I. Overview

How to get rid of the annoying cystic acne when you are expecting a baby, especially on your face? Cystic acne is not rare because this is experienced by a great number of people worldwide. The frequency of people encountering cystic acne varies from a person to another. More frequently, many women have to live together with cysts on their face as well as other parts of their body when they are pregnant. This can further add up to the stress pregnant women have to come to terms with. In this article, we, AllRemedies.com are going to list some of the most common causes, symptoms of cystic acne during pregnancy. Moreover, we are going to provide top 15 effective home remedies for cystic acne, scars, swelling, & how to lessen the situation of cysts forming on both face and body of women during the time they are expecting a baby.

Read more: Are You Embarrassed By Your Pimples & Forehead Acne Skills?

II. Causes Of Cystic Acne During Pregnancy

While a woman has bad skin conditions during the time she is expecting a baby, another is totally fine when she goes through exact the same thing. Scientific studies have pointed out that the women who frequently have cystic acne in their menstrual cycle have the tendency to develop bad cystic acne during pregnancy. However, it is not necessarily true for everyone.  Nonetheless, there exist some common factors which can trigger cystic acne in many pregnant women as follows:

• Hormonal changes: During pregnancy, many women develop skin problems such as rashes itchy skin, and even cystic acne on their face owing to hormonal changes in their body. This is made possible by the fact that the hormones called androgens witness a growth in the body, which can result in more sebum production in the pores of the skin. Quite frequently, pregnant women have more oily and waxy skin texture as compared to the normal ones. The excessive production of oil might clog pores, thus paving the way for bad bacteria and more inflammation to form under the skin, and cystic acne breakouts are inevitable.
• Certain kinds of foods in the diet, especially seafood: A lot of women have problems when they consume seafood such as fish, lobster or crab. This is brought about by the fact that these foods contain a lot of salt and iodine. Other people, however, develop an allergic reaction after eating soy, peanut, wheat, or even milk and egg. A lot of spices in a diet can also trigger an allergy in many cases. In order to provide enough nutrients for a growing baby inside, many women try to eat a lot, but they do not bear in mind that the foods they consume can be the culprit for the bad breakouts in their face and body.
• Allergic reactions to chemicals or cosmetics: Many of beauty products, ranging from hair care to skin care, have the potential to cause allergies on the face when they come into close contact with people’s skin, especially pregnant women as their body is quite sensitive to synthetic ingredients. There are certain artificial components in these products which their body cannot come into terms with.
• External factors, specifically environmental factors: Some changes in weather may be the culprit for skin breaking out in cysts in many pregnant women. Moreover, some other factors such as air conditioner or oven, which trip off the necessary moisture of the skin can also result in cystic acne in women during pregnancy.
• Some types of prescriptions: In some cases, pregnant women notice a bad reaction to some types of medications or functional foods they are prescribed to promote their overall health. This is known as a side effect when the pills are working to treat some problems. Some of the pills including antibiotic or antifungal are possible to create a change in the body, thus resulting in rashes, bumps as well as cystic acne, especially on the face area.

Get more: 31 Ways How to Remove Acne Scars From Face Fast at Home

III. Symptoms Of Cystic Acne During Pregnancy

When pregnant women encounter some of the factors listed below, quite often, cystic acne starts to appear on their face as well as some parts of the body. Having said that, face skin is the most noticeable part, and bumps and cysts in this area often bring about the most discomfort. Not only do they hurt physically, but they also make a woman who suffers hesitate to do daily activities they are familiar with. Some other symptoms of cystic acne include:

• Big cysts form under the skin
• Swollen face
• Redness and Hyperpigmentation
• Dry and peeling skin
• Itchy skin
• Bumps or blisters

Check more: 32 Natural Face Masks For Acne Scars At Home

IV. Top 15 Effective Home Remedies For Cystic Acne, Scars, & Swelling On Face While Pregnant

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1. Oatmeal Face Wash And Mask

When it comes to treating cystic acne, one of the most popular home remedies for cystic acne is to opt for oatmeal. Besides providing the body with good nutrients, oatmeal is capable of dealing with small and moderate skin problems including cysts in pregnancy. This is because this ingredient contains a lot of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory contents, paving the way for it to cure the bad bacteria existing in case of a breakout. ^[1] All you need to do is to mix a cup of oats with warm water well, then apply the mixture directly on your face. You can massage it gently in a circular motion in 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off completely. Another way to exploit the benefit of oat is to use it as a face mask for around 20 minutes. In order to achieve the best possible results, remember to use this technique once every day, especially before you go to bed.

