Here are some post-pregnancy skin and hair care tips for instant damage control
After pregnancy, every aspect of your health needs special care. So, don’t drop the ball when it comes to your skin and hair, because they are equally important. That’s exactly why we have these dermat-recommended tips for you.
Being pregnant is nothing short of blissful. Holding a baby in your arms is the greatest joy of all time. Of course, your body is in recovery mode post-pregnancy and just like you focus on regaining your strength, make sure to pay attention to your skin and hair care regime.
Of course, your beauty takes a backseat post-pregnancy, but frankly speaking it can be sinister to do that. That’s because the damage it can cause is irreversible.
According to Dr Rinky Kapoor, consultant dermatologist & dermato-surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics,skin and hair problems happens because of many reasons such as hormonal changes, lack of sleep etc. As your hormonal levels get back to normal, the following changes in hair and skin are very common:
Hair loss for up to 3rd or 4th month of pregnancy
Acne
Pigmentation or melasma all over the body
Stretch marks
Lacklustre hair
Stretch marks
Puffy eyes with dark circles
“Post-delivery, it takes some time for hormones to get back to normal. This is the ideal time to pamper your skin and achieve the flawless happy mother glow. But alas, who has the time? And high-end professional treatments will need to wait for some time, at least until you are breastfeeding,” suggests Dr Kapoor.
So here are some little tweaks that must be a part of your daily routine
You must know that the changes in your skin and hair are temporary and they will be back to normal in a few months’ time.
Take out some time for yourself. Take the help of your family and even friends who can take care of the baby for some time during the day. Use this time to relax, give yourself a face massage or a foot spa or just meditate and catch up on your sleep.
Dress up. It always feels good to dress up well. Order some new clothes and make an effort to dress up every day.
Hydrate every 15 minutes. Make sure you drink lots of water, juices, and shakes.
Sleep when the baby sleeps. Household chores and everything else can wait.
Use a mild cleanser to wash your face twice a day. Follow up with a toner and a gentle, oil-free moisturizer, and seal it all in with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Avoid all products that contain salicylic acid/or retinol, isotretinoin and oral tetracycline, as they can cause birth defects in the baby.
Keep the skin around the abdomen, thighs and hips moisturized to avoid getting stretch marks.
Switch to non-comedogenic and fragrance-free products as part of your makeup and skin care.
Use homemade scrubs once a week
Keep your hair clean and wash with anti-hair fall shampoo, twice a week.
Avoid any chemical treatments and dying your hair.
Consider getting a shorter hairstyle, so that your hair can be easily managed.
Some simple home remedies that you can use quickly and effectively to speed up the healing of skin and hair:
For skin
Breast milk for skin: Freeze some of your breast milk in an ice cube tray. Cleanse your face and apply the milk cubes on your face, neck, and upper chest, until the cube dissolves. Gently massage the area. Wash with lukewarm water. This will make your skin supple and soft like the baby in no time.
Milk powder pack: Make a thick paste using milk powder, a few drops of honey, a pinch of cinnamon powder, and some rose water and apply it on your face and neck. Don’t scrub. Wash after 10 minutes and you will see an instant difference in your face.
Oats and honey mask: A simple mix of powdered oats and honey makes a quick skin-rejuvenating face mask that will also take care of the inflammation on the skin.
Olive oil massage: Massage your belly and breast with olive oil or sandalwood to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Saffron and milk pack: Grind some almonds along with a few strands of saffron. Use this powder to make a paste with milk and apply on pigmented areas. Wash, once it is dry.
Yogurt face scrub: Rub some fresh yogurt on the skin and leave it for three minutes. Wash with lukewarm water.
For hair
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Aloe vera hair mask: Mix four to five tablespoons of aloe vera gel with two tablespoons of castor oil and one tablespoon of glycerine applied from scalp to the tip, leave for one hour and shampoo normally. This will add strength and shine to your hair.
Fenugreek mask: Soak some fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Grind them into a paste and apply on your hair. Wash off normally. This will help in growth and also soothe the scalp.
Curry leaves and coconut oil: Boil some curry leaves in coconut oil and let it cool. Use this mix to apply on your hair, one to three hours before shampooing.
Egg mask: Make an egg mask with two egg whites and some olive oil, and apply all over your hair and scalp. Leave it to dry and then shampoo normally.
“Eat well, and include supplements in your diet. Also, cut down on caffeine and alcohol,” concludes Dr Kapoor.
So ladies, don’t take your skin and hair for granted post-pregnancy and keep these tips handy.
Six-pack abs are all that Nikita needs, along with her daily dose of green tea. At Health Shots, she produces videos, podcasts, stories, and other kick-ass content. ...Read More