Christine KellerWhen you are pregnant, it is all too easy to obsess over your skin. After all, rashes, odd blotches, new acne breakouts, and many other things related to the increased sensitivity of your skin may show up almost every single day. With all these issues, expectant moms cannot help but wonder about the skin treatments they can undergo. Can you get microdermabrasion while pregnant?
Unfortunately, pregnancy may not be the best time to get microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a process that removes the damaged skin layer by vacuuming and scraping dead cells. However, since doctors are not at a consensus when it comes to microdermabrasion safety during pregnancy, be sure to ask your doctor before you undergo or get any form of treatment while pregnant.
Is It Safe to Get Microdermabrasion While Pregnant?
A lot of pregnant women often wonder if they can get microdermabrasion while pregnant. Microdermabrasion is basically a mechanical process that removes the outer layer of damaged or dead facial skin to treat rough, aged, wrinkled, or blemished skin.
This procedure that often lasts for 45 minutes eliminates the topmost skin layer through gentle exfoliation using natural diamond chips. At the same time, it vacuums away the dead skin cells in a controlled and sterile manner.
Since there are no blood vessels in the epidermis, there is often no bleeding during a microdermabrasion treatment. Eliminating this outer dead skin cell layer leaves behind a smoother texture and encourages the growth of new healthy skin cells. Microdermabrasion has no downtime but is not a one-time treatment. You can repeat this procedure every 4 to 8 weeks to maintain rejuvenated healthy skin.
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The different hormonal changes that a pregnant woman experiences can lead to several skin issues popping up. Lack of sufficient hydration and excess hormones can make lead to very dull-looking skin. A pregnant woman may also suffer from a certain skin disorder known as melasma. This is when hormonally charged brown spots develop on the forehead, cheeks, and around the eyes and mouth. Higher oil production may result in excessive breakouts in certain expectant women as well.
How to Get Microdermabrasion Safely While Pregnant?
Performing microdermabrasion using a medical-grade state-of-the-art machine can polish and buff the skin to reduce some of the unwanted skin changes during pregnancy. It may be safe to undergo microdermabrasion during pregnancy provided that there are several changes and tweaks made to the procedure. If the skin is being cleansed before the process, it is a must that the provider chooses a beta or non-alpha hydroxy acid cleanser to prepare the skin because these frequently used acids are often contraindicated during pregnancy.
Although extractions and steaming can still be done on the skin, the expectant mom must communicate with the provider when the extractions become too painful, or the steam feels too hot. A medium, sensitive, or gentle handpiece might be used for the treatment, depending on the patient’s skin type. Passes may also be reduced according to the skin’s reaction during the process.
Chemical peels often added after microdermabrasion procedures must also be avoided because these are also contraindicated during pregnancy. Just like other procedures performed on moms-to-be, it is always best to seek clearance from your obstetrician before you undergo this procedure.
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Why Do Some Women Want to Get Microdermabrasion While Pregnant?
Pregnancy often gives expectant moms a unique glow as a result of increased blood flow. Unfortunately, this can also make the skin look dull and lifeless. This is especially the cause once you develop the so-called mask of pregnancy, which is medically called chloasma or melasma. This is the brownish discoloration around the nose and eyes.
Microdermabrasion can temporarily remove this discoloration. But since the production of melanocytes increases when you are pregnant, it is still very likely for the discoloration to return as long your hormonal levels stay high, which is exactly what happens during your pregnancy.
What are the Risks of Getting Microdermabrasion While Pregnant?
When you are pregnant, it is all too easy for your skin to get irritated. This only means that the different natural side effects of a microdermabrasion treatment, including mild swelling, itching, redness, and dry skin might become more intensified if you are pregnant.
As stated above, eliminating the discoloration on your skin may not have a permanent effect, which means that the mask of pregnancy may still recur. The increased skin irritation and sensitivity, and the slower healing process of the skin that is common during pregnancy may also make you more prone to suffering from a skin infection. Some drugs used for prepping your face for the treatment are not recommended to be used on pregnant women.
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Just like most medical-grade procedures, microdermabrasion can cause certain adverse reactions, particularly during pregnancy. Several hormonal changes can increase the sensitivity of the skin of a pregnant woman. This is why choosing the correct procedure performed using the best equipment by a skilled provider is the secret to achieving effective and safe results.
The microdermabrasion treatment may lead to adverse skin reactions such as dryness, breakouts, itchiness, blemishes, and irritation on this already sensitive skin. The different hormonal changes that a pregnant woman goes through also slow down the recovery process of the skin where it takes longer for the skin cells to form and reach the surface of the skin. This can lead to spots of hypopigmentation and scars on the treated skin when inappropriate or overly aggressive procedures are carried out.
Can Microdermabrasion Be Modified to Make It Safe While Pregnant?
Microdermabrasion may be safe as long as your doctor makes some modifications or tweaks to the procedure. These include the use of something other than a beta or alpha hydroxy acid cleanser during the pre-treatment cleansing stage.
You also need to stay away from chemical peels that are frequently used after the end of the procedure of microdermabrasion since these contain some potentially dangerous chemicals, including salicylic acid, that may affect the baby.
While skin changes during pregnancy may not look great, you might want to wait first before you get microdermabrasion to keep yourself and your baby safe.
