Itchy Skin During Pregnancy
Author: SmnaGiving birth to a new life is the most satisfying and blissful experience that a woman feels. Although pregnancy comes with infinite happiness, expectant mothers encounter a lot of pain and problems in the process. One of the common problems faced by a pregnant woman is itchy skin, especially during third trimester. Itchy skin can be the result of many factors such as increasing size of belly or breasts, hormonal changes, and so on. The skin which surrounds the area of breasts or belly becomes tight and stretched, and in turn becomes itchy. Also, sometimes the skin of the palm and soles becomes itchy, because of the large amount of estrogen release in the body. This itching is generally not serious and disappears after some time, but for those women who are quite prone to skin allergies, itching can take a severe shape. In such women, itching is most often accompanied by redness and swelling. Itching, in such a case, should not be taken casually and a doctor should be consulted immediately. Find out more on skin itching during pregnancy in the lines below. Causes Of Skin Itching During Pregnancy
The skin of belly area stretches as the baby growth takes place. Similarly, the skin around the breasts also increases in size, due to the formation of milk within them. This expansion, thus, becomes the prime reason for itchy skin.
During pregnancy, women go through several changes in the body. Change in the release of estrogen hormone is one of them. During this time, estrogen is released in high amounts and it can be one of the causes of itching on the palms and sole. But this type of itchiness is temporary and it goes away after the delivery of the baby.
Some women sweat a lot during pregnancy, which results in heat rashes on the belly. These heat rashes become very itchy. Also in few cases, the reason can be different for the occurrence of these rashes. In this case, it is advisable to contact your doctor.
During third trimester, Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP) occur in almost 1 in 150 pregnant women. They are red, itchy and are large sized. They grow in belly, thighs, hips and arms region. PUPPP do not harm the women, but are extremely itching. They are common in those who are pregnant for the first time or have twins.
A type of the blister, known as Herpes Gestationis, is responsible for the itching in the abdomen area. It gradually spreads to other parts of the body too. They are also called as pemphigoid gestationis and are temporary.
Obstetric Cholestasis is also one of the reasons for the itchy skin during pregnancy. Sometimes, due to the severe liver disease, itching takes place in hands and feet. If they become more serious, it may also accompany some other problems along with the itching such as jaundice, nausea, vomiting, etc. One must consult a doctor to cure the same.
Skin allergies too can be one of the causes of the itchy skin in the pregnant women such as eczema.
For the normal temporary itching which occurs during pregnancy, over-the-counter medications and topical ointments are usually used to get relief. One should contact a doctor for the medication.
To avoid getting the itchy skin, never go for a long hot water bath. Hot water may make the skin dry and itchy. If in case you are suffering with itchy skin, take a bath in lukewarm oatmeal water.
Fill a quarter of warm water in a small bucket. Add a cup of cornstarch and ½ cup of baking soda into it. Now take a clean towel and dip it in this solution. Squeeze this towel gently and make sure that the solution does not come out. Pat this towel on the itchy skin. This method greatly helps in providing a relief from itchy skin.
Do not use soaps containing alcohol. Instead prefer gentle and fragrance free moisturizing soaps. Soaps with fragrance may increase the itchiness.
During pregnancy, always wear loose clothes. Avoid wearing tight clothes as they get rubbed from the skin and many cause itching.
Dryness is the major factor in causing itchiness, so always moisturize your skin. Application of cocoa butter or Aloe Vera products on the itchy skin is beneficial.
Never rub your skin too hard to get relief from the itchy skin. Also keep the calamine oil handy.
Pregnancy is a gift of God but it is not all rosy an affair, for the same comes with its share of problems. Itchy skin during pregnancy, in most of the cases, is normal. One can very easily avoid skin itching during pregnancy by taking care of little things given in the above lines.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/itchy-skin-during-pregnancy-4289704.html
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Skin Problems During Pregnancy
Author: Sandra WilsonWith all of the changes, pregnant women undergo, their skin changes, are just another one. Many pregnant women experience itchy skin and acne problems. Some of these cases will include women who have long suffered with acne problems. But others will be experiencing these issues for the first time during their pregnancy.
An itchy skin pregnancy symptom, does not always involve acne problems. In fact, this is sometimes a rare occurrence. It could come and go at random. But for some expectant mothers, itchy skin may be caused by another condition. A condition called cholestasis is often characterized by having itchy skin.
Cholestasis is only contracted by pregnant women. When a pregnant woman is diagnosed with this, treatment by her physician is necessary. Cholestasis is essentially a condition where bile cannot flow from the liver, as usual. A blockage develops, and the expectant mother begins experiencing symptoms, of which itching is one.
Fortunately for those pregnant women who will be diagnosed with cholestasis, there is effective treatment even while pregnant. But as is always the case, it is very important to pay close attention to strange symptoms. Some of the symptoms expecting women experience are solely a part of the process. But in some instances, these symptoms can prove that something else is wrong.
For this reason, communicating regularly with your doctor is important. Many women will have acne problems throughout their pregnancy. They may even feel like their going through adolescence all over again. This may not be the most comfortable stage of pregnancy, but at least it can be dealt with.
An acne condition during pregnancy can range in levels of seriousness. For some women, their experience will be extremely mild. While others, will have moderate to severe conditions of acne. Because of the fluctuations in hormones during pregnancy, an episode of acne may be triggered. Not only does fluctuation cause acne, in pregnant women, but also does high levels of hormones.
When these hormone issues develop, women, whose skin is susceptible to outbreaks, will see them. This a problem that can be treated while pregnant. Doctors are generally carefully, when prescribing treatment for pregnant women. But, acne can be relieved for expectant mothers just like other women.
One common method of relieving acne for pregnant women is washing their faces at least twice a day. When this is done, it is wise to use a mild soap. Stronger versions have been known to cause acne conditions to worsen. It is important to note that when washing your face, you should not scrub. Scrubbing the skin is not good for acne occurrences.
Finding a good moisturizer is also a good way to treat acne. And when purchasing any skin care products, one should look for those that have been tested by dermatologists. Products that are acne-genic are probably best. There are also many over-the-counter medicated skin gels and lotions. Be sure to contact your physician before using any of these. This is especially important for the safety of the pregnant woman and her unborn child.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/skin-problems-during-pregnancy-1130678.html
About the AuthorYou can find helpful information about acne problems and everything you need to know about itchy skin at Aha! Baby.
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