Pay attention! Don't blindly treat itchy skin during pregnancy

Pregnancy-specific skin diseases are unique to pregnancy. In mild cases, they can cause constant itching in patients, while in severe cases, they can cause fetal death in the womb, so they must not be underestimated. If you find yourself suffering from a skin disease, you should go to the hospital for examination and treatment immediately. Do not treat it blindly on your own.

1. Pruritus during pregnancy

That is intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, which is manifested by itching in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, or itching and jaundice coexisting. The chest, abdomen and lower limbs are particularly sensitive and in severe cases, rashes - red papules - may occur. Because of cholestasis, the intervillous space of the placenta becomes narrower, affecting the material exchange and oxygen supply between the mother and the fetus, causing intrauterine growth retardation of the fetus, the fetal birth weight is lower than the weight of newborns of the same gestational age, premature birth, stillbirth, and increased perinatal mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease is very important. If intrahepatic cholestasis occurs, you must not take it lightly and must seek medical attention immediately. Of course, the rash and intrahepatic cholestasis will naturally subside after delivery, but the chance of recurrence is still high during the next pregnancy.

Pregnant women should try to wear cotton underwear, as synthetic clothing will irritate the skin and aggravate symptoms. At the same time, you should pay attention to skin cleanliness, do not use alkaline bath soaps, and never scratch the skin to prevent secondary infection.

2. Pruritus during pregnancy

It usually occurs during the 3rd to 4th month of pregnancy. The skin lesions are scattered papules all over the body, accompanied by severe itching, especially at night. After scratching, secondary changes such as epidermal exfoliation and blood scabs often occur. It usually disappears on its own within 3 weeks after delivery, but it will recur in the next pregnancy. If the rash is severe, stillbirth may occur.

3. Herpes during pregnancy

It occurs between the 3rd and 6th months of pregnancy, and begins with symptoms such as general discomfort, fever, and itchy skin. After a few days, lesions such as erythema, papules, and blisters may appear, often gathering in groups and arranged in a ring shape. After the blisters burst, scabs form and pigmentation remains after healing. During pregnancy, the condition often worsens or worsens repeatedly. Sometimes it may be accompanied by proteinuria and hematuria. The rash usually begins to subside around the time of delivery, and sometimes does not heal until the menstruation comes again. The disease is generally not dangerous to the mother, but the risk of stillbirth, congenital anomalies in the baby and neonatal mortality can be as high as 50%.

4. Herpetiformis

It occurs during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It is a rare, acute and critical skin disease that often occurs suddenly. At the beginning, groups of small pustules occur on patches of erythema, and then pustules appear one after another, often arranged in a ring shape. The pustules dry up and form scabs, but new pustules may form on their edges. In severe cases, the whole body may be affected, with systemic symptoms such as chills and fever, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, and proteinuria. Blood calcium levels often decrease, and pregnant women often suffer miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death within a few days after birth.