What is pregnancy glow?
Pregnancy glow is the appearance of radiant, glowing skin on your face during pregnancy. It's a real pregnancy symptom that leaves some moms-to-be with a flush-faced and "glowing" appearance.
If a family member or friendly acquaintance says, "You're glowing!" to you while you're pregnant, there's a good chance they're not just saying that to pay a polite compliment. And while yes, you may be so thrilled about your impending arrival that you just can't wipe that smile off your face – which is probably helping contribute to some of that glow – there are medically backed explanations for why your skin may have a flush-faced pregnancy glow to it as well.
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What causes pregnancy glow?
While many people believe that sheer happiness causes pregnancy glow, there are actually several biological factors that contribute to glowing skin during pregnancy:
Surging hormones. All those extra hormones swirling around during pregnancy – namely estrogen, progesterone, and hCG – can give your skin a flushed-face look, which contributes to the glow.
Increased blood flow. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by up to 50 percent to support your organs and your developing baby. More blood in circulation can make your skin look rosier. Some women also tend to have a higher body temperature during pregnancy, which can lead to flushing.
More oil production. Those hormone fluctuations mentioned above also lead to your sebum glands producing more oil during pregnancy, which can make your face look shinier – in a good way! (The downside: Extra sebum production is also what causes pregnancy acne.)
When does pregnancy glow start and end?
Pregnancy glow doesn't necessarily start at a certain time, but you may look and feel most radiant – and begin to notice that flushed-face and glowing pregnancy skin – during the second trimester. There's still a lot going on with fluctuating hormone levels, but the symptoms of early pregnancy that might make you feel icky and dull (like morning sickness and extreme fatigue) have usually started to let up a bit.
The end of pregnancy glow is a little more predictable – it goes away once your baby is born, your hormones start to level off, and your blood flow goes back to normal.
Do all women get a pregnancy glow?
Unfortunately, no, not all women will experience pregnancy glow. As with most things pregnancy-related, every pregnant body is different, and not everyone encounters the same pregnancy symptoms – both good and bad. Some women get flawless and glowing skin, others may not notice a difference, and many will experience significant acne instead.
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Keep in mind that if you don't have pregnancy glow, it doesn't mean there's anything wrong – or that you feel any less glowing about your new arrival on the inside. Similarly, pregnancy glow doesn't indicate anything in particular about your pregnancy (like your baby's sex, for example).
That doesn't mean your skin won't change at all though. Fluctuating hormone levels during pregnancy can not only can make existing skin conditions worse, but they can also lead to:
