For Monroe women expecting a baby, it’s a happy, special, miraculous time of life. It’s also a time of hormonal, emotional, and body changes. What some may not realize is that expecting a baby can also cause dramatic changes to your skin.
Most of the skin conditions can be treated symptomatically and will usually resolve after the pregnancy is over. This article is to make you aware of some of the most common skin conditions that occur during pregnancy, so you’re not alarmed if you see them.
Common Skin Conditions During Pregnancy
Hyperpigmentation: Melanin is naturally produced in the body, but during pregnancy, it’s produced in excess. This can cause dark patches on the skin, usually brown or tan in color. When they appear on the face, it’s called melasma, commonly known as the mask of pregnancy.
Treatment: First, see a dermatologist to make sure it’s melasma. There may be certain creams you can use, either prescription or over-the-counter. It’s also helpful to limit the time you spend in the sun and always use an SPF30 sunscreen whenever you’re outdoors.
Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy or PUPPP: A scary sounding mouthful to say, PUPPP refers to red, pale bumps that may appear on your arms, legs, stomach and buttocks. They may be somewhat uncomfortable, and you may experience itching, burning or stinging sensations. They’re called plaques when they congregate together and form a large area of lesions on your body.
Treatment: Again, it’s important to see the doctor. There are prescription medications available for symptom relief. For at-home relief, you can apply cool, wet cloths to the affected area. You may find it also helps to wear lightweight, loose clothing and avoid using soap on the affected skin areas.
Stretch marks: Stretch marks occur during pregnancy because the skin must stretch quickly to accommodate the rapid growth occurring inside. Initially, they’ll appear slightly red or purple, but over time will become glossy and lose most of their color, usually leaving them white or silver.
Treatment: Treating stretch marks should be postponed until after the birth of your baby. Be aware that oftentimes stretch mark treatments are not very effective, but occasionally laser treatments and some creams may help.
Skin tags: Skin tags can occur at any time on anybody, but are particularly common in women who are pregnant. They’re almost always benign and are typically painless.
Treatment: If they bother you, skin tags can be fairly easily removed by the doctor, either by cutting or burning them off.
Atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, and acne: If you already had any of these skin conditions prior to pregnancy, be aware they could get worse. But take heart, you should see major improvements after the baby is born.
The Bottom Line
Like many of the changes associated with pregnancy, most new skin issues will likely clear up once the baby arrives. If they don’t, or if you feel you need treatment while you’re still pregnant, just be sure to see your doctor. You don’t want to use any treatment or start taking any medication while you’re pregnant without first checking with your physician.