Rash and itching

Small rashes and associated itching are usually harmless during pregnancy. The skin becomes more irritable due to the high estrogen levels and now also reacts sensitively to substances that previously could be touched or used without reaction. Itching all over the body, with particularly strong sensation on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, is associated with the risk of pregnancy cholestasis.

Stretch marks

Since the skin is very sensitive and irritable during pregnancy, it reacts visibly to stretching in the majority of women – be it due to the baby spreading or pregnancy-related weight gain. The skin changes appear as reddish to red-blue stripes. They mainly appear on the abdomen and breasts, but are also often found on the hips or thighs.

Water retention also causes the skin to become additionally tense and the connective tissue, which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin, is overstrained. This results in cracks that can only heal incompletely. Pain or itching often does not exist, but is possible.

The risk of developing stretch marks increases if the mother has already had this problem. Very rarely do women have a particularly elastic skin, which allows such enormous stretching without cracks in the tissue. After pregnancy, the redness of the stretch marks decreases and the color of the skin gradually fades.

What remains are usually light stripes that are more or less visible. A complete disappearance is unlikely and cannot be brought about with “special creams”. Expectant mothers should not place too much trust in these cosmetic products as they have no proven therapeutic effect. Instead, they should watch their weight after giving birth, eat a healthy diet, exercise and keep their skin moisturized so that it can regenerate.

Pregnancy dermatoses

There are skin diseases that only occur in pregnant women and have their own clinical picture. For example PUPPS, the “pruritic and urticarial papules and plaques during pregnancy”. This means that there is an itchy, square-shaped rash characterized by spots and nodules in the skin.

The disease affects about one in 100 mothers and heals after delivery.It develops in the second half of pregnancy, but the cause of the outbreak has not yet been found. Usually the rash, which starts on the abdomen, is preceded by itching, which increases as the disease progresses. Depending on the severity, the breasts, arms or legs may be affected.

There is no danger for the child. The use of creams against the disturbing itching is recommended. In addition, a therapy with glucocorticoids (drugs that suppress the immune system, e.g. cortisone) can provide relief.

Another pregnancy dermatosis is pemphigoid gestationis. In this very rare disease, antibodies are formed against structures in skin cells, which means that the immune system itself destroys the cells. Clinically, the disease is characterized by swollen, ring-shaped rashes with groups of inflamed blisters.

The affected areas itch extremely. Since the antibodies also reach the unborn child, the latter can also become ill. Pemphigoid gestationis does not represent a life-threatening danger for the child. The rashes heal in the newborn without therapy. Glucocorticoids can also be prescribed for this dermatosis. In addition, the inflammatory areas should be kept dry and regularly disinfected.