Let's say that you have done all you can to make your skin as radiant as possible during your pregnancy. What happens to your skin during post-pregnancy? To understand what to expect during post-pregnancy, we should understand well what happens during pregnancy.

To begin with, pregnancy entails a massive expansion of nearly all the regions of the body, especially the abdominal cavity. When the stretching happens, the fibroblasts start to lose their potency and the skin suffers. When rapid expansion happens, the collagen levels which are instrumental in keeping the skin healthy-looking and elastic begin to drop dramatically.

When the skin is weakened, we lose the natural protection of the skin. This is where the appropriate application of the right kinds of creams, such as sunscreens and moisturizers comes in. We do not put these products on our skin simply because we want to, but because we need to. Need entails a causal predecessor, and the pregnancy is our specific causal predecessor.

Other concerns

Aside from stretch marks, one of the most disturbing effects of pregnancy and of the hormonal cycle is what is commonly known as "chloasma". What is chloasma? Chloasma is actually the uneven skin tones that are evident on the skin during pregnancy.

Actually, these uneven skin tones range from light brown to dark brown, and appear on different regions of the body, from the face (near the mouth) or under the arms. Chloasma is often called the "mask of pregnant women" because it tends to hide the real skin color.

What brings about the patching? You might be surprised, but something as ordinary as the sun's rays bring about the manifestation of "chloasma".

If you wish to guard yourself against long term skin damage from chloasma, you should take the usual steps (especially during the winter months). These steps include putting more moisturizers on the skin, a healthy diet, some light exercises and plenty of light and calorie-free fluids.

The skin during this period of a woman's life is decidedly more sensitive to elements from the environment. They are more prone to breaking out with slightest irritation. Care should be taken that the pregnant woman avoids herself from possible irritants and breakout triggers.

These triggers include extreme sunlight, alcohol and extreme cold. If you have been able to take heed of these precautions, chances are good that you won't have to deal with stretch marks later on, if you don't have them yet.

It's all about prevention- what is the use of the most advanced laser treatments if you knew fully well that you could have done something to avert a "skin disaster" called stretch marks?

If you are wondering whether the fluid levels in the body literally increase during the nine-month gestation period, the answer is unfortunately a yes. Just how much is this increase inside the body? Since blood is the greatest fluid constituent inside the human body, the increase can ranged from between 30% to more than 50%.

What does this mean? Well, more blood means more disproportionate color of the skin. With that amount of fluid in the body, prepare yourself also for flushed, ruddy cheeks and red patches on the arms and legs.