Fighting acne after childbirth: more than 10 recommendations

After pregnancy and childbirth, women often face problems that they never had to think about before. This is facilitated by decreased immunity, changes in hormonal levels, stress, lack of sleep and much more. One of the common and unpleasant problems is acne, which can appear on the face, chest, back and other parts of the body. Why do they occur after childbirth, what can such conditions be associated with and how to deal with it?

Why does a rash occur after childbirth?

The appearance of acne after childbirth is associated with a sharp decrease in progesterone, the female hormone that maintained normal skin condition during pregnancy. Small rashes may occur a few weeks after birth and are considered normal.

Causes of acne:

  • Poor cleansing of the skin;
  • Increased ambient temperature and excessive sweating;
  • Abuse of sweet, spicy and fatty foods;
  • Insufficient physical activity;
  • Allergic reactions;
  • Dysbacteriosis.

Overheating and elevated temperatures promote the proliferation of pathogenic organisms. Inadequate skin care during this period can lead to inflammation of the skin and the appearance of a rash.

As a result of low physical activity, blood circulation in the epidermis is disrupted, a lack of oxygen occurs, causing skin diseases.

After childbirth, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract may occur, which directly affects the condition and color of the skin.

Allergic reactions to laundry detergents, cosmetics and certain products can cause acne and irritation.

Home Remedies

To normalize oiliness, prevent the appearance of new ones and remove old acne, you need to:

  • wash with a strong decoction of chamomile or sage. For half a liter of water, take 1 tablespoon of dried plant material and cook in a water bath until boiling for 10 minutes. Then they cool. Wipe your face with a cotton pad soaked in this decoction or wash your face 3 times a day. Positive changes will appear in 3-4 days. Dermatologists advise making masks from steamed chamomile or sage pulp. Distribute onto the skin for 15 minutes. Then wash with cool mineral water. Chamomile is a plant with hypoallergenic abilities. Therapy with these raw materials does not harm either the woman or the baby. For severe rashes, you can drink half a glass of the decoction orally 3 times a day;
  • brew a series. It is customary to bathe babies in baths with a decoction of a medicinal plant. But such water procedures are also suitable for nursing mothers. For acne on the chest, back, legs and other parts of the body, brew a steep decoction of the string and take a bath with it. Defects on the face are eliminated by rubbing;
  • masks made from oatmeal and kefir. Cereals will nourish the subcutaneous tissue with vitamins and minerals and eliminate dehydration. Kefir contains lactic acid. It is an effective antiseptic for acne. Unlike pharmacological anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics, fermented milk drink does not disrupt the natural defenses of the skin. For one session you need 1 teaspoon of oatmeal or chopped oatmeal, 1 tablespoon of kefir. Leave everything for 1 minute to swell. Then spread a thick layer over your face for 15 minutes. Remove the remaining mask with a napkin.

How to treat small acne on the back

The main cause of acne on the back is hormonal changes in the body and possible diseases of the internal organs. Small pimples may indicate an allergic reaction or irritation to clothing made from synthetic fabrics. In this case, itching and peeling are noted.

Small, inflamed spots can indicate acne, which occurs due to clogged pores. Excessive work of the sebaceous glands and high temperatures become a favorable environment for the development of bacteria and the appearance of acne.

Treatment for acne on the back must be started immediately, otherwise it will be difficult to get rid of the rash. To do this, you need to wear clothes made from natural fabrics and carry out daily back cleansing procedures. Wipe problem areas with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, tincture of calendula and celandine. You need to take baths with the addition of a herbal decoction.

Postpartum period: course and risks

Help in the fight against acne:

  • Chamomile, which has antiseptic and disinfectant properties;
  • St. John's wort has a wound-healing effect;
  • Pine needles have medicinal properties, contain many essential oils, and in addition to their positive effect on the skin, they will restore the nervous system;
  • The sequence promotes wound healing by acting on pathogenic bacteria.

You need to take a bath for at least 30 minutes every day for 7-10 days. If large pimples with white heads appear, there is no need to self-medicate. It is better to visit a dermatologist, identify the cause of the pathology and begin adequate treatment that is suitable for breastfeeding.

