Ah, pregnancy. That wild, magical time when youre growing new life and all that, but also experiencing crazy symptoms of bodily change daily. Today, a fire-breathing dragon might be sending shooting flames of heartburn up your oesophagus, while tomorrow, pigmentation-induced maps of lost lands might appear overnight on your body. Its a game of Russian roulette because you never know what youre going to get.

A womans skin and hair are two of the areas that undergo massive change, and just like with other pregnancy side effects, you cant predict which ones youll get. Women whove never suffered a zit in their life can suddenly sprout a crop of hormonal acne, or find their bright, taut complexion is now droopy and sallow, while others are plagued by melasma and other pigmentation issues. These problems may be cosmetic, but they can be as unsettling and debilitating for women as other medical side effects, at a time when their bodies and minds are going through profound changes.

Dr Lara Devgan, a celebrity plastic surgeon in New York, shares the most common skin and hair concerns she sees in pregnant women and shares her top tips to safely alleviate them, using a combination of products and in-clinic procedures. Devgan also has six children of her own and is no stranger to post-baby skin and hair issues herself, so this advice is definitely doctor-vetted.

Hyperpigmentation and melasma are the most common skin complaints during and after pregnancy. An even skin tone is a marker of beauty, so hyperpigmentation can be quite unsettling. Melasma is so life-altering that it is sometimes referred to as the mask of pregnancy. Hyperpigmentation is multifactorialdue to genetics, hormonal fluctuations, environmental exposures like sun and heat, stress, trauma, and other unknown phenomena. The best way to address hyperpigmentation is multifactorial as well: topical skincare products like Vitamin C and E are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. After that, Devgan suggests adding a retinol or bakuchiol serum and considering microinfusion, micro-needling, peels, and lasers for more aggressive treatment of hyperpigmentation.

Pregnancy can often be associated with dullness, dryness, and loss of skin elasticity and lustre. Devgan recommends a hyaluronic serum for increased skin hydration during pregnancy. Postpartum, she suggests laser resurfacing; Its an amazing technique for rejuvenation of the skin, offering a complete skin reset to improve lustre, texture, discolouration and fine lines. She recommends the Erbium laser for a thorough resurfacing of the skins surface; it also has a much lower risk of post-laser hyperpigmentation in Indian skin tones.

Getting wrinkles and pimples at the same time can seem like the worst of both worlds for pregnant and nursing women. The best way to address acne during pregnancy is spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid-based treatments. It is also important to think about daily routines and habits like cleansing the face, regularly changing pillowcases, and sterilising cell phone screens, says Devgan. Once nursing is complete, in-office treatments can also help. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) can be used to selectively target the bacteria that causes acne. Prescription oral medications may also help. Often, when hormones normalise after delivery, the skin also tends more toward its baseline homeostasis, says Devgan.

Hair loss is one of the most distressing things to happen in the postpartum period. Because of a rapid decrease in progesterone as well as fluctuations in oestrogen levels, the thick, beautiful hair of pregnancy begins to shed shortly after delivery. Hair loss is a complex and multifactorial issue, with many solutions, says Devgan. A supplement rich in biotin, folate, and vitamin B derivatives can help boost growth by restoring the deficient cellular building blocks needed for hair growth. Topical sprays and foams such as minoxidil (Rogaine) can also help the survivalof hair follicles. Devgan also frequently performs Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections into the scalp to help boost growth factors and stem cells needed for hair growth.

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A celebrity dermat's tips for new moms on how to deal with postpartum hair and skin issues - VOGUE India