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That Pregnant Glow

Keeping Your Skin Radiant and Healthy

By Jacqueline Rupp

Dry, itchy skin can become an irritating problem during pregnancy. Skin can become especially dry in areas around the belly and breasts where it is being stretched. "Pregnant women may experience dry itchy skin for the same reason many non-pregnant women do," says Dr. Stevens.

Harsh environmental factors such as low humidity, bathing with a harsh soap or one with many irritating fragrances and perfumes, bathing with excessively hot water, over-exfoliation with a bath cloth or loofah sponge and inadequate moisturization of the skin surface may all contribute to dry, flaky or itchy skin, says Dr. Stevens. To alleviate this bothersome problem, she suggests womenadopt gentler bathing practices.

She suggests using warm water, mild, unscented soaps or non-soap cleansers, and avoiding vigorous rubbing during and after bathing. Most importantly, follow the "three-minute rule": apply a mild unscented moisturizing cream all over within three minutes of getting out of the bath or shower. "This will help to lock in the moisture, and well-hydrated skin is less likely to flake and itch," she says. This is important even if you drink the recommended amounts of water each day, as water does not directly hydrate the skin like moisturizers do.

Want to see more?

• Liquid Health: Smart Nutrition for Thirsty Moms
• Creating Beauty from the Outside In: The Secret to Healthy, Radiant Skin
• Great Skin from the Inside Out: Nourish Your Skin with the Right Foods
• Talk about it!