Are you pregnant and suffering from skin problems? Pregnancy already comes with a set of common discomforts such as morning sickness, fatigue, heart burns and feeling bloated. To have skin problems in addition to that just completely takes the joy out of being pregnant. At this point, you probably scoff every time you see advertisements featuring pregnant women with glowing and flawless skin. Well, it's unfortunate that pregnant skin problems are a common thing, no thanks to crazy hormones. So your skin problem is not unique to you alone.

Listed below are some common skin problems during pregnancy. See if you are experiencing any of them.

A Dark Line Down Your Belly

This is known as linea nigra. It runs from the lower chest to the navel and also extends to the pubic area. It begins to appear during the second trimester and slowly fades after you have given birth. Gently rub it a little to remove any dry skin. Dark skinned women will have a darker line.

Melasma

Some people also call it chloasma or pregnancy mask. You might find dark patches appearing either on the forehead, nose, upper cheeks or chin. You might even have it above your lip, appearing like a moustache. This problem of uneven pigmentation may also appear as dark circles around the eyes. Melasma may appear on your arms as well, and not just your face. Dark skinned women are more prone to having this skin condition. The good news is the problem goes away after you've given birth. However, I'm guessing you don't want to wait that long. So, the best thing you can do is to protect yourself from the sun. Limit your time in the sun, use sun screen with SPF 30 or higher, wear a brimmed hat and stay away from tanning salons. These steps may not get rid of your skin problem entirely but it will sure minimize the effects. Taking folic acid has also been known to help. There is a scientific evidence that suggests a relation between low levels of folic acid and increased uneven skin tones. Get sufficient doses of folic acid through supplements and folate rich foods such as whole grains and green leafy vegetables.

Skin Darkening

Natural dark parts of your body such as your breast's areola, nipples, freckles, scars, moles, around your genitals and birthmarks will turn even darker. Even your inner thighs and underarms may not be spared. During pregnancy, there is increased melanin production and this leads to the darker than usual skin condition you see happening.

Stretch Marks

Statistic say 75-90 percent of all pregnant women develop those unsightly stretch marks. These red or purple streaks not only appear on your growing abdomen, but can also show up on your hips, breasts, buttocks, hips and arms. Can you escape from getting it? Yes. You would need to utilize an effective moisturizer that sinks deep into your skin's dermis (2nd layer) and not one that just treats the epidermis (top layer). Highly recommended are products that are rich in vitamin A, vitamin E, emu oil, collagen, glycolic acid, elastin, liposomes and aloe vera.

Skin problems are unwanted banes to pregnancy but don't let it get you down. Prepare yourself for the changes at hand and know that there are others going through the same thing as you. Pregnancy skin problems usually fade after your baby comes out. Meanwhile, minimize the damage and do your best to live out the days.