Let’s start with the good news. The not-so-pretty changes you see in your skin and hair post pregnancy are mostly temporary and will get back to normal on its own, in due course of time.Skin care after pregnancy often takes a back seat as your little one becomes your center of attention.

Hair and skin go through a lot of changes during and post pregnancy. Some women experience acne, pigmentation, stretch marks, puff eyes, dark circles and hair loss, while others have the pregnancy glow which stays with them throughout.

Once your baby arrives, you will be running short of time on most days with barely any time left for yourself. But try taking out 10 minutes of your time to keep your skin and hair looking great. Here is our little beauty guide for post pregnancy skin care!

1. Hair Loss:

• This is one of the most common problems that will haunt you from around the 3rd to 4th month post-delivery.
• During pregnancy, the hair is in the growing stage and the falling stage is slowed down.
• Thanks to the rise in hormone levels during pregnancy, you would have had luscious luxurious hair.
• Post-delivery, the hormone levels come back to normal and the normal hair cycle is resumed.
• Therefore, you will go through a phase of shedding a lot of hair, which may seem unusual, but is completely normal. Don’t worry, you are not going bald!
• This hair loss is temporary and you will see your hair texture coming back to normal 6 to 12 months post-delivery.

Skin:

Here’s what your skin is going through and how you can best manage it. Skincare after pregnancy requires a little more attention:

1. Acne:

During pregnancy high progesterone levels can cause skin to become excessively oily, thus resulting in acne breakouts. Post pregnancy, due to changes in hormone levels, you may break out in acne, even if your skin was clear throughout your pregnancy.

2. Pigmentation:

Pigmentation or melasma is the dark patch or spots on your skin. These are caused due to high levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy. Dark patches on your body or the line that runs below your belly will fade away on its own post-delivery

3. Dark Circles And Puffy Eyes:

These are caused due to changes in hormone levels and the lack of sleep after a having a baby. Your eyes tend to show the tiredness your body experiences in the form of puffed up eyes or dark circles.

4. Stretch Marks:

Stretch marks tend to be one of the most stubborn ones to get rid of. As the name goes, it is caused due to the stretching of the skin. Due to the sudden contraction of the skin post birth, the skin develops small tears, causing it to get cringed in certain areas. These are usually found in the breast, stomach, buttocks, thighs, and behind the knee areas.

How To Reduce Hair And Skin Problems?

1. Eat Healthy:

• Ensure your diet is rich in foods that contain antioxidants
• Some good foods for the same are strawberry, apples, rajma, prunes, etc.
• The antioxidants help strengthen the roots.

2. Keep Your Scalp And Hair Clean:

• Wash your scalp with a gentle anti-hair loss shampoo.
• Condition your hair to avoid breakage.
• If you are short of time, apply a leave-in conditioner.

3. Avoid Pulling And Tying Hair:

• Refrain from keeping your hair tied up tightly as this will strain your scalp and hair.
• Doing so will make your hair fall out easily.

4. Vitamin Supplements:

• Your post pregnancy body will need some supplements to help you get back your strength.
• Ensure you take your vitamins like Vitamin B and C regularly to maintain fuller hair.

5. Chemical Treatments:

• Avoid coloring, straightening and perming your hair, as this may lead to hair loss.
• Also, these treatments are high maintenance, so unless you really have to get one of these done for a special occasion, its best to stay away from them for a while.

Original article: https://www.momjunction.com/articles/tips-take-care-skin-hair-post-pregnancy_0084644/