Baby is here…
Pregnancy, postpartum, and the unspoken (under spoken?) effects on our skin.
One of the things I wish I had given myself when I had my son (11 years ago) was grace… I didn’t give myself grace. I had brought this beautiful human to this wild planet we called earth and I went straight to panic mode. There were many reasons for this; my highest level of education at the time was a High School Diploma, I was unmarried (still am lol), I was 19, I lived with my mother, the list goes on. I was also the product of a society that judges women harshly and this judgement is even worse when said women become mothers. You are all but counseled to ignore yourself completely and “give your all” to this beautiful baby. But yeah, duh, we know! We (mothers) want to give our all to our babies. But how does one pour from an empty cup? One does not.
You have to fill your cup. You then give away the overflowing, but you keep a cupful for yourself. - Author Unknown
I had issues with the changes that cam as a part of the pregnancy process, one of which was hyperpigmentation. See at the time, I didn’t even know there was a term for the blotchy, patchy nature of my skin’s tone. All I was told was “you should be focusing on your baby.” Though I was focused on my baby, these things ate at me. It made me angry that I did not recognize myself when I looked in a mirror, then I was drowned with the guilt of focusing on me and not the baby - a vicious cycle.
There is a name for these change you are noticing in your skin, my dear new mommy, it’s called postpartum hyperpigmentation.
The thing about this, is that like most changes that you experience during pregnancy, it is 100% reversible. There are many treatments, set of treatments, and products that can resolve this for you is a safe and healthy way so you can get back to recognizing the YOU you see in the mirror! Additionally - and heavy emphasis on this part - you should feel good that you are taking time out to focus on yourself mommy! Remember that empty cup that one can’t pour from? A lot of the frustration and anxiety I felt as a new mom came from the fact that I was ignoring myself as a means to have “more to give” my baby. My subconscious rebelled by riddling my mind with thoughts of insufficiency no matter how much I gave! It took me almost 2 years after my son was born to realize the problem is not that I am not giving enough, the problem is I am not giving myself enough. Here started the journey of wellness and beauty that led me all the way to Mysa…
“Cool story Ryan, but what about my skin?” I hear you, and here are some solutions that I swear by -
IV (Intravenous) Glutathione: Before you gasp, remember that everything is good in moderation. Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant within our bodies. Additional glutathione helps to even skin tone by reducing the over-production of melanin cells. The over-production of these melanin cells is one often caused by our imbalanced pregnancy hormones. Glutathione has gotten a horrible reputation due to it’s misuse in the skin bleaching industry, however, in moderation and with proper administration, glutathione is most effective in clearing visible signs of hyperpigmentation.
IV Vitamin C: Need I really go over the skin benefits of Vitamin-C? Energy booster, immune booster, and yes, immune system regulator that in turn causes a rebalancing of our hormones. The benefits of Vitamin-C are endless, and Vitamin-C in combination with glutathione could lead to you seeing results in your skin in as little as 3 weeks!
Topical Niacinamide: Fancy name for Vitamin-B3, niacinamide in it’s water-soluble form works with the natural substances in your skin to help visibly minimize enlarged pores, tighten lax or stretched out pores, and most of all improve uneven skin tone by diminish dullness. The effects/benefits of topical niacinamide are endless and in combination with IV treatments will lead you to clearer skin sooner and maintain your results permanently,
Topical Tranexamic Acid: There is enough research to back this acid’s ability to prevent the growth of new blood vessels and the formation of melanin (aka skin pigment). This might be why topical tranexamic acid appears to help lighten dark spots from hyperpigmentation and/or melasma often seen in women who have just given birth.
Some other treatments that are very effective for hyperpigmentation and can be done to ANY body part are Microneedling, Chemical Peels, Microdermasion, and Hydra skin treatments.
At Mysa, I have ensured a space for mommies to treat themselves, to refill this cup from which we pour into all of society by pouring into our children. So if you are struggling with any postpartum skin issues and wish to learn more about all what is available to help you start to feel like yourself again, be sure to contact us by booking a consultation by clicking this link!
I truly look forward to meeting you, I will be honored to be a part of your journey and share more of mine with you. But above all else, I thank you for taking the time to read this little spill and I wish you grace, peace, and understanding on your mommy journey.
Xo,