5 Common Itches During Pregnancy

Everybody has had skin itches. It is a very uncomfortable sensation that keeps you up at night and keeps you from sleeping, and even if you scratch it with your hands, the itching only gets worse.

Even more painful than usual is the itching that develops during pregnancy. Pregnancy itchiness can have a variety of causes, and each cause has a unique treatment option. In addition, there is one kind of itching that, if untreated, could possibly result in the fetus’s death.

Why does scratching happen during pregnancy? What steps can we take to address it? Five factors that can contribute to pregnancy-related itching have been discussed, along with remedies. We hope you’ll find it useful.

This is a common occurrence

In fact, itching of the skin during pregnancy is common. From pregnancy until about a month after delivery, 30% of women experience itching or other types of skin disorders. Especially after the sixth month of pregnancy, some women often feel a burst of unbearable itching in their abdomen. And during this period of pregnancy, many women are afraid to use medication to fight the itching in order to ensure the safety of their baby.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP): important

ICP (intrahepatic cholestasis) type disorders during pregnancy are a rare cause of itchy skin. Pregnancy-related intrahepatic cholestasis is a dangerous condition that can cause fetal mortality. It results in poor blood flow between the mother and the fetus, which affects how substances and gases are exchanged. As a result, the fetus experiences hypoxia, which slows the growth and may even result in fetal mortality.

This disease’s “itching” differs significantly from typical itching in several ways:

General itching	ICP
Localized itching	Beginning with the abdomen and progressing to the whole body
Short duration, may disappear in a few minutes	Persistent pruritus
The more itchy the skin, the drier it is	Smooth skin, only scratching will appear a scratch mark
More itching during the day	The sensation is more intense at night and is accompanied by the symptom of yellow chancre.

If a pregnant woman notices that her condition is compatible with the aforementioned symptoms, she should stop itching as well as enhance her fetal monitoring and improve her liver function. Otherwise, this could result in intrauterine hypoxia or possibly the fetus’s mortality.

Countermeasures:

1. Talk to a doctor right away. Check jaundice, liver and kidney function, blood count, bile acids, and other signs with the obstetrician.
2. Comply with the doctor’s recommendations. In the unfortunate event that a diagnosis is made, the doctor will choose the course of action based on the severity of the condition as well as the gestational week, the baby’s growth, and the existence of intrauterine hypoxia. All we need to do is unwind and adhere to the doctor’s recommendations.

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP)

This extremely itchy skin disease frequently develops in the latter stages of pregnancy. It is frequently distinguished by red, itchy pimples all over the abdomen. Depending on the individual, the shape may be a number of tiny red bumps or red patches. It begins on the abdomen, typically near the belly button, and then gradually spreads to the thighs.

Progesterone, significant abdominal expansion (due to the baby’s rapid weight increase or repeated pregnancies), or both may be responsible for these skin-related alterations. Because it is a pregnancy-specific ailment, the itching typically goes away on its own a few weeks after delivery and has no negative effects on the mother’s or baby’s health.

Countermeasures:

Seek medical help, and heed the advice of the physician.

Allergy

Some pregnant women’s skin will become more delicate, sensitive, and prone to skin allergies during pregnancy as a result of changes in progesterone levels in the body. Additionally, a variety of things, including foods, drugs, the environment, and others, can cause allergies. Anytime you unintentionally come into contact with an allergen, an allergic reaction could happen.

Pregnancy-related allergies can range from minor to severe. We do not need to be concerned if the allergy only manifests locally on the body, goes away quickly, and is not accompanied by additional symptoms. Just take good care of your body and avoid allergens.

The mother must visit the hospital as soon as possible if she is experiencing severe allergic reactions all over her body, along with physical discomfort and poor mental health. Severe allergic reactions can result in asphyxia.

Countermeasures:

1. Steer clear of triggers. Allergy-prone mothers should avoid things that can easily cause allergies, including pollen, willow, etc., and be cautious while using cosmetics.
2. Be mindful of sun protection. Due to sensitive skin’s thin skin layer and lack of protection from UV radiation, allergic mothers must practice proper sun protection.
3. To lessen skin stimulation, wear cotton maternity clothing.
4. If the situation is very bad, you must get to the hospital in plenty of time to receive medical care on the doctor’s recommendation.

Excessive belly stretching and stretch marks

The majority of pregnant itching is brought on by excessive belly stretching and stretch marks. This is most certainly the case if the only stretch marks that appear to itch are those.

Skin, skin elastic fibers, subcutaneous fat layer, rectus abdominis muscle made up of muscle fiber groups and tendons, preperitoneal fat layer, and peritoneum make up the human abdomen from the outside in. The skin’s elastic fibers will break as the womb of the pregnant woman grows larger, and the rectus abdominis tendons will vary in degree of separation. Symptoms of itching may start to appear now.

Countermeasures:

1. Balanced diet. Pregnant women can eat more protein-rich foods and vegetables to increase the elasticity of the skin.
2. moderate use of belly band (remember to take it off at night), to relieve the skin over-stretching.
3. exercise, adhere to moderate exercises, such as walking, and pregnancy yoga, and increase skin elasticity.

Dry skin itches

Some women may take more baths because they sweat more when they are pregnant, and using bath products frequently might cause dry skin, which can itch. Additionally, inadequate protein, vitamin, and trace element consumption might result in dry skin during pregnancy.

How can we determine if the itching is brought on by excessive dryness? If there are flakes on the skin’s surface, your skin is dry.

Countermeasures:

1. When taking a bath, try to keep the water temperature between 35 and 38 degrees, use mild, unscented soap, rinse properly after removing the foam, and wipe the body thoroughly.
2. Try using cold and wet compresses on the skin.
3. Try to avoid wearing tight garments and loose cotton apparel.
4. Maintain a healthy diet and eat more light fare.

In conclusion, it is best to avoid scratching and tolerating itches if a pregnant woman has unexplained itching and is unsure which of the conditions listed above she has. Instead, she should visit the obstetrics department of a regular hospital to have bile acids checked and rule out the possibility of cholestasis, then go to the dermatology department to register and see a doctor. Under the direction of your doctor, you might take oral medications to relieve the itching if topical medications are ineffective. Topical medications are the mainstay of therapy.

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