As if cramps, swollen ankles, weak bladders, and exhaustion are not enough to deal with, some lucky women find that the surplus of raging hormones is making their skin break out! Pregnant woman are advised against using treatments such as Accutane, Retin-A, Tetracycline, and products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide (some are very dangerous to the fetus and can cause birth defects). In this “How to” article, you can learn how to safely care for your skin to prevent acne.

The three basic steps are:

1. Buy “baby-friendly” products to cleanse your skin. They recomend a certain cosmetic comapany that caters to pregnant women, but I assume that any cleanser without harmful ingredients will do the trick. (Why spend money onfancy products when your corner drugstore carries something that works just as well??) Ask your doctor if you are unsure about the safety of any products.

2. Drink 8-10 glasses of water to flush out toxins and keep skin hydrated. (This is a good idea even if you don’t have problem skin…)

3. Keep taking those prenatal vitamins. They’re not just good for the baby, they’re good for you and your skin as well.