What skin diseases occur during pregnancy and how to treat them * Diana Clinic in St. Petersburg

Skin diseases during pregnancy

The content of the article

Types and reasons for changes:

Dark spots
. Due to an increase in the level of pigment - melanin, dark spots appear on the skin.
Melasma
. A form of hyperpigmentation, also known as "mask of pregnancy".
Stretch marks
. They can appear by the third trimester and sometimes remain for life.
Pimples.
Even those with clear skin can develop acne during pregnancy, but some forms of treatment for this problem should be avoided by using medications prescribed exclusively by a gynecologist.
Phlebeurysm
. Pathology can develop, but varicose veins often go away after childbirth.

Bottom line

No pregnant woman can protect herself from a rash, because even heat can cause it. If you are sure that it was sweating that caused the rash, then special compresses, keeping the body clean, and moisturizing creams will help. But if formations on the skin appear after eating certain foods, then you cannot do without consulting a doctor, because an allergic reaction is a signal that the liver is not coping with its job. In this case, the doctor will prescribe special medications that will cleanse the body of toxins.

Self-medication is considered dangerous not only for the pregnant woman, but also for the fetus, so following the advice of girlfriends and forums can lead to problems not only with the female body, but also with the baby’s body. This means that in cases where something new appears on the body that is unusual for your body, you should immediately go to the doctor.

Hyperpigmentation

This is the appearance of dark spots on the face or other parts of the body. The phenomenon is caused by an increase in melanin production and goes away after childbirth, but can persist for several years.

An example of hyperpigmentation during pregnancy is melasma, known as “mask of pregnancy,” which is characterized by brown patches on the face, cheeks, nose, and forehead. To solve this problem, you need to consult a dermatologist.

To reduce stains, it is recommended to follow simple rules:

limit your stay on the street during the period of solar activity from 10:00 to 14:00;
in hot weather, use sunscreen with a factor of 30 or higher;
wear a wide-brimmed hat.

What can cause a rash during pregnancy:

- in the early stages

Herpes, rubella, chickenpox, measles - all these diseases are characterized by the appearance of a rash not only on the stomach, but also on other parts of the body. In the first trimester, they often cause the development of pathologies incompatible with life in the fetus and its subsequent death, miscarriage. Pregnancy is extremely difficult, with many complications, which can only be dealt with in a hospital setting and under constant medical supervision. In other cases, the baby is born weakened, lagging behind in development from his peers.

REFERENCE! In addition to the rash, rubella causes fever, nausea and headache. The child may develop partial deafness, cataracts, heart defects, and neurological diseases.

- in later stages

The greatest danger these days is chickenpox. Appearing a few weeks before birth, it can cause neonatal chickenpox in a child - a disease whose complications include encephalitis, pathologies of the respiratory tract, liver and kidneys. These complications can even cause fetal death. But rubella is no longer as dangerous as in the first period of pregnancy. The mother will need to undergo several screening tests to determine whether the baby is at risk of deformities and developmental pathologies. Very rarely do doctors recommend terminating a pregnancy.

ATTENTION! After the 30th week, interruption is prohibited. Therefore, the woman is under special control until the very birth (the rubella virus can cause serious bleeding during these hours).

Inflammation and itching

Itchy papules and plaques cause significant itching, burning or tingling. They vary in size and location. Most often the rash occurs on the stomach, legs, arms, chest or buttocks. They go away after childbirth.

Antihistamines or topical corticosteroids are used to treat inflammation and itching. In everyday life, it is necessary to use warm water when washing, apply cool compresses, wear loose and light clothing and avoid getting soap on skin that has rashes and age spots.

All medications are prescribed by a dermatologist, but they can be taken only after consultation with a gynecologist.

Symptoms

The main symptom of allergic urticaria is a rash on the neck. It has a color from pink to bright red, the size of the spots ranges from 1 mm to 15-20 cm (rare).

In addition to visual signs, the following are observed:

itching;
burning;
weakness;
increased temperature (rarely, with complications);
labored breathing;
allergic conjunctivitis;
rhinitis.

The woman becomes irritable - not everyone can endure the itching for days on end. This may have a negative impact on the unborn child. If the mother is constantly under stress, then the baby will be apathetic and very vulnerable, he will react sharply to all the events that happen in his life.

The danger is that the symptoms listed above are not unique to allergies. A number of diseases have the same symptoms, and these diseases pose a very great danger to the child, sometimes fatal:

rubella;
measles;
dermatosis;
scabies;
chicken pox (extremely rare);
herpes.

Since these pathologies can only be cured with the help of specialists, you cannot independently draw conclusions about the nature of the disease; you need to undergo a full diagnosis.

Photo

The photo below shows one of the pronounced symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Pimples

During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur that lead to acne. There are many ways to treat this problem.

