Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy can cause a multitude of changes to your skin. Most will disappear shortly after delivery, but some can be very disconcerting while you’re carrying. While some women experience negative changes, many find that their skin conditions improve with pregnancy, including the most common skin problem, acne. If you are prone to breakouts during menstrual periods you may find an increase in breakouts while you’re expecting.

If you live in cold climates you may be increasingly prone to an increased hormone production can cause temporary discoloration or blotchy skin on the legs. Another discoloration that happens to the facial skin is called chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy.” This causes some women to experience a brownish darkening or uneven marks on the forehead, temples and the middle of your face. At times these marks can appear around the eyes or over the nose. The darkened areas may get even darker when exposed to sunlight so use caution and sunscreen at all times.

One of the pluses of pregnancy is "glowing" skin. This is caused by and increased blood flow including the tiny vessels just beneath the surface of your skin. Pregnancy hormones also cause skin glands to release oil, which may leave your face shiny. The result of these two factors may be a healthy “glow.”

Itchiness, however, is another irritable product of pregnancy. Many pregnant women have itchy skin, particularly around the belly and breasts during the second and third trimesters. This happens as the skin stretches.

Linea nigra or a dark line on the belly is caused when extra pigment in the skin causes a dark line to appear, running from the navel to the pubic area. There can also be an increase of hair in this line or existing hair can darken dramatically. Don’t worry. This fades after delivery.

During the third trimester, your eyelids and face may become puffy because of an increase in blood circulation. This is usually most evident in the morning. While this condition is harmless, if you have puffiness along with a sudden weight increase, contact your health care provider to rule out other potential problems.

Many women perspire more during pregnancy because of the effect that hormones have on the sweat glands. This can increase the chances of getting heat rashes or other rashes related to skin that runs when you walk or perform repeated movements. Later in pregnancy, some women also develop harmless but itchy red bumps on the belly. These bumps may spread to the buttocks, arms and legs. Generally this is uncomfortable, but harmless.

Some pregnant women find that they develop spider veins on their face, neck, upper chest, legs or arms. Spider veins are tiny blood vessels that appear because of increased blood circulation and hormonal changes. These, too, normally go away after delivery.

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