Zoe didn't have acne as an adult, but she got it when she was pregnant. Before that, she only had some acne when she was a teenager. She also had some minor skin problems as an adult, but they were not serious. When she got pregnant, her skin changed.

Many pregnant women have skin problems. They can get acne, feel bloated, and be hungry all the time. Zoe's skin was not smooth anymore, it was rough and bumpy.

At four weeks pregnant, Zoe's skin started to change. It felt rough and bumpy, and she had clogged pores on her jawline, chest, and back.

For a few weeks, Zoe's skin was just rough, but then she started to get spots. The clogged pores got inflamed and caused painful cysts and whiteheads. Picking at them made it worse. The worst time was at 12 weeks pregnant.

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Zoe's skin was bumpy and rough on her chest and back.

Zoe didn't want to wait for her hormones to settle down, so she asked for help. As a beauty editor, she knows many skin experts. She wanted to know how to clear her acne, and she didn't want to be told to just wait until her baby was born.

A skin specialist, Dr. Ellie Rashid, helped Zoe. Dr. Rashid is a mom and a skin expert, so Zoe thought she would have good advice.

Dr. Rashid looked at Zoe's skin and said it was just acne, not a fungal infection. She said Zoe didn't have to wait for the acne to go away on its own, and she could use some treatments.

Azelaic acid is a gentle treatment that helps with acne and redness.

Low-dose salicylic acid helps to clear pores and prevent breakouts.

Vitamin C helps to make the skin look brighter and supports collagen.

Niacinamide helps to balance the skin's oil and shrink pores.

Glycolic acid and AHAs help to smooth the skin's texture.

Benzoyl peroxide helps to control acne-causing bacteria.

Dr. Rashid said that hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and shea butter are safe to use during pregnancy.

Retinoids are not safe to use during pregnancy because they can cause vitamin A toxicity.

High-dose salicylic acid is not safe to use during pregnancy.

Some essential oils can be bad for the skin in high concentrations.

Zoe's skin looked bad when she had acne, but it got better after treatment.

Zoe asked Dr. Rashid if there were other treatments she could try. Dr. Rashid said that topical antibiotics like clindamycin could be used if other treatments didn't work.

Zoe used a topical antibiotic and azelaic acid treatment, and her acne got better.

Now, Zoe is happy to say that her acne is almost gone. She used her treatments consistently, and it took a few weeks to work. She's glad she didn't have to deal with skin scarring.

Zoe says that pregnant women should not suffer with acne, they should talk to their doctor about options.

Zoe shares the products she used to help her skin.

CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser is a gentle cleanser that helps to smooth the skin.

Medik8 Clarity Peptides 10% Niacinamide-Infused Peptide Serum helps to improve the appearance of dull skin.

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is a gentle exfoliant that helps with skin texture.

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 is a mineral sunscreen that is safe to use during pregnancy.

CeraVe Blemish Barrier Patches are patches that help to calm redness and shrink spots.

Zoe used the CeraVe Blemish Barrier Patches to help her skin, and they worked well.