unbearable. Known as ‘pruritic
urticarial papules and plaques of
pregnancy’ (PUPPP) this is the
most common skin condition
specific to the last trimester of
pregnancy. Women with PUPPP
develop small red bumps and
hives, and when severe, the
bumps form large patches.
This rash usually starts on the
abdomen and spreads to the
thighs, buttocks, breasts, and
arms. Talk to your GP about
safe treatments and dabbing on
calamine lotion should reduce the
itching.
Taking Care of Your
Skin in Pregnancy
The best way to take care of
skin in pregnancy is to use a
gentle soapy cleanser which
has a neutral pH, since normal
soaps are highly alkaline and
will strip the normal acid mantle
of the skin hence predisposing
to excessive dryness and
sensitivity. A gentle emollient is
recommended for the body and
facial skin to help to minimize the
development of stretch marks and
of course, most important, the
regular use of a sunscreen.
Treatments
Stretch Marks
According to Dr. Makkiya, there are
different, new methods to correct
stretch marks, as follows:
Protein Rich Plasma (PRP)
This uses an automatic multiple
needle pen working at high speeds
to create thousands of channels in
the skin and is combined with PRP
at the skin level and in the dermal
area to stimulate collagen and
elastin formation. This eventually
fades the stretched skin away by
shrinking and thickening the
stretched out areas. “This ideally
should be administered in a series
of seven treatments spaced by one
month each and then either every
six months or as needed to provide
optimal results,” says Dr. Makkiya.
Laser Treatments
There is a new laser therapy that
creates microscopic holes in the
skin where the stretch marks are
present as a way to erase stretch
marks on the stomach, thighs
and breasts with minimal pain
and downtime. “This is known
as the Icon System and has a
fractional laser that uses heat to
Beauty FAQs for Expecting Moms
Q) How safe is Botox during pregnancy if at all?
A) Botox is contraindicated in pregnancy and even fillers
such as Restylene and Perlane are not used in pregnant
women.
Q) What about massage in pregnancy?
A) Pregnancy massage is usually performed while you are
lying on your side, with the focus on your back and legs. It
is important that a therapist avoids your feet, however, as
stimulating the back of the ankle and the Achilles tendon
can stimulate contractions.
Q) What can I use for my acne flare-ups in pregnancy?
A) If you need to take an oral drug, the antibiotics
erythromycin and amoxicillin are safe, but avoid
tetracycline. Instead, try benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid to
treat acne.
(Credit: Dr. Abdul Majeed Makkiya)
Mar/Apr 2016
54
create microscopic
channels deep within
the skin while leaving
the surface almost
untouched,” he says.
“These tiny injuries
break down the scar
tissue of the stretch
marks triggering
a natural healing
response.” This method
reduces stretch marks
by 51 to 75 percent
including those that
are many years old.
Non-Invasive
Treatments for
Stretch Marks
For women who
would rather not
resort to invasive
techniques for their
stretch marks woes,
Dr. Makkiya advises
the following:
• Chemical peels
which can be used
to help with stretch
marks.
• Microdermabrasion
which improves the
appearance of stretch
marks using fine crystal
spray to blast the outer
layers of skin. Dead
skin cells are removed
and replaced by new
healthy skin cells.
• Other modalities
include Intense Pulsed
Light (IPL) and TriPolar radio frequency
device which can be
used to help soften
stretch marks.
• Creams are less
expensive than other
cosmetic dermatology
procedures, tells Dr.
Makkiya. “The good
quality brands are
generally very safe,” he
says.
A New
Mom’s
Checklist
to Regain
Your PreBaby Body
• Aim to be
more active.
Stop making
excuses about
exercise. Even
a 10-minute
walk as a
start is good
and you can
increase this
duration over
time.
• Start doing
abdominal
stretching
exercises to
tighten the
muscles and
skin.
• Eat well. Aim
for quality
nutrition
every day. Post
pregnancy is
not the time
for fad diets
that deprive
your body
of essential
nutrients.
Learning how
to balance
your calorie
intake and
calorie
expenditure
will help you
to lose weight
at a sustainable
rate.