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Pregnancy

Skin Changes In Pregnancy: The Third Trimester

Skin Changes In Pregnancy: The Third Trimester
Heleayner Davies
Writer and expert2 years ago
View Heleayner Davies's profile

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.

From itching skin during pregnancy to stretch marks and swollen legs, discover our plant-based, cruelty-free and nourishing bodycare to help keep your skin hydrated, refreshed and supported as your skin changes in pregnancy. 

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.

pregnant woman holding bump

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!

Trimester Three Bundle

During the third trimester, as your elastin fibres continue to stretch, keep your boobs hydrated, soothed and soft with our Pregnancy Boob Tube and keep your bump nourished with our best-selling Tummy Rub Butter and Tummy Rub Oil. If you're preparing to push, push, push, get your perineum ready for birth with our Push Partner Perineum Massage Oil. Designed for use from 34 weeks, our expertly formulate, lightweight, silky oil helps encourage the skin around your perineum to stretch more easily during labour.

Push Partner Perineum Oil

If you're just looking to prep, let's take a dive into the details of our Perineum Oil! Infused with a 100% natural blend of delicate oils including Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Rosehip Oil to help Mama relax, our lightweight oil helps make the massage process much easier. Charged with our Omega-Rich Skin Stretch Complex, this fragrance-free perineum oil is clinically proven* to help increase skin's elasticity, helping to keep you skin soft and supple for when the time comes when you're ready to push, push, push!

Lucky Legs Refreshing Spritz

During the third trimester, your legs can become tired, swollen and achy due to your growing baby bump! Specially designed for when you can't reach your toes, the 360 degree nozzle allows your to spray this cooling mist upside down. Supercharged with Aloe Vera, Chamomile Extract and Menthol Crystals to help provide instant refreshing relief.

Heleayner Davies
Writer and expert
View Heleayner Davies's profile
Heleayner is an Online Content Editor with over four years' experience in the beauty industry. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Beauty Promotion and has interned at a number of media publications including British Vogue, Elle and Stylist. She has a passion for all things skincare, fragrance and loves being in nature.
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