Skin Changes In Pregnancy: The Third Trimester

Congratulations Mama, you're on the final str-e-tch! The third trimester begins at week 27 of pregnancy and it continues all the way up until birth. As your bump blossoms, you might experience skin changes such as dry, itchy and uncomfortable skin. So, we have created the ultimate guide on how to treat dry skin during pregnancy in the third trimester.

What happens to your skin during the third trimester?

Keep going, you're almost there Mama and your little bundle of joy will soon be in your arms. The third trimester begins from week 27 of pregnancy. Although you may have noticed some skin changes during the first and second trimester, it is likely that it will continue to change during the third trimester.

Unfortunately Mama, your skin can look a little worse as your pregnancy progresses. This is largely down to your pregnancy hormones at work yet again, and the most common skin changes that can appear during the third trimester are stretch marks, varicose veins and skin eruptions (red, raised and itchy rashes).

Skin changes during the third trimester

Throughout the third trimester, your body and skin goes through a lot of changes in order to help you prepare to give birth. During the third trimester, you might experience the following skin changes:

Skin eruptions

Often called pruritic uticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) skin eruptions that are red, raised and itchy may appear on the skin. They tend to occur on areas where there are stretch marks, however they can also appear on the bum, thighs and arms. The cause of them is unknown, but they are not harmful to you or your baby.

For most Mamas, PUPPP usually disappears after delivery and they normally only appear during a woman's first pregnancy. If you experience these rashes and you're concerned, it's important to speak with your doctor as they can prescribe you with some antihistamines.

Spider nevi

Similar in appearance to varicose veins, spider nevi are caused by dilated blood vessels and occur in the small blood vessels that lie beneath your skin's surface.

They often appear as raised red lines and they rarely cause any pain or discomfort. Although some Mama's might not like the way that they look, they often disappear after delivery.

Stretch marks

Stretch marks are incredibly common during pregnancy. They are often found on your boobs, upper thighs and tummy and they are normally red or purple when they first appear. Stretch marks happen when the fibres in your skin stretch and grow to make room for your little one. But, when this growth happens too quickly it can break these fibres, causing stretch marks to form on the skin.

Varicose veins

These can be described as large veins that look like twisted cords, and they are most likely to appear during pregnancy than any other time. They can be red, blue or the colour of your skin and they usually develop on the legs, however during pregnancy they can also occur on the vulva.

They may become worse during the third trimester, as at this stage during pregnancy your hormones can cause veins to dilate and they can carry more blood than usual.

Your third trimester pregnancy bodycare routine

You're nearly there, Mama! As you enter the last str-e-tch of your pregnancy and your bump fully blossoms, it's important to keep your skin hydrated, nourished and protected as your bump grows during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Supercharged with nourishing, plant-based actives and our iconic, expertly developed Omega Rich Skin Stretch Complex, these are the best bodycare products to help keep your skin supported and moisturised to help extend that head-to-toe Mama glow. If you're looking for a special gift for the Mama-to-be in your life, you can discover our pregnancy bodycare gift sets to help her take some much-needed time out of her busy day and have a well-deserved pamper.

Tummy Rub Butter

You've probably already used our iconic and bestselling Tummy Rub Butter throughout your pregnancy so far, but make sure to keep on using it throughout your third trimester to help keep your skin protected from stretch marks. Expertly formulated to nourish and hydrate growing bumps, this thick body butter is infused with Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and Sweet Almond Oil to deliver results you can both see and feel. Apply this thick, pregnancy safe body cream tice per day massaging from above your boobs to below and all the way around. Choose from our Original and iconic scent, or our limited edition fragrances. There's Tummy Rub Butter for each and every Mama!