Mrs. Agrawal got up after breastfeeding her new-born and sat in front of the mirror combing her hair. She found her hair falling and her skin dry.  She watched herself very closely and noticed her stretch marks at the belly and a few dark patches near her breasts. This made her sad and she thought, “In the process of bringing a new life into this world, I have gone through such a huge change. Will I ever be able to go back to my previous self?” 
Saggy skin with stretch marks near the belly, acne on the face and forehead, and dark spots on the breasts and inner thighs are some post-pregnancy woes that a woman can never ignore. Hormonal changes have always been the spoil sport from the time of conception! It is because of hormonal changes that most women have to experience unpleasant marks on their skin even after delivery. 

This write-up aims at listing out the skin-related problems that a woman experiences after delivery and how they will be able to deal with them. Read on to get a hang of it. 

Stretch Marks

Post-pregnancy woes won’t go without mentioning about stretch marks. Physical stretch due to the tummy bulging out is one of the main reasons. Subsequently, due to weight gain during the long journey of pregnancy women have to see these stretch marks in many parts of her body. The marks may not fade away completely. But with time they may become lighter. 

Ways to Deal

Intensive use of moisturisers available in the market may help the condition. However, use of aloe vera gel or cucumber and lemon juice are rich in antioxidants and minerals creates a protective layer on the skin and boosts the healing process. Coconut oil, in addition with warm water can naturally moisturise the skin and reduce the marks.

Acne

Had a clear skin throughout your pregnancy? Then, this will be a surprise to you. Acnes have excess of progesterone levels of hormones in them and have the tendency to flare up after delivery, causing the pimples to breakout on the skin.

Ways to Deal

Regularly wash your face with plain water or a gentle cleanser. Use of aloevera gel can help reduce the acnes to the extent possible. Make a homemade pack with besan, turmeric, honey and lime juice to keep your skin moisturised. You can also rub ice on the acnes at times and get a sense of relief.

Melasma

Also known as “the mask of pregnancy”, these are dark patches on skin, especially on the face. They appear due to the increased melanin production. While most of them tend to fade away by the time of delivery. Some stay forever.

Ways to Deal

Exposure to sun might just worsen the situation. Women in this condition must avoid exposure to sun and use sunscreen and lightening creams regularly. Staying hydrated and taking proper rest can help deal with Melasma effectively.

Dark Circles

Eyes can express everything. Your eyes can express the tiredness that your body and mind has gone through during pregnancy and after that. As a result of hormonal changes during pregnancy and sleep-deprivation post child-birth, dark circles and puffy eyes develop.

Ways to Deal

Cut a slice of potato or tomato, put it on your eyes and take a short nap. You will find your dark circles slowly fading away. Cucumber and lemon juice can be another easy home-remedy which promises to improve the overall appearance of the skin and works wonders on dark circles.

Be Gentle With Your Skin and Consult Your Doctor

Postpartum hormonal changes have brought about huge change on your body and skin. Be gentle with your skin. Try not to use scrubs and do cleanse your face with a mild cleanser at least twice a day, regularly. For dry skin, a water-based moisturiser is advised. But if skin problems are still not reducing due to underlying medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid and high blood pressure, consult your doctor immediately.