Treatment principle

Having figured out what causes acne on the chin and face after childbirth, it is important to know how to get rid of them.

Acne after pregnancy is treated comprehensively. Such treatment includes:

  • antiseptic skin treatment;
  • drying out foci of inflammation;
  • thorough cleansing of the skin.

Acne on the face after childbirth should be treated with natural remedies that are safe for health. Antiseptic treatment of the skin is carried out using a decoction of chamomile, sage, calendula or aloe lotion. It should be remembered that this problem is caused by temporary changes in the body, so it is not recommended to use active alcohol-containing products, as the skin may begin to peel off. It will be difficult to restore the natural moisture balance in the future.

Antiseptic treatment is necessary in order to avoid further spread of infection. To prepare any herbal decoction, you need to pour a large spoonful of the dry plant with a glass of boiling water, cover with a lid and let it brew until it cools completely. Then the medicine is applied to a cotton pad and wiped over the affected skin.


Aloe lotion is prepared as follows. A few leaves of the plant should be chopped with a knife and poured with warm water. The product is infused for 24 hours, and then this water is used as a daily lotion.

Skin rashes: why acne appears on the legs

Acne after childbirth can appear on any part of the body. Some women wonder: why do acne break out on their foreheads? The reason is the same – hormonal changes in the body. Usually this phenomenon disappears after a few weeks, but manages to annoy its owner.

In some cases, irritation may occur when wearing nylon tights and tight pants for a long time. Acne often occurs due to improper depilation of the legs.

Prevention measures:

  • If possible, avoid wearing tight underwear, which will only provoke acne;
  • Review your diet, take more vegetables and herbs, give up sweet, spicy and sour foods;
  • Carry out proper shaving of the legs, with a high-quality razor, followed by moisturizing the skin;
  • Use salicylic ointment externally;
  • Wipe problem areas with an ointment made from glycine and acetylsalicylic acid;
  • Make herbal baths;
  • Wash your feet with baby soap;
  • Take vitamin A.

Usually, a week's worth of treatments are enough, and the skin becomes clean and smooth. If the measures are not effective and pimples still appear, you need to consult a specialist. The cause of the rash may be a thyroid disease or a staphylococcal infection. In these cases, therapeutic measures are carried out.

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Are the rashes dangerous?

Acne on the body of women that occurs after childbirth is often a harmless rash caused by hormonal changes. They only cause a feeling of aesthetic discomfort and after a certain time they disappear without a trace.

However, if acne occurs on an inflamed area of ​​the skin, is accompanied by itching and copious discharge of pus, you should not delay consulting a doctor.

The appearance of acne on the face after childbirth

Pimples on the face cause particular discomfort, which are difficult to disguise and impossible to hide. Special areas are the forehead, nose and chin. The sebaceous glands located in them often cause blockage of pores. Pimples, blackheads, and acne appear.

The problem should be dealt with immediately. For a nursing mother, the best remedies are natural herbal decoctions that do not contain chemicals.

You can use string, chamomile, calendula, coltsfoot, St. John's wort. You should rinse your face with the infusion several times a day. You can make masks from natural ingredients. Lubricate problem areas with aloe juice. Cleansing scrubs made from oatmeal and coffee grounds help a lot.

It is necessary to use products that do not have a pronounced odor, since the mother is in constant contact with the baby.

The following pharmaceutical drugs are allowed to be used:

  • Zinc ointment;
  • Pharmacy talker;
  • Bodyagu;
  • Salicylic acid.

All medications are applied pointwise to acne.

Masks made from whipped egg whites, grapefruit and lemon have a drying effect. It is necessary to reconsider your diet and spend more time in the fresh air. Daily walks will be beneficial for both mother and baby.

What to remember?

To effectively treat acne, a number of drugs are used, including internal ones. However, such drugs are contraindicated for breastfeeding women. If acne appears on the face after childbirth, preference should be given to natural medicines, such as safe ointments and herbal decoctions.

