How to Manage Sensitive Skin While Pregnant
- Pregnancy
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- UPDATED MAY 09, 2025
by Kristine Bowman
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Sensitive skin is a nightmare. Sensitive skin, by general definition, is skin that’s prone to itching, inflammation, and reactions to products and environmental stimuli.
Mamas, if you have sensitive skin, you’re not alone. Studies vary, but between 40% and 71% of adults in the UK have sensitive skin, with some studies suggesting women are more prone to it. A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that 51.4% of women reported sensitive skin compared to 38.2% of men.
Sensitive skin on its own, depending on the severity, is a challenge enough to manage. Throw pregnancy and hormones into the mix, and it can become nothing short of a nightmare, but it’s not necessarily impossible to manage.
Read on to learn why sensitive skin can flare up during pregnancy and the best tips for managing sensitive skin as you grow your little bundle of joy.
Why Does Pregnancy Aggravate Sensitive Skin?
Multiple skin conditions come under the definition of sensitive skin; it’s an umbrella term. Eczema, contact dermatitis, acne, allergies, and simple dry skin are classed as sensitive skin conditions.
We don’t need to tell you that, during pregnancy, everything changes. Hormonal fluctuations, blood flow changes, and skin changes—everything comes simultaneously. Naturally—and mainly due to hormonal changes—your skin is more sensitive to things it wouldn’t usually be. From sunlight to food, your body simply reacts differently during pregnancy.
Top Tips for Managing Sensitive Skin While Pregnant
You can’t hide from it. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, you might find that hormonal changes make you acne-prone, more oily, more dry, more sensitive to certain products, etc.
What you can do is manage it. Here are our top three tips.
Perfect Your Skincare Products
Skincare products will change your life.
One we’d always recommend finding is a good pregnancy belly oil for stretch marks and dry skin. Most of them are hypoallergenic and super friendly for moms-to-be.
It’s also essential that you check your skincare products are suitable for pregnancy—not all of them are! Your best option is to find hypoallergenic, natural, pregnancy-friendly skincare products. They don’t contain perfumes, harsh chemicals, or additives that irritate the skin.
Track Your Flare-Ups
If you suffer from sensitive skin that’s prone to dryness, itching, and inflammation, we’d recommend tracking our flare-ups.
Studies have shown that pregnant women can experience skin issues when consuming the following foods:
- Shellfish
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
- Cow’s milk
- Soy
- Eggs
Try to keep a food diary and see if you’re consuming more of a specific type of food and whether reducing it or removing it from your diet makes a difference.
Follow a Minimalist Skincare Routine
Less is more. Find your products and then stick to a minimalist routine, especially if your skin is sensitive from acne breakouts.
Some dermatologists are also now suggesting that a once-a-day nighttime skincare routine is the best. This lets your skin sit in its natural oils and benefit from the products you’re using. We would, however, recommend moisturising the body, especially the belly, twice a day to prevent stretch marks.
Ladies, don’t worry if your skin is changing. It’s all totally natural and part of the process. Remember that it’s temporary, and there are steps for you to take to control it!