Why Postpartum Skin Breaks Out
After giving birth, many new moms notice their skin breaking out with pimples and acne. This happens because your body is still adjusting from the big hormonal shifts of pregnancy.
During pregnancy, hormones like progesterone shoot up to help support the baby. These hormones make your skin’s oil glands work overtime, producing more oil. The extra oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, clogging pores and causing breakouts on the face, chest, back, or other areas.[1]
Your immune system also changes during pregnancy, letting bacteria grow more easily and sparking inflammation that worsens acne.[1]
Right after delivery, these hormone levels do not drop right away. Estrogen and progesterone keep fluctuating as your body heals. For some women, acne gets better in a few months as things stabilize. For others, it sticks around or gets worse.[1]
Breastfeeding plays a role too. It keeps estrogen levels low for longer, which can mean more oil on the skin and ongoing breakouts.[1]
These changes hit hardest if you already had acne tied to hormones before pregnancy. Not every mom sees this, though. Some have clearer skin due to other shifts in estrogen or immunity.[1]
Sources
https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a69307596/pregnancy-acne/
