3 Types Of Rashes That Occur During Pregnancy – Symptoms & Treatments
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Pregnancy calls for a number of changes to occur in your body, hair, skin, weight and appearance.
Most women flaunt a beautiful glow on their face during pregnancy, thanks to the healthy eating and of course the excitement as the and joy. However, the glow is not the only change that you will observe in your skin. Sometimes you may also experience dark patches on the skin, unusual hair growth, rashes, acne, stretch marks and worsening of some existing skin conditions.
What Causes These Skin Changes During Pregnancy?
As for most conditions during pregnancy, hormones are to blame for the skin issues too! During pregnancy, levels of estrogen and melanocyte-stimulating hormone shoot up and create many changes in the women’s body. Conditions like hyperpigmentation are a result of melanocyte cells that are beneath the skin and its concentration decides the degree of skin pigmentation.
Rashes During Pregnancy
The skin is one of the most delicate parts of our body and any changes in the skin are noticed very soon. Also, skin irritations, itching, redness and rashes are common causes of concern for most pregnant women.
There are three broad classifications of rashes during pregnancy:
- Specific Dermatosis (skin disorders) (only occur in pregnant women)
- Miscellaneous rashes (which can occur irrespective of pregnancy)
- Itching and irritation without any visible rashes.
a. Specific Dermatitis Of Pregnancy:
These skin issues are quite common for most pregnant women; they occur only during pregnancy. So, if you experience any of the below symptoms, don’t wait; consult your doctor immediately.
PUPPP (Pruritic Urticarial Papules And Plaques Of Pregnancy):
One of the most common dermatitis conditions during pregnancy. According to studies this condition could be a result of fetal cells invading the mother’s skin cells. The condition is marked by raised bumps or dark red spots; they itch strongly. The rash during pregnancy starts from the stomach area and spreads up to the thighs sometimes even seen around arms and buttocks.
This rash generally develops when the pregnancy is around 34 weeks old and then disappears after the delivery. This condition doesn’t cause any harm to the mother or the baby and can be treated by applying topical ointments recommended by your doctor.
Herpes Gestationis:
This is a rare condition of the skin acquired by pregnant women. The symptoms of this condition include moderate to severe rashes with itching and raised dots, bumps or watery blisters. It is usually seen around the middle of the abdomen region and also around the arms and legs.
Sometimes the infection may spread to the entire body as well. This skin infection can prove to be very fatal where the mother can develop necrosis, that is the breakdown and death of the affected skin or kidney damage. Proper diagnosis and treatment is a must to avoid serious implications.
Impetigo Herpetiformis:
This is a rare but serious skin infection generally seen during pregnancy. It is marked by the formation of small blisters filled with pus and these are generally seen in clusters. These blisters appear around the groin region, underarms and the fold of knees and elbows.
The old blisters dry and fall off after a few days and new blisters develop. This pregnancy rash needs to be diagnosed and treated immediately as it can lead to maternal death and stillborn baby too. Early diagnosis and an intensive treatment are required to treat this condition.
b. Non Specific Rashes During Pregnancy:
These skin diseases are can appear irrespective of pregnancy. These rashes can be triggered due to allergies, medicines, viral infection, insect bites and so on. During pregnancy care should be taken to diagnose the reason of the rash as it may have harmful effect on the pregnancy.
c. Itching Without Rashes During Pregnancy:
Pregnant women can sometimes experience some mild itching even without rashes. Some women experience these rashes during the third trimester and a doctor can suggest appropriate treatment for the same. This is nothing to worry, so you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy.
[ Read: Itching During Pregnancy ]
Though most rashes are normal for most pregnant women, it is best to be discussed with your doctor. Do not go for self-medication, as it may not be same as a regular rash that a non-pregnant individual experiences. Diagnosis and treatment by your doctor are the only ways to avoid the skin infection from spreading and causing any harm to you and your baby.
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