It is necessary to follow general hygiene rules, such as washing your face with warm water and a mild product twice a day, treating the skin with non-aggressive products to prevent clogged pores.

During this period, you can use drugs that include benzoyl peroxide or salicylic, azelaic or glycolic acids.

During pregnancy it is prohibited:

Carry out hormonal therapy
due to the increased risk of congenital pathologies of the fetus;
Use Isotretinoin
(a form of vitamin A, also known as Retinol). This can lead to disturbances in the mental and physical development of the unborn child.
Use Tetracycline
because it affects the formation of the fetal bone skeleton.

What will summer bring to the lives of pregnant women?

Heat rash usually invades the life of an expectant mother during the hot season, when everyone sweats, and pregnant women produce much more sweat, so there is a chance that almost every mother is exposed to this unpleasant formation.

Another cause of prickly heat is considered to be a bandage that is used to support the tummy. It is under this condition that the pregnant woman’s body area sweats more intensely, which leads to the proliferation of bacteria.

We recommend reading: Depression during pregnancy, Colic during pregnancy, Hepatitis C during pregnancy

To protect yourself from prickly heat, it is advisable to wear clothes made from natural fabrics and carry out hygiene measures much more often than in winter.

We also recommend reading: Triple test during pregnancy

Vein changes

Varicose veins often develop during pregnancy.

Spider veins are small red vessels that most often appear on the face, neck and arms. These skin changes occur due to changing hormones and increased stress on the legs, vagina and rectum. They go away after childbirth.

To minimize the risk of developing pathology and alleviate symptoms, you need to take the following precautions:

do not sit or stand for a long time, combine feasible physical activity with rest;
spread your legs when forced to sit for a long time;
Perform seated leg raises whenever possible;
consult with your doctor to select a set of physical exercises to prevent blood stagnation in the vessels;
monitor digestion, avoiding constipation.

Exacerbation

An allergy is nothing more than a protective reaction of the body to exposure to harmful substances. Only when a woman’s immune system is completely healthy, this very defense carefully filters out external factors, giving a negative reaction only in the event of real harm.

With allergies, the protective mechanism fails and reacts to completely harmless irritants:

Food;
textile;
cosmetics;
medicines;
pet hair;
chemicals.

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes global restructuring, which primarily affects the hormonal system. This affects everything, including the immune system.

Note! As a result, after pregnancy, an exacerbation of the disease usually follows; substances that have never caused problems before become allergens.

The rash does not pose a direct threat to the health of the baby and his mother, but some additional factors may cause inconvenience.

Other skin diseases in pregnant women

Less common skin conditions during pregnancy are pemphigoid rash and intrahepatic cholestasis.

Gestational pemphigoid rash
is an autoimmune disease that appears in the second or third trimester or after childbirth. Symptoms of this condition include blisters on the abdomen or other parts of the body. Increases the risk of premature birth or having a low birth weight baby.
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
is a liver condition that appears in the third trimester. It is characterized by severe itching on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet or torso, and occurs without a rash.

If unusual sensations on the skin, itching or rashes appear, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause of the phenomenon and begin treatment on time.

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Localization of the rash:

- on the face

The rash on the face may resemble teenage acne. Actually, that’s what it’s called – acne. Caused by hormonal changes in the body. Of course, she doesn’t add any beauty to her appearance, but she’s not dangerous.

IMPORTANT! If there are a lot of red dots, they merge with each other, the skin peels off, and small white pimples appear in the mouth - this may indicate a dangerous disease such as measles.

- on hands

A rash on your hands may be the first sign of an allergy. Anything can cause it: food, water, washing powder, hand cream. The same list includes plant pollen, fabric from which clothing is made, and dust. It is important to identify the allergen in time and avoid contact with it in the future, otherwise, with repeated contact, the situation may worsen (the rash may be accompanied by itching, sneezing, swelling and a secondary bacterial infection.

REFERENCE! A surge in estrogen in the blood causes the skin on the palms to become very dry and covered with red (or yellow) dots, spots and stars. The point is a persistent dilation of the small vessels of the hands. Liver problems may develop in the future, so visit your doctor immediately.

- on the stomach

Most often, the appearance of a rash on the stomach is caused by hormonal changes in the body. Dermatosis gradually moves from the abdomen to the buttocks, back and thighs, outwardly it looks like a cluster of plaques and nodules that gradually merge with each other.

Tiny small pimples that appear in women on hot days indicate heat rash. Women who are forced to wear a bandage and prefer synthetic fabrics especially suffer from it. Sweating in pregnant women is most often increased, so hygiene procedures should be carried out more often than in winter.

REFERENCE! With scabies, itch tracts are noticeable in the tubercles and pimples, and they themselves constantly itch. The disease is not dangerous for the child and mother, but it is difficult to cure it with folk remedies, so doctors prescribe special antiparasitic drugs.

- on foot

Allergies, dermatosis, various types of infections - they all cause a rash to appear on the legs. The most dangerous infectious diseases are measles, rubella, and chickenpox.

Is rash dangerous during pregnancy?

The rash in the early stages can be extremely dangerous if it occupies a large area of the body and causes severe itching. In this case, the risk of developing a generalized infection and blood poisoning increases.

Consequences for the child

There is a danger to the fetus only in three cases:

mortal threat to the mother (Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock);
improper treatment of allergies;
the rash is caused by an infection that is dangerous for pregnant women;

In other situations, the consequences will not be serious.

As mentioned above, some symptoms of an allergic rash on the neck can cause a lot of discomfort to a woman. This will make her very nervous, show aggression, and experience stress. This will affect the child’s mental state; he may develop apathy and moodiness.

In addition, constant contact of the fetus with certain antibodies can cause the development of congenital allergies - the irritants will be the same substances that caused the disease in the mother. This type of allergy is very difficult to treat.

It is impossible to completely protect yourself from an allergic rash on the neck, but you can reduce the likelihood of developing the disease. To do this, you need to adjust your lifestyle even at the stage of pregnancy planning.

Basic recommendations:

regular examinations at the clinic;
healthy eating;
frequent walks in the fresh air;
wet cleaning of the home and ventilation of premises;
lots of vitamins.

These conditions will allow the immune system to become stronger, which reduces the likelihood of developing not only an allergic rash, but also other diseases.

Diagnostics

An allergic rash has such characteristic symptoms that an experienced doctor will make a diagnosis after a simple visual examination and conversation with the patient (history taking).

During the conversation, the specialist will clarify:

suspected allergen;
well-being;
previous diseases;
lifestyle, including sleep patterns;
diet;
psycho-emotional load.

Usually this is where the examination ends, but in some cases the doctor has doubts about the causes of the rash or a specific allergen.

Then additional examinations are required:

blood test for infections;
analysis for IgE (specific antibodies);
skin tests.

As a rule, this is enough for diagnosis. Please note that there are many more ways to identify allergies and their causes, but they do not apply to pregnant women.

Important! If the methods listed above do not bring results, the doctor may prescribe a biopsy - a piece of skin with redness will be sent to the laboratory for study. The accuracy of this method is 100%, but it is prescribed extremely rarely - it is too much stress for the body.

Prickly heat

If the “interesting situation” coincides with a hot summer, then rashes in the form of small pimples on the stomach may appear as a consequence of prickly heat. This is explained by the fact that women in this position have increased sweating, leading to prickly heat.

Also, some ladies wear a bandage to support their belly and feel comfortable. This promotes excessive sweating. Synthetic clothing or underwear can cause heat rash. Artificial fabrics do not allow air to pass through well. The body sweats more in such clothing, and this causes a rash.

In summer, women should take baths more often. To prevent sweat from accumulating on the body.

Causes of rashes

Allergy

While expecting a baby, the mother’s body “demands” something unusual. Taste preferences change. Ladies eat foods that cause allergies. It's hard to give up the desired goodies. Candy, chocolate, fruits, vegetables and unusual food combinations are used. The body is sensitive at this time and perceives everything differently. If a woman has never had reactions to food, they may appear during pregnancy.

Many people use cosmetics, but are not ready to give it up. Without even suspecting that the rash arose precisely because of the components included in the lipstick or cream. Pets can cause allergies, as well as household detergents, dust, and plants.

Most often, the reaction is caused by foods. This rash is called "urticaria". For a normal person it is not at all dangerous. And for pregnant women, it can cause complications, progress, or lead to infection. If pimples itch, swell and burst, this is

indicates the risk of infection.

To get rid of the manifestations, you need to understand the cause and eliminate it from the body. The doctor will take samples for analysis and, after examining them, will determine the method of therapy.

It is recommended to follow a diet during pregnancy. Increase the amount of foods containing fiber and pectin. If the itching is unbearable, antihistamines and steroids are prescribed. At home, you can apply a cool compress to the itchy area. This will relieve the itching for a while.

How to get rid of a rash

There are useful tips for preventing breakouts. Because it is better to prevent a disease than to treat it.

Maintain good hygiene. Take a shower and bath more often. Go to the bathhouse (but not hot). When washing, use hypoallergenic products.
Limit yourself in consuming foods that cause allergies, even if you really want to. Minimize your use of cosmetics.
Moisturize your body skin - stomach, chest, back, thighs. Pharmacies sell special creams and oils for pregnant women.
Monitor the state of your psyche, as anxiety, nervous tension, and stress can cause a skin rash. If you cannot control your mental state, consult your doctor. He will prescribe mild sedatives.

If rashes have already appeared, take urgent measures to eliminate them. But only after visiting a doctor! Rubbing and compresses with herbal infusions help relieve itching.