If a woman stops breastfeeding, but the problem still remains, a consultation with a dermatologist and a full course of acne treatment is recommended.

In most cases, the skin recovers on its own after a few months. During treatment, be sure to take care of a healthy diet and regular cleansing of the skin with gentle products.

Peelings and scrubs cannot be used on infected skin, due to the risk of infection on healthy areas of the skin. For cleansing, you should choose soft foams and gels, as well as lotions without harmful substances in the composition.

If acne appears after childbirth: how to get rid of an unpleasant problem

Acne treatment should be carried out as soon as the first sign appears. The rash can spread throughout the body, appearing on the face, arms, legs, thighs, butt, forearms, and in areas where large sebaceous glands are located.

Acne can be either open or closed without inflammation. Open ones look like black dots. They do not cause problems and are easily removed with daily skin care. Closed pimples occur when the lower part of the pore is blocked and look like a small ball. Most often, subcutaneous capsules form on the cheekbones, forehead and chin.

Many women complain that their skin has deteriorated after childbirth. It flakes, itches, and in some cases becomes goose bump. To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination.

At home, moisturizing masks and wraps will help. Goose bumps can appear due to a lack of vitamins B, C and retinol, as well as when protein metabolism in the body is disrupted. Young mothers need to eat carrots, blackberries, pumpkin, spinach and beans. Peeling with lactic or fruit acid will be a good help.

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If red papules with purulent heads appear, it is necessary to dry and disinfect the problem areas.

The following will help eliminate inflammation:

  • Alcohol tincture of calendula;
  • Celandine decoction;
  • Pharmacy talker;

Do not squeeze pimples; this can lead to new infection of neighboring areas and the entire skin will become covered with acne.

First, let's determine the causes of acne.

Here you can highlight a whole garland of reasons for the appearance of postpartum acne:

  1. Even before giving birth, a woman’s body is dominated by the most special of hormones – progesterone. It is he who determines the condition and health of the skin, which usually looks especially good at this time, both on the face and in other areas.
  2. In the postpartum period, there is a sharp drop in the concentration of this hormone, which can cause two types of changes: increased dryness of the skin, accompanied by peeling, very noticeable on the face, chin, or the appearance of acne, which can be found almost anywhere on the body - on the back, chest, legs, butt
  3. New mothers have less and less time for themselves, so acne has the opportunity to multiply, making it increasingly difficult to get rid of overnight.
  4. A possible cause of postpartum acne may be an incorrect diet. And if you still get a rash after childbirth, you can try to work on your diet, replacing sweets and baked goods with fruits, vegetables and “green” ingredients.

Preventing acne after childbirth

Acne may appear after a spontaneous or medical abortion. This phenomenon occurs due to a sharp change in hormonal levels and stress in the body.

If water inflammations appear, patients feel itching and burning, in which case it is necessary to urgently visit a dermatologist. The problem may arise due to an allergic reaction, disruption of internal organs, infectious diseases and parasite attacks.

Acne prevention:

  1. If the body is covered with acne, it is necessary to bring the general condition of the body back to normal. Review your diet and boost your immunity.
  2. Places that are covered with acne are wiped with antiseptic agents. When breastfeeding, it is better to choose odorless, herbal-based medications.
  3. Constantly exfoliate dead skin cells, removing dry acne with peeling using salicylic acid.
  4. It is advisable to use minimal makeup, especially foundation and powder. Be sure to remove makeup at night and wash with cool water.
  5. In the summer, avoid excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays, which in excess can cause the appearance of new acne on the skin.

The drug Zinerit, which can be used during lactation in recommended doses, received positive reviews from girls. The acne began to go away on days 5-7 after using the medicine, the rashes did not increase and did not go any further.

Pharmacy chatter has also proven itself well, a cheap and effective remedy in the fight against problem skin.

Reasons for appearance

Every person's skin contains a large number of microbes. Normally, they do not affect your well-being in any way, but only quietly support the body’s defenses in the fight against more aggressive pathogens.

