The Treatment Serum I’m Using to Help Tackle My Pregnancy Pigmentation
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
Pregnancy is a major time for change, not only for your life, but for your skin, and as a Dermal Therapist, I see so many skin issues pop up for women who are growing a baby.
In fact, a lot of people don’t realise really common skin concerns for pregnancy can often include things like hormonal acne, an increase in sensitivity and/or dehydration.
An increase in hyperpigmentation is also super common.
It's something I’ve personally dealt with throughout all of my pregnancies and it's something I've been treating throughout my current pregnancy too.
You see, when you’re pregnant, your body will go through some major hormonal fluctuations (which I often like to describe to people as feeling like wild PMS - but for nine months) and these hormonal changes can excite our melanocyte cells (the cells responsible for producing pigment) - so both estrogen and progesterone can play a role.
So what does this mean?
It means these hormonal fluctuations can lead to darker freckles, moles and worsening of brown patches on the face (which is often melasma) and honestly, while not uncommon, they can be super hard to treat - especially while pregnant.
This is where skincare for hyperpigmentation comes in...
Best Products for Hyperpigmentation.
While an increase in pigmentation during pregnancy often is unavoidable, it can be super tricky to get on top of when common skincare ingredients such as vitamin A and/or skin lighteners such as hydroquinone are advised to be avoided.
However, pigmentation during pregnancy can still be managed with regular gentle skin treatments and the right skincare products. (Plus, once the baby is born you can tackle it a little more head-on too.)
Now, back to some pigmentation-fighting pregnancy skincare…because, it exists.
Enter, PCA skin pigment gel pro.
What Is PCA Skin Pigment Gel?
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro 29ml was released at the end of last year, and it was formulated to reduce the look of hyperpigmentation while additionally brightening the skin - without the use of hydroquinone.
What's the best thing about this serum that helps with skin hyperpigmentation?
It's a super effective pigment-blocking serum that is safe to use during pregnancy.
Here's some more fast facts about the pca skin pigment gel:
- A pigment-blocking serum that's been formulated for all skin types.
- This hyperpigmentation treatment is pregnancy safe and doesn’t contain any strong chemical exfoliants.
- The pca skin gel doesn’t feel spicy on the skin - meaning it can be used both morning and night.
PCA Skin Pigment Gel Pro ingredients:
- Hexylresorcinol: Helps improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
- Purified Licorice Root Extract: A highly purified form of licorice containing 95% glabridin, and is responsible for inhibiting hyperpigmentation (also nice and gentle for pregnancy!)
- Tranexamic Acid: Another ingredient that can inhibit melanin (the substance in your body that creates pigmentation) synthesis.
- Lactic acid, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid: All of which additionally brighten, soothe and hydrate the skin.
My PCA Skin Pigment Gel Review.
The PCA Skin Pigment Gel serum was released at exactly the same time my doctor told me to stop using the pigment serum I was using during pregnancy (perfect timing).
The clinical before and afters spiked my interest too.
The texture of the serum is like a mid-weight gel consistency and works so well under makeup and layered alongside other serums morning and night.
However, the scent does smell a little…clinical. I’m not sure there is another way to describe it.
It's a minor detail (I am also insanely pregnant at the moment so every smell slightly tips me over the edge).
However, I have been ok with it for over seven months now and I’m sure if I wasn’t pregnant it would be fine.
Is this the best serum for hyperpigmentation?
I’ve loved the way it has brightened my skin and helped to keep my pigmentation under wraps.
However, as a Dermal Therapist, I know that pigmentation requires a multi-faceted approach, and no skin will or can rely on one serum alone.
So alongside staying out of the sun and never being without my SPF, this pigment blocker, vitamin C and gentle exfoliants as well as regular clinical treatments is how I’ve been keeping my pregnancy pigmentation at bay - no matter how wildly my skin has fluctuated during the second and third trimesters (which has honestly been a lot).
It’s also felt perfectly fine to use post-clinical treatments, which has been very important for me too.
Final Thoughts…
Yes, this is a spendy serum, but I am a big believer in investing when you need it and PCA Skin have delivered with this pigment blocker.
Perhaps, if you aren’t pregnant and can invest your money into other stronger ingredients and/or products to tackle pigmentation then you might not need a pigment blocking serum like this.
But, if you're after a pregnancy-safe product that will help you tackle dark spots and hyperpigmentation head-on alongside your other skincare fighters, then this is the perfect product for you.
Keen for some more pigmentation skincare stories? Check out these articles below!
