lactation cookie recipe for you - delicious and nutritious even, if you aren’t breastfeeding they make a wholesome snack.

1 cup oats

1 cup dried dates

1.5 cups dessicated coconut

2 tbsp Brewers yeast

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

150g organic butter

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees. Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until roughly combined.

Roll mixture into evenly sized balls and flatten using the palm of your hand. Place on a baking paper lined tray and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden.