LilSugar

Baby Bump: Coping With Pregnancy Acne

LilSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:00:03 -0800

Stop seeing spots and start enjoying your pregnancy. It's upsetting for an expectant mama to find her once flawless skin covered in blemishes, but instead of committing to nine months of hats and big sunglasses, there are a few things a mommy-to-be can do to keep her skin (and her confidence level) in check.

Don't overwash your face - two times a day is plenty. Avoid scrubbing your face with a cloth; just use your hands to gently wash off the suds.
As always, avoid squeezing and popping your pimples. You may end up with some pregnancy scars, but I doubt you'll want them to be on your face.

There are other great tips so read more.

Use a mild cleanser and an oil-free moisturizer. Look for products that are labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic," such as Cetaphil. Or you could splurge for specially formulated cleansers like those from Belli ($22).
Talk to your OBGYN or dermatologist before using medicated gels or lotions with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid in them. These ingredients have not been cleared as safe during pregnancy, and your doc may advise an alternate solution.
Above all, don't let what's happening on the outside let you lose sight of the amazing thing taking place on the inside. Acne during pregnancy, while a nuisance, is completely normal and should clear up after your bundle of joy is born.

Did you get blemishes when you were pregnant?

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Mommy Wellness: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:00:00 -0700

One of the most common hormonal issues women face is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Affecting 1 in 15 women, PCOS is a condition in which many small cysts fill a woman's ovaries. While some women begin showing signs of the condition - through weight gain, extra facial hair, and acne - in their teens, many do not discover it until they try to conceive a baby.

According to A.D.A.M.:

In polycystic ovary disease, there are many poorly developed follicles in the ovaries. The eggs in these follicles do not mature and, therefore, cannot be released from the ovaries. Instead, they form cysts in the ovary. This can contribute to infertility. The immature follicles and the inability to release an egg (ovulate) are likely caused by low levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and higher-than-normal levels of male hormones (androgens) produced in the ovary.

Though the condition sounds frightening, the good news is that PCOS is treatable. To see how doctors diagnose this problem and treat it, read more.

During routine gynecological exams, doctors suspecting that their patients have PCOS will ask patients about their menstrual cycles and other symptoms. They will check for extra body hair and high blood pressure, while also conducting blood tests to check out blood sugar levels and hormone levels. Doctors may also suggest pelvic ultrasounds to see if there are any cysts present on the ovaries.

Should a woman be diagnosed with the condition, there are several treatments, including both birth control pills and the infertility drug Clomid. Women with PCOS who wish to conceive still have a good chance of normal pregnancies with a little medical or surgical intervention.

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Baby Wellness: Baby's Skin Conditions

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:13 -0800

Babies' skin is supposed to be perfect, so how come your bundle of joy doesn't look flawless? Newborns go through a lot to enter the world and most end up with some skin conditions. These imperfections shouldn't alarm or bother you, they certainly aren't bugging your newest addition (nor should they affect her later in life). Here are a few things that may show up:

Premature babies and even some full term can be born with a soft, fine hair (lanugo) covering the skin. This fur should disappear after a few weeks.
Any splotchy, peeling or cracking in your newborn's skin is normal and should improve over time. If it appears on her head it's called cradle cap and should clear up on its own after several months.

There are others including baby breakouts so read more.

Baby acne is very common, and doesn't usually last more than a few months. Don't try to treat the blemishes yourself with creams or over-washing, it's best to just let it run its course - the acne will eventually go away.
Milia is another condition that is normal (and looks similar to baby acne) and harmless. The small white spots that occur on baby's cheeks and nose should fade within a few weeks.
Any small red spots on her forehead, eyelids, lips, and/or neck are caused by stretched blood vessels, and should disappear by the time she is 18 months old.

In the case of your wee one's skin conditions, patience is the best medicine. If you think your babe is experiencing something more serious (perhaps from an allergic reaction), contact her pediatrician.

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Lil Links: Why Some Parenting Books Collect Dust

LilSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:00:28 -0700

Parenting books you can't live without - The Poop
What are you telling your kids about the economy? - Parent Dish
Travis Barker can't wait to hold his kids again - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Suri Cruise and her mama share a smile - Celebrity Baby Blog
Pregnancy acne that just won't quit, even three years later - Alpha Mom
Vaccine tracker helps mom keep tabs on her tots' shots - The Bump
When kids aren't what mom and dad had in mind - Cookie
What's the best baby carrier - Inhabitots

Do You Know Your Baby Skin Conditions?

babysugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:00:27 -0700

Newborns do not usually have the flawless skin they show in the movies. Rather, they may have bruises from their birth experience, acne and a number of other imperfections when they enter the world.

As the child grows, a parent will begin to notice a number of other skin conditions on their lil one. Take my quiz and see if you know what you are looking at on your babe.

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