There are 3 general categories of skin conditions that are associated with pregnancy:
1- Benign skin conditions related to normal hormonal changes
2- Pre-existing skin conditions that change during pregnancy
3- Pregnancy-specific Skin disorders.
Benign skin changes which are induced by the normal hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy include; striae gravidarum (Stretch marks) which occur in up to 90% of women.
Hyperpigmentation which is more pronounced in darker skinned women, scars and nevi also may darken. The linea nigra is the line that often forms when the abdominal linea alba darkens during pregnancy and this appears as a midline dark line starting above the ubilicus and extending to the pubic bone. Also, Melasma (The mask of pregnancy) which occurs in up to 70% of pregnant women mainly in sun exposed areas like the cheeks and face.
Hair, nail, and vascular changes as either an increase or decrease in growth and production of hair is common during pregnancy, blood vessels can prolifirate and become congested and little Spider telangiectasias may appear in the neck, face and arms. Vascular changes include varicosities which occur in about 40 % of pregnant women.
Pre-existing skin conditions: Such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, candidal and other fungal infections, cutaneous tumors including molluscum fibrosum gravidarum and malignant melanoma may change during pregnancy. Skin problems like atopic dermatitis & psoriasis can worsen or improve during pregnancy.
Finally, Pregnancy-Specific Dermatologic Disorders:
This is just a list that includes a simple description of these skin disorders, if you suspect you may have one please contact your doctor as some may have a negative outcome on the baby.
Prurigo of pregnancy: This occures in 1 : 300 pregnancies, the cause may be related to gall stones but may not be. This appears as reddish nodules on the extensor surfaces of arms and legs.
Pimiphigoid Gestationis: This skin disorder has been found to be associated with some auto-immune disorders. It appears as vesicles or plaques that start around the umbalicus and spread sparing the face and mucous membranes.
Impetigo herpetiformis : This is a form of pustular psoriasis that occurs in the 2nd trimester, medical attention is always required due to infections and increase fetal risk.
Puppp: Pruritic Urticalial Papules Of Pregnancy is the most common pregnancy-specific skin disorder, occurring in one out of 130 to 300 pregnancies.These are itchy papules that usually begin on the abdomen along stria and frequently invlove extremeties while sparing the face.
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: These are excoriations that result from gallbladder disease. Medical attention is a must in this case.
Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy: This occurs in the second and third trimesters and presents as erythematous follicular papules and sterile pustules. Its causes are unkown and there are no negative fetal outcomes associated with it.(AFP Volume 75, Number 2, January 15, 2007 )
Learn more about this author, Iman Ashour.
