Hormonal acne, dryness, pigmentation — new moms face more than sleepless nights.
Stretch marks and sleepless nights aren’t the only things women face after giving birth. For many new mothers, the postpartum period brings a whole new set of challenges — and one of the least talked about is what happens to your skin.
“Postpartum skin issues are incredibly common, yet so few people talk about them,” says a spokesperson for Sanosan, the trusted baby and mother skincare brand known for its high-quality products with a focus on natural ingredients. “New moms are often surprised by how dramatically their skin changes — from dry, flaky patches and pigmentation, to oiliness and breakouts that make them feel like they’re going through puberty again.”
It all comes down to hormones. During pregnancy, elevated levels of oestrogen and progesterone help your skin look and feel great — often giving rise to the famous “pregnancy glow”. But once your baby is born and hormone levels plummet, your skin can be left feeling dull, dry, and irritated.
Here are some of the most common skin changes postpartum:
- Dryness and dehydration: A drop in oestrogen can impair your skin’s ability to retain moisture, leading to dryness, flaking, and itching. Breastfeeding can make it worse, as it pulls more water from the body.
- Pigmentation (melasma): Hormonal changes can cause lingering dark patches, especially on the face. While some of these may fade naturally, others can persist long after childbirth.
- Hormonal acne: Breakouts, especially around the jawline and chin, are common as hormones fluctuate. The stress and exhaustion of early motherhood can also exacerbate flare-ups.
- Loss of elasticity and stretch marks: The skin around the belly, breasts, and thighs stretches rapidly during pregnancy. After delivery, it can take time — and support — for the skin to bounce back.
While you can’t control your hormones, you can take steps to support your skin’s recovery. According to Sanosan, the key is gentle care and hydration.
“Many new moms are tempted to use harsh scrubs or active ingredients to ‘fix’ their skin quickly, but this often makes things worse. Your skin needs time, nourishment, and support — just like the rest of your body after birth.”
Here are a few expert-approved tips:
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser rich in natural oils and humectants like glycerin. Apply it immediately after bathing to lock in moisture.
- Be sun smart: Pigmentation can worsen with sun exposure. Wear a daily SPF, even in winter, especially if you’re dealing with melasma.
- Keep it simple: Avoid skincare products with strong acids, retinoids, or alcohols while your skin is recovering. Gentle is best — especially if you’re breastfeeding and your baby’s skin is coming into contact with yours.
- Focus on elasticity: Products containing natural lipids and vitamins can help support the skin barrier and improve elasticity over time. Massage into areas prone to stretch marks to improve blood flow and recovery. Use products like the Sanosan Anti Stretch Mark Oil to keep skin supple – it contains essential omega-3 (linolenic acid), omega-6 (linoleic acid) and omega-9 fatty acids (oleic acid). Omega fatty acids are essential; the body cannot produce them itself. The oils preserve moisture in the skin, are easily absorbed and soften the skin.
- Don’t stress the timeline: According to recent studies, over 60% of women say they still experience postpartum skin issues six months after birth. It’s not a quick fix – the fourth trimester is real — and skin recovery is part of that process.
Perhaps the most important message for new moms? You are not alone.
Too often, women feel guilty for caring about how they look after birth. But wanting to feel comfortable in your skin again doesn’t make you vain — it’s part of healing. Taking care of your skin can be a small but powerful act of self-care in a time that’s otherwise all about giving.
So whether it’s dryness, dark spots or stubborn breakouts — know that it’s normal. With the right care, your skin will find its balance again.
Now available in South Africa, Sanosan is a German family-owned company specializing in baby, mama, and kid skincare products, focusing on natural ingredients and gentle formulas for healthy skin. They emphasize quality, safety, and sustainability in their products, aiming to provide the best care for babies, children, and mothers. Using active ingredients specially tailored to your baby’s skin, natural milk protein is the central ingredient in Sanosan and is especially nourishing. More than 90 % of the ingredients are of natural origin such as organic olive oil, and the formulations are biodegradable.
Safety first: all products are clinically tested and are free from parabens, silicones, paraffins, SLS / SLES and phenoxyethanol.
Sanosan is available from Clicks Baby and Online stores, takealot.com, Makro Online
When creating their formulas, Sanosan pays the utmost attention to a high proportion of natural ingredients. They only use active ingredients that are specially tailored to your baby’s skin. Natural milk protein is the central ingredient in Sanosan and is especially nourishing for the skin. Precious substances like organic olive oil and organic olive extract complement these formulations.
Sanosan stands for:
Healthy skin
More than 90% natural ingredients
Biodegradable formulas
Responsible attitude towards our environment
