The pregnancy glow may be real, but this only lasts at most 9 months. Losing the glow is almost certain after giving birth, not only because the pregnancy hormones are no longer there to keep your skin rosy-looking, but also, other problems such as acne and pigmentation are also unmasked. So what are the common problems new mothers face after pregnancy, and what can you do to keep your skin looking clear and dewy? We spoke to Dr Michelle Lim from the SW1 Clinic, a mother of 2 herself, who gave a talk to over 200 expectant mothers earlier this year at the Super Mom Birth And Baby Seminar.
Problem 1: Acne and acne scars
Some women have clear skin, until they have babies! If you have active acne, Dr Michelle recommends seeing a doctor quickly to clear them. Acne, especially the cystic ones, tend to scar. Some doctors will give antibiotics or stronger acne medication such as Roaccutane, but the latter especially, while very effective for cystic acne, tends to dry out the skin. Instead of medication, sometimes a deep cleansing routine can reset things, such as SW1 Spa’s Clean Slate sextet which consists of alternate Clear Blue and Deep Deep Clean facials which combine ultrasonic cleansing, aquadermabrasion and LED Blue light for a thorough skin purging ritual. Very clogged skin will do well with the carbon laser peel, or the VBeam which reduces the appearance of red scars and effectively tones down inflammation.
Problem 2: Skin tags
Skin tags are unflattering little growths on the skin although they are basically harmless. Dr Michelle does a procedure called electrocautery to brush these off the skin’s surface with a little heated wand with a very fine tip. “Some ladies I have seen have had these on their faces or necks for years before they got too much and decided to seek help. Little did they know that they can be removed so easily!” So ladies, have these little buggers removed quickly as these really draw negative attention to your face and body.
Problem 3: Spider veins
These appear commonly on the face and legs during pregnancy and usually go away but if they don’t, all it takes is a few shots of the pulse dye laser which only targets red blood cells beneath the skin, and leaves the topmost layer of the skin intact. Sometimes a strong treatment can be purpuric, ie. Cause mild bruising but this removes the spider veins for good.
Problem 4: Dull Skin, Large Pores and Pigmentation
Dr Michelle’s secret to these? SW1 Clinic’s latest BB Aquatouch laser, a gentle microresurfacing thulium laser which brightens the skin in just one session. Its photoshop effect includes minimizing of enlarged pores, lightening of pigmentation and erasing of fine lines. Another gem in the SW1 Spa’s lineup of skin brightening hybrid facials is their Illumi facial, where a photo shower using intense pulsed light therapy instantly illuminates with no downtime at all.
Read More: How This Purple Primer Made My Skin Glow
Problem 5: Sagging Skin And Wrinkles
After new mothers have gotten over the initial bloated appearance and lost most of weight gained during their pregnancies, they tend to notice some signs of aging in the face, such as a sagging jawline or stronger nasolabial folds. Dr Michelle recommends Ultherapy, the only FDA-approved non-invasive skin lifting treatment which stimulates your own collagen production and gives a very natural-looking skin tightening effect over the next 3 to 6 months. To further alleviate deep smile lines, Dr Michelle recommends filler hydrolift, which plumps up sunken cheeks and gives a modest, natural-looking cheeklift immediately.
Read More: Body After Baby – Top Solutions For Common Post Partum Body Issues
Need to talk to a doctor about postpartum skin and body treatments? Meet Dr Low Chai Ling, Medical Director of the SW1 Clinic and Dr Chia Hui Ling at the Mummy to Yummy Post Pregnancy Beauty Fixes talk on 4 August 2018. Find out more here. *Enter EARLY20 for an early bird discount for tickets!