Learn more: 55 Foods That Cause Acne Breakouts In Adults

2. Apple Cider Vinegar As A Toner

Being renowned for its various benefits from aiding digestion, providing vitamin C to the body and promoting hair growth, apple cider vinegar can also do your face skin a favor when it comes to acne breakout during the time you are pregnant. When your skin reacts badly to certain cosmetics and changes in the environment, the pH level of it has been damaged to some extent. Apple cider vinegar, however, helps regulate the pH level, therefore your skin can gradually normalize on its own. Moreover, its anti-inflammatory characteristic provides your itchy skin a relief ^[2].

In order to get the proven advantages from apple cider vinegar, you had better dilute the vinegar in the same amount of water before applying on your face as directly putting vinegar on the skin is too harsh.

See also: 50 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar For Health And Beauty

3. Coconut Oil As A Moisturizer

One of the most effective yet simple home remedies for cystic acne breakout, scars, & swelling on the face and other parts of the body is coconut oil. The proven benefits of this oil have been widely recognized for centuries, and in a modern world, oil from coconut is still utilized on a popular basis to treat many skin conditions, particularly cystic acne during pregnancy. The reason why coconut oil is capable of soothing inflammatory skin is that it comprises of fatty acids known as medium-chain ones. These are extremely beneficial in treating inflammation and injuries. Furthermore, coconut oil can bring back the moisture to your facial skin, thus help to regulate the balance after you develop a bad skin reaction. Simply moisturizing your face with coconut oil every night you go to bed instead of the normal cream, which is full of synthetic chemicals, you can hope that your cystic acne will gradually diminish even when your hormones are changing during pregnancy.

Read also: 49 Amazing Benefits of Coconut Oil for Health and Beauty

4. Benefit From Neem Leaves

Neem is a tree originated in ancient India. Back to the old days, ancient people utilized neem for beauty purposes as a therapeutic herb. The anti-inflammatory agent coupled with the antimicrobial properties that neem has ^[3] certainly give your skin a relief after being damaged to some certain extent by hormonal changes when you are expecting a baby. If you want to use neem as one of the effective home remedies for cystic acne scars & swelling while pregnant, especially on your face, you should boil a handful of neem leaves in hot water, and let it cool down for 20 minutes. After that, use this liquid to wash your face every other day to notice a positive change on your skin condition. This method can also reduce some skin problems such as acne or eczema.

5. Sesame Seed Oil As A Treatment

Besides making the dishes taste heavenly with its strong smell, sesame seed oil is able to provide your inflammatory skin a relief from big pimples when you are pregnant as this is one of the all-natural home remedies for cystic acne. Under many circumstances, those who opt for sesame oil when they are suffering from skin breakouts caused by hormonal changes notice improvements after using this oil ^[4]. This is because sesame also contains many soothing ingredients, which help with redness and inflammation. By using this oil as a moisturizer or a face massage on alternate days, your situation will get better and better with time.

Get also: 15 Benefits of Sesame Oil for Skin Care

6. Use Lemon Juice

Many people already know this method of using lemon as a treatment for skin conditions. In case of an inflamed skin, the anti-irritant, and anti-inflammatory features of lemon can help tremendously to restore the natural balance of the skin ^[5]. Moreover, it is always available and cost-effective throughout the year. Therefore, lemon is certainly one of the top home remedies for cystic acne everyone should give a try when they have cystic acne while pregnant.

The trick is simple. By squeezing one or two lemons or limes, then dipping a cotton pad in the juice which you have just made, and applying it directly on to the problematic area, you can hope that the feeling of itchiness will reduce and go away very soon. You should follow this trick twice a day to have the best results.

See also: 22 Best Ways on How to Use Lemon for Darkcircles

7. Opt For Almond Oil

Another type of oil which you can incorporate into the list of natural home remedies for cystic acne and skin breakouts during pregnancy is almond oil. This kind of oil can sooth your skin massively, and it can also moisturize your skin extremely well. Your skin will thank you when it is hydrated with the amazing almond oil. The anti-inflammatory contents, especially omega 3 found in almond oil can speed up the process of healing for the skin ^[6].

You can apply essential almond oil directly on your face when you notice itchy skin is forming in some parts. Just gently massage and leave it overnight to let the oil do the trick.

8. Honey Helps Sooth The Skin

It is not much of an exaggeration that honey is one of the best gifts nature has granted human beings. The benefits of honey are acknowledged for a very long time. In terms of treating skin conditions, especially cystic acne in pregnant women, honey proves to be super effective. Honey can also speed up the healing power of your skin, thus reduce the symptoms caused by some allergic factors ^[7].

You might want to take some pure honey, ideally manuka honey to apply directly on the troubled area as kind of home remedies for cystic acne. You can also heat it up a little bit, leave it on your skin from 15 to 20 minutes before gently washing it off. You will be left with smoother and less red skin.

