Between the hormonal changes and your belly growing bigger, your skin goes through a lot during pregnancy. From stretch marks, and dry skin, to melasma, and frequent breakouts the list goes on.
During this period, keeping your skin properly moisturized is important and natural oils like argan oil are a great option. In this article, you will learn why argan oil is recommended during pregnancy and how to safely use it on your face and body.
About argan oil
Argan oil is a natural oil made from the kernels of the nuts of the argan tree. This oil originates from Morocco and has been used for years in both the culinary and cosmetic industries for its healing and nourishing benefits.
Argan oil is mostly made up of essential fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid) and vitamin E which gives it strong moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Is argan oil safe to use during pregnancy?
Argan oil is used by a lot of women during pregnancy to help deal with stretch marks and keep the skin properly moisturized. It is safe to use during pregnancy as a treatment to prevent stretch marks. This is because argan oil has the ability to boost skin elasticity.
Whether it’s applied to the body or face, the mother and child face no risk except in the case of an allergy. If you are allergic to nuts it is not advisable to apply argan oil to your skin.
Benefits of argan oil for pregnancy
Moisturizer
Argan oil contains essential fatty acids that can help lock in moisture on the skin for better hydration. This is great for preventing skin dryness during pregnancy.
Applying argan oil to your face may also help control excess sebum production caused by hormonal imbalances in the body during pregnancy. It contains oleic acid which helps stabilize the production of oil in the skin.
Anti-inflammatory
Argan oil is a rich source of Vitamin E which is a known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Because the skin on the belly stretches as the baby grows it is common to experience itches caused by stretch marks. Applying argan oil to your belly can help soothe those itches. This also works for inflammatory acne breakouts on the face. Argan oil is light enough to use on your face to soothe irritations caused by breakouts.
Skin barrier repair
Argan oil, in addition to being a moisturizer, also acts as an occlusive. This oil helps limit water loss in the skin but also reinforces the skin’s natural lipid barrier thus reinforcing the skin’s healing ability to heal itself. This makes it a great option when dealing with possible skin irritations that may occur during pregnancy that may fragilize the skin’s barrier.
Is argan oil safe to use on the pregnant belly?
Argan oil is totally safe to use topically directly on the belly during pregnancy to help keep the skin properly moisturized and possibly fade stretch marks.
It helps give the skin more flexibility as it stretches to adapt to the growth of the baby. Using argan oil on your belly during pregnancy can therefore help reduce the risk of micro-tears in skin tissues.
Argan oil has also been proven to have melanin inhibitory properties that help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Argan oil for stretch marks during pregnancy
With recent scientific inquiries on the effectiveness of argan oil for treating and preventing stretch marks, this oil has become the first option for a lot of pregnant women.
Although not many studies on the subject exist, this 2016 study, revealed an argan oil-based cream was proven to increase the skin’s elasticity thus having the potential to prevent the appearance of stretch marks and treat them at an early stage.
During pregnancy, stretch marks are caused by the rapid expansion or stretching of the skin, causing collagen and elastin fibers in skin tissues to tear. Once this happens, tissues repair themselves and leave behind dark scars that appear on the skin as stretch marks. Because argan oil is made up of moisturizing essential fatty acids it can help the skin become more flexible and prevent micro-tears.
How to use argan oil during pregnancy
Argan oil can be applied directly to the skin during pregnancy and presents no risk to the mother and child. It is a lightweight oil as such it absorbs quickly and won’t feel greasy on your skin.
You can apply argan oil to your belly twice a day. Apply it to your belly morning and night to keep your skin nourished right after you step out of the shower on still-damp skin to lock in as much moisture as possible.
Argan oil for the hair during pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect the hair, as such you want to take good care of your hair as well as your skin.
An increase in estrogen levels can either trigger rapid hair growth or cause hair loss. Unfortunately, there is no way to know which you will face and even rapid hair growth during pregnancy may reverse once you have put birth. Adding argan oil to your hair care routine is a great way to nourish your hair properly.
For those who might experience dryness, argan oil is a great hair moisturizer. It helps lubricate and trap moisture within the hair shaft for more supple and soft hair.
Its anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe itchy scalp and will protect your hair from breakage, especially during heat styling.
How to purchase the best argan oil
When shopping for argan oil make sure to get the purest forms available. Go for products that are certified to be 100% organic cold-pressed argan oil.
The label and ingredient list should read 100% Argan Oil or 100% Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (scientific name). This helps guarantee no additives such as fragrance, dyes, or other potentially harmful ingredients have been added to the product.
Keep in mind that pure argan oil has a golden yellow color and a nutty scent and beware of products that have a strong repulsive scent (signs of rancidity) or oils that do not smell at all. In the latter, no scent indicates the oil has been deodorized and may have been heated up during the process resulting in a lower quality.
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Petra Nakashian (previously Kravos) is a dedicated natural health and beauty blogger, driven by the loss of her parents to cancer, which led her to meticulously research beauty product ingredients. With over 10 years of experience, her in-depth knowledge has made her a trusted expert in the field. Founder of Be Healthy Now and Green Beauty Talk, Petra recently expanded her expertise with Beauty Insights Hub, exploring a wider range of beauty treatments. Committed to transparency and honesty, her work is a vital resource for navigating the complex world of beauty.