Breastfeeding And Your Skin

Breastfeeding & Your Skin & Hair: What Every Mama Should Know

So, you’ve had your baby… pregnancy is over, the sleepless nights are all that was promised and more… and that ‘glow’ of motherhood has yet to arrive.  Instead, you have a mixed bag of dry patches, breakouts, or uneven tone.  Do you feel lied to? You are not alone mama!  

Here’s what you need to know about how breastfeeding affects your skin, especially for black women, and what you can do to glow through the postpartum phase.

1. Hormonal Shifts = Skin Changes

When you’re breastfeeding, your body produces high levels of prolactin and continues to adjust estrogen and progesterone levels. These hormones, while amazing for milk production, often lead to:

• Dry skin and dehydration
• Acne or breakouts (yes, even if you didn’t have acne before)
• Hyperpigmentation and dark patches
• Sensitivity or irritation, especially around the nipples and chest

Thanks to our beautiful melanin, black women may notice more visible uneven skin tone, especially around the mouth, cheeks, and eyes due to melanin-rich skin responding more dramatically to hormonal shifts. 

2. Dehydration Is a Hidden Culprit

Breastfeeding increases your body’s need for hydration, and when you’re not drinking enough water, it shows up on your skin first. Tightness, dullness, and flaking are common.

💧 Glow Tips:

• Use a hydrating cleanser and facial oil rich in omega fatty acids. Look for ingredients like baobab, ceramides, evening primrose, and glycerin — all gentle and effective for thirsty, postpartum skin. Try out the Yummy Twilight treat with all these ingredients
• Seal in Hydration – Our Luxurious Facial Oil (Baobab & Black Seed Oil) helps lock in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, keeping skin plump and nourished.
  
  

3. Breakouts & Oil Overdrive

Your body might go into oil-production mode, especially if you had acne-prone or oily skin pre-pregnancy. Combined with the stress and lack of sleep that come with newborn life, breakouts can show up where you least expect them.

✨ Yummy Fix: Our hydrating cleanser is sulfate-free and gentle enough for sensitive skin, while our niacinamide-rich day cream helps calm redness and prevent new breakouts.

4. Postpartum Hair Loss (Shedding)

Around 3-4 months postpartum, many women experience excessive hair shedding due to falling estrogen levels. This is temporary, but it can feel alarming, especially for women with thick, coily hair textures.

💡 How to Fix It:
✔️ Nourish Your Scalp – Use a lightweight oil like Yummy Beauty’s Castor & Black Seed Oil Blend to strengthen hair follicles and encourage regrowth.
✔️ Protective Styling – Avoid tight hairstyles and opt for loose braids, twists, or satin scarves to prevent breakage.
✔️ Eat Hair-Loving Foods – Include protein, iron, and omega-3-rich foods to support healthy hair regrowth.

5. What Ingredients to Avoid While Breastfeeding

As your body is still connected to your baby, some active skincare ingredients are best avoided, including:

• Retinoids/retinol – not considered safe while breastfeeding
• Salicylic acid in high concentrations
• Hydroquinone or other strong bleaching agents

Instead, look for natural brighteners like black seed oil, niacinamide, and licorice root extract — which support melanin-rich skin and are safer postpartum.

6. Self-Care Is Not Selfish

Your skin is telling a story — of love, fatigue, power, and change. The best thing you can do for it? Treat it with kindness. Even 5 minutes in the morning or before bed with the right products can help you feel like you again.

Final Glow

If you’re a new mom wondering what happened to your glow, know this: your skin will rebalance in time. With the right support and simple rituals, you can nourish your glow through every phase of motherhood.

Hydrate, nourish, and use gentle, baby-safe products to keep your skin and hair thriving!

Yummy Products