Read more: 25 Health And Beauty Benefits Of Manuka Oil

9. Cold Compress Helps Reduce Itchiness

Another old but gold one among home remedies for cystic acne to use when you are the victim of skin breakout during your pregnancy is cold compress. It is a fact that a drop in temperature can reduce the inflammation and redness of the skin. The ice pack is able to calm down the skin, thus gives time for your body to get rid of the allergies. So the next time you have a bad cystic acne breakout, go to your fridge, take some ice cubes and wrap them in a towel then press them nicely on your skin. You will be amazed by how quick and effective this simple method can be.

10. Aloe Vera Helps Soothes The Skin

Having been used as a natural remedy for many years, aloe vera is often called ‘The Miracle Plant.’ It is also one of the top 15 natural home remedies for cystic acne scars & swelling on face in pregnant women at home. Any skin trauma or irritation will be healed with this amazing plant because it assists in soothing and reducing inflammation. In order to let your big cysts diminish without using any topical creams or lotions, which can cause side effects for your beloved baby, aloe vera is a really good treatment in deed. Simply extracting the gel from fresh aloe vera leave then applying it onto your problematic area is what experts recommend to treat your breakouts during pregnancy.

Check more: Top 24 Simple Ways On How To Use Aloe Vera For Acne

11. Incorporate Turmeric In Your Face Mask

For any women who are waiting to give birth to their beloved baby, turmeric is a life saver. It is famous for the extremely wonderful ability to fade acne scars and hyperpigmentation, and it can treat cystic acne as well. Thanks to the complexion enhancing content as well as anti-inflammatory properties packed in turmeric, this ingredient has been utilized for many generations to promote skin health and prevent stretch marks, especially in pregnant women. All you need to do is mixing a tablespoon of turmeric powder with water well to form a paste then apply it directly onto your face and other parts of the body such as your back where big cysts are formed. After that, you should wash it off nicely and gently using purified water. One thing you should bear in mind is that turmeric can leave stains on your clothes, so be careful not to drop any of the mixture on your garments.

Read more: Top 17 Easy Ways On How To Use Turmeric For Boils On Body & Face

12. Lavender Essential Oil As A Spot Treatment

Another one among home remedies for cystic acne while pregnant which is quite popular is lavender essential oil. It is beyond the shadow of a doubt that the antioxidant, antimicrobial contents, as well as the ability to balance oil production packed in lavender essential oil are noticeable, which make this oil a perfect treatment for acne as well as acne scars in pregnant women ^[8]. One thing to keep in mind is that essential oils in general, and lavender essential oil, in particular, is highly concentrated, therefore you should apply a small amount in the area such as your arm or neck to check whether you develop a bad reaction or allergy to this oil. If everything is fine, just use lavender oil as one of home remedies for cystic acne and spot treatment for your annoying cystic acne.

Learn also: 29 Benefits of Lavender Oil for Hair, Skin, and Health

13. Practice Yoga To Reduce Stress Level

It is a fact that stress and anxiety can be a massive factor causing many women to break out during the time they are pregnant. Therefore, some tactics to reduce the level of stress should be implemented if they want clearer skin. One of the most popular ways to lower stress and anxiety is to take up yoga as a part-time pursuit. By practicing yoga, you are mindful of your presence, and you can focus on your moments instead of worrying about the future. This can genuinely reduce the chances of you having more cystic acne brought about by hormonal changes. Yoga is very suitable for those who are pregnant as it is gentle, and it cannot cause any possible physical injuries as compared to aerobics or gymnastics. However, you should remember to wash your face afterward to prevent bacteria and dirt from building up in your pores.

See more: There's A Yoga Pose For Every Health Problem You May Experience

14. Change Your Pillow Cases And Towels Often

One of the most popular factors of acne but remains unaware by many people is hygiene. In case of acne breakouts, it is highly recommended that you keep your pillowcases and towels clean by washing them regularly, maybe once or twice per week. This can help tremendously with your cystic acne because washing these can prevent dirt and bacteria, which build up during your sleep.

Get more: 28 Best Natural Acne Cures at Home That Work Fast

15. Stay Hydrated And Eat Healthily

Diet plays a pivotal role in both the physical and mental well-being of people, especially when you are having a baby. If you want to have glowing and clear skin, staying hydrated is essential because water is able to flush out the toxins from your system, paving the way for a healthier body. Moreover, try to add more vitamins and minerals to your body by consuming vegetables and fruits. These will provide your body with necessary nutrients, which are beneficial to you and your baby.

In conclusion, cystic acne can be extremely painful and uncomfortable for pregnant women owing to some certain factors we have listed above. Using topical creams, lotions, or acne prescription can speed up the process of skin healing. However, it is so risky during pregnancy. By using consistently some of the top 15 effective home remedies for cystic acne scars & swelling while pregnant we have provided, your annoying cysts will gradually diminish. Thus, your clear skin will be brought back. If you have any further tips, tricks, and home remedies for cystic acne, feel free to share with us!