No need to schedule an appointment. If you have a question or two that you’d love an expert to answer send them our way. Here, one of our favorite skin experts, Dr. Alkaitis, answers a few questions from our readers on finding the right skin care and what to do for skin during pregnancy.
Q: During my pregnancy I want to be extra careful with what I put on my skin. Is there anything special I should be doing to take care of my skin while pregnant?
A: “Again, nutrition is going to be just as important as what products to use while pregnant, but in terms of what you should do, a healthy diet of organic fruits and vegetables, along with healthy fats, is key. Using the Nourishing Treatment Oil on your face, body and hair with special attention to massage your belly and stretch marks is the best thing you could do! While keeping your stretch marks at bay, you will also give your skin a big dose of nourishing healthy oils and vitamins.
It is also important to talk about what not to do. Since your skin will become much more sensitive due to hormone changes, it is important to try to keep your face covered with a hat in the sun so you won’t get hyper-pigmentation. Dr. Alkaitis is working on releasing a sun balm this summer but until then, my recommendation is to use a sunscreen (if you must) that contains ONLY zinc oxide as a single ingredient. Do not use a screen that contains titanium dioxide or other chemicals. Do not use any products (hair, face, make-up, shampoos, nail polish, etc.) that contain any synthetic ingredients. All these products are being absorbed directly through your skin, into your blood stream and then to the fetus.
It is also important to not get manicures or pedicures and to not color your hair until after the first trimester. It is normal for skin to be reactive during pregnancy. Sometimes rashes show up and acne can occur. If these symptoms occur, you can apply our Organic Soothing Gel on the areas. The Soothing Gel is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory. This product may not be able to rebalance your hormones, but it will definitely provide soothing relief.”
Q: I try all kinds of skin products. Some are too heavy and some are too light. What’s the best way to find the right consistency of product for my skin?
A: “The best way to try to find the right product is to try it on your skin first before you make the purchase. Most stores have testers and or samples that they will be happy to give to you. Apply the product on the inside of the wrist and leave it on there for a few hours before you make a decision. This will allow your self to see the following:
1 If you have any allergies to the ingredients.
2 To see if you like the way the product feels on your skin.
For instance, if it’s a product that contains silicone, synthetic oils or other chemical ingredients, it will remain on top of the skin as opposed to being absorbed. Personally, I find this to be the issue with most products that I try. It is a sign of inferior ingredients. It is also important to know what is the condition of your skin and how to address it. Much of your skin routine will actually be influenced by the weather, stress, travel and diet.
I don’t believe that a skin care routine should be the same every day. You will need more moisture in the winter when the skin tends to be drier, and most people use less moisturizer in the summer and replace heavier crèmes with serums. Our products are extremely inter-changeable and multifunctional, which I love because it gives the consumer more options to make our line adaptable to their skin needs at that moment. For instance, if you feel like the Day Crème is not giving enough hydration that day, you can mix a drop of Nourishing Treatment Oil into it, giving it a totally new texture that is neither too greasy nor too light. So, it’s a bit of knowing your skin and your needs, reading the ingredients and being creative to find what works best for you.”
