5 Tips For Visiting A Dermatologist After Pregnancy
Throughout pregnancy it is likely that your skin will undergo many changes such as stretch marks, darkening patches of skin, oily or dry skin, rashes, skin tags, and spider veins. Many women take these symptoms as a natural part of pregnancy and, unless they are causing discomfort, wait to visit a dermatologist until after they give birth. If you are one of these women and are going in for your first postpartum visit with a dermatologist to get your skin healthy and glowing again, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your visit.
Wait Until Your Postpartum Checkup With Your OB
Throughout pregnancy your body undergoes many hormonal changes that will affect your skin. After you give birth, it can take awhile for your hormone levels to return to settle into their new normal levels. Waiting until you have had your postpartum checkup with your OB (usually around 6 weeks postpartum) will give your body time to adjust to no longer being pregnant. You may find that some pregnancy symptoms, such as skin tags, spider veins, and dark spots, may naturally fade during this period.
You should keep in mind that your hormone levels may still be off if you are choosing to breastfeed, in which case you may want to wait to consult with a dermatologist until after you stop breastfeeding.
Make a List of Various Skin Changes You Want to Discuss
Pregnancy may bring a lot of skin changes in a short period of time. Usually, when someone visits a dermatologist, they may have 1-2 specific issues they want to discuss. If you have several issues, make sure that you write them down so you do not leave anything out during your consultation.
Ask for a Skin Care Routine Specific to Your Skin Type
You may find that after pregnancy your skin type changes permanently. For example, you may have had dry skin before pregnancy and oily skin after pregnancy. If your skin type changed, ask your dermatologist for a skin care routine specific to your new skin type. This will help you save time and money when it comes to shopping around for new cleansers or moisturizers that work for your post-pregnancy skin.
Be Prepared for a Few Visits Within the Year After You Give Birth
If you are going in for a postpartum consultation with your dermatologist, do not expect all of your problems to be solved in a single visit. Your dermatologist may want to take a less invasive "wait and see" approach to some of your skin issues to see if they fade over time without intervention. Additionally, you may need to wait until your current birth control kicks in or you stop breastfeeding for your hormone levels to balance out in order for your dermatologist to make some suggestions regarding skin care and treatment.
Ask for OTC and In-Office Options
Some dermatologists will assume that if you are scheduling a visit with them, you want the fastest, most efficient treatment options for your various skin conditions. However, if you are willing to wait for results, it can often be cheaper to utilize over-the-counter treatment options as opposed to in-office options. If cost is an issue for you, make sure your dermatologist knows that you are interested in both OTC and in-office treatment options when it comes to making a treatment plan for your post-pregnancy skin.
Visiting a dermatologist after you give birth is a good idea if you have had any significant skin changes during pregnancy. Following the above tips can help you get the most out of your visit. For more information, contact a center such as Center Of Dermatology PC/Herschel E Stoller MD.
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