“The darker the berry the sweeter the juice.” A phrase that many of us have heard. A phrase that can be interpreted as the more melanin you have the more special you are. Melanin, although everyone has it, is packaged differently in darker skin tones. Melanin gives hair, skin, and eyes their colour; the more melanin the darker those things will be.
Black and brown skin needs extra special care with increased rates of Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) leading to dryness and irritable skin how can we help you to keep your darker skin looking and feeling special?
It can be hard to maintain good skin health in newborns and during your pregnancy if you have a darker tone, as it can be confusing knowing what to use safely but that will still be effective. My Expert Midwife is here to support skin of all shades no what stage of your pregnancy and postnatal journey you are at, and for your gorgeous newborn as well, it’s never too early to start caring for the biggest organ in your body.
Black and brown women have something called melanocytes (melanin-producing cells) in abundance and pregnancy can further increase the volume. Because of this you might experience hyperpigmentation during pregnancy around your areola, abdomen, inner thighs, and armpits, which in truth only shows how special we are! As your body is creating a beautiful brand new life inside, your outer shell shows the obvious changes that are taking place, just a little more obviously.
Other things that happen to your skin during pregnancy can be deeply coloured stretch marks (as Midwives we have seen a rainbow of colours from pale pink to bright red and purple, dark brown and black), that can appear angry and sore when left dehydrated, you may have pregnancy related eczema or flare ups in eczema, dry skin, and rashes. To ensure that the appearance of such skin conditions are not long lasting, it is advised to use a stretch mark serum that can provide hydration and soothing, calming relief.
The same concept applies to newborn skin which is even more vulnerable than that of an adult (in fact approximately 30% thinner) and needs even more specialist skincare products. Research has shown that babies need to be moisturised more frequently than what is often advised, especially babies with darker skin due to those increased rates of TEWL which makes them more prone to dry skin, flaking, and cracking. This is why the Midwives at My Expert Midwife recommend daily skincare become a part of your routine.
Our Baby range of products avoid harmful chemicals, fragrances, and alcohol-based ingredients that can strip and dry their sensitive skin, and may damage their living invisible shield, the microbiome