When a combination of factors occurs, even these beneficial microbes can contribute to the appearance of unpleasant skin lesions such as pimples. Often women encounter this after childbirth.

A pimple is an inflammation of the sebaceous gland along with the hair follicle. If only one such complex is affected, folliculitis occurs. In the case of inflammation of several hair follicles and the sebaceous glands located with them, boils and carbuncles are formed. Most often, acne occurs in those areas of the body where the number of sebaceous glands is increased. This is the back, forehead, buttocks, etc.

We recommend reading the article about vitamins after childbirth. From it you will learn about the necessary substances for a woman’s body after childbirth, natural sources of vitamins and vitamin complexes.

The following points provoke the condition:

  • Immunodeficiency. During pregnancy and immediately after childbirth, a woman is more susceptible to various infectious diseases. This is due to a decrease in the reactivity of the immune system, which thus tries to “react” less to the developing fetus. After all, half of it consists of completely alien genetic material.
  • Latent diabetes mellitus, which may first appear after childbirth. In this case, the products of glucose metabolism are released with sebum, thereby creating a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. As a result, acne appears, but more often it is boils and even carbuncles. After correcting the glucose level and following a diet, everything goes away.
  • Intense sweating, which often appears in women after childbirth due to hormonal changes. It promotes the proliferation of opportunistic microbes that are always present on the skin. The latter easily enter the hair follicles and provoke their inflammation. Increased sweating can also be a signal of various problems with the endocrine organs, primarily the thyroid gland.
  • Excessive production of sebum, which is physiologically provided for in certain parts of the body. It leads to blockage of the outlet of the hair follicle, resulting in the creation of a closed cavity in which pathogens actively multiply.
  • Long-term use of antibacterial drugs. Often such a need arises after childbirth for the treatment and prevention of complications (with massive injuries, after a cesarean section, etc.). As a result, the normal skin flora, which protects the body from more serious pathogens, is also destroyed. Its niches are quickly occupied by more stable and dangerous forms, which subsequently lead to inflammation of the skin appendages.
  • Digestive disorders , which are possible due to a strict diet, stress, or lack of sleep, can also indirectly affect the appearance of acne.
  • Infections that lead to significant immunodeficiency. It could be HIV or hepatitis, or just a long-term acute respiratory viral infection.
  • Insufficient or, conversely, excessive hygiene. In the first case, everything is clear: pollution against the background of increased sweating after childbirth provokes inflammation of the sebaceous glands. With excessive hygiene, the mechanism at work is exactly the same as when taking antibiotics.

When there is danger

It is not so easy to understand why acne appears on the skin, but if you consult an experienced dermatologist in time, it is possible. Very often this problem is a consequence of postpartum hormonal changes.

Read also: When can you start exercising after childbirth at home and in the gym?

There are times when a girl should be especially attentive and not ignore ambiguous signs. If the rash has an unusual appearance, itches, turns red, is very painful, appears in the form of separate “islands,” festers, or is very large in size, it is forbidden to delay a visit to the hospital. When all this is accompanied by fever, high temperature, weakness, dizziness or poor health, it is important to quickly and promptly call a doctor. This indicates serious complications, infection, allergies or other dangerous diseases.

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Prevention measures for this problem have existed for a long time: an active lifestyle, fresh air, clean water, self-care, proper diet.

Lotions and compresses

Freshly squeezed aloe juice has a unique healing effect. It is especially good to use it as a lotion. To do this you will need:

– keep freshly cut leaves of the plant in the refrigerator for seven days;

– grind them using a meat grinder;

– squeeze out the juice;

– moisten gauze in juice and apply to inflamed areas for 10-15 minutes;

– the pulp can be used for masks.

The use of compresses has a similar effect. Plantain or wormwood are suitable for these purposes. With strong antibacterial properties, these plants will help you get rid of problematic rashes while promoting wound healing.

Do not underestimate grandmother's recipes - our ancestors struggled with unexpected ailments for centuries, resorting to traditional medicine. The naturalness and non-toxicity of such drugs allows them to be successfully used to treat acne during breastfeeding, without the risk of harming the newborn.

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