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SKINCARE
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The fact of the matter is that sun protection is extremely important
all the time, not just during pregnancy. However, if you’re not
using a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 every single day you
step out of the house with exposed skin during pregnancy, well,
you’re just being foolish! The pregnancy hormones coursing
through your body can make your skin become super-
sensitive to UV light and cause hyperpigmentation ( remember
that mask of pregnancy?) . Along with the cosmetic benefits
of wearing sunscreen, there are more serious health risks that
you should be thinking about, such as protecting yourself from
skin cancer.
While any skin cancer diagnosis is bad news, the finding of
melanoma during pregnancy could potentially be more
dangerous than any other time in your life. Women who were
diagnosed with melanoma while they were pregnant or within
a year after giving birth were at greater risk for the cancer to
spread, reoccur, or for it to be fata
l 3 .The reason for this finding
isn’t clear, but could have something to do with hormones,
a weakened immune system during pregnancy, or just the
fact that pregnant women and new mums don’t have much
time to stay on top of their health and let a suspicious looking
mole slide.
Before you freak out, know that a case of pregnancy-related
melanoma is very rare. But since there are so many changes
going on with your skin during pregnancy, it’s easy to shrug off
an odd looking mole as just another harmless occurrence. In
the case of melanoma, catching a suspicious mole early can
Why is SPF so important
during pregnancy?
make all of the difference in your prognosis.Teach yourself the ABCDE
signs of melanoma and keep a close eye on your moles. If you see
any of these warning signs, call your dermatologist immediately:
•
Asymmetry:
Draw an imaginary line down the center of your
mole, do both halves match? If not, it’s asymmetrical and is a
warning sign for melanoma.
•
Border:
While the borders of a benign mole are generally
smooth and even, irregular borders might indicate melanoma.
•
Colour:
A mix of colours, even various shades of the same
colour, on your mole is a warning sign. A mole that’s dark and
black is also cause for concern.
•
Diameter:
Another possible red flag is if the suspected lesion is
greater than 6mm in diameter.
•
Elevation
:
Probably the most important warning signal is if a
mole changes size or texture, or begins to bleed.
Now is the time to invest in clothing with UV Protection Factor
( UPF ) as well as wide-brimmed hats. Seek out shade whenever
possible and try to avoid the sun during it’s peak hours of 10:00
am to 3:00 pm.When it comes to sunscreen formulation, try to stick
to physical sunblock as opposed to chemical. Physical sunblock
ingredients, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, sit on the surface of
the skin, while chemical ingredients get absorbed into the skin.
The rule of thumb is a shot glass amount for the whole body
and reapplying every two hours while out in the sun. Stay away
from spray sunscreens, as you can never really tell how much is
actually ending up on the skin and not in the air. In the end, the
best sunscreen is the one that you’ll use, so find a formula that
you like.