Skin Changes During pregnancy

Skin Changes During pregnancy
During pregnancy, skin changes are common. Many of these skin changes are normal in pregnancy and should not be mistaken for a rash or skin disorder. melasma: brown, clearly defined patches on the face, typically on the cheekbones and forehead, darkening of the nipples and external genitals (pubic area).

darkening of existing moles, linea nigra: a dark line that appears on the abdomen, running straight down from the umbilicus (belly button). striae gravidarum (stretch marks of pregnancy): red lines or bands that can appear on the abdomen during pregnancy, or the breasts after breastfeeding, which later become white, smooth, shiny and flattened. veins on the skin can become more obvious. varicose (swollen) veins can appear on the legs.

An increase in the number of skin tags (small, harmless skin outgrowths that occur especially on the neck, but can be found on any part of body). That changed with the development of immunofluorescence, a technique that uses antibodies (infection-fighting proteins made by the immune system) chemically linked to a fluorescent dye to identify antigens (substances that trigger an immune system response) in a tissue sample.

Immunofluorescence has helped experts identify and distinguish the various forms of skin rashes associated with pregnancy.Nonetheless, controversy remains regarding the classification of these rashes. To add to the confusion, experts routinely refer to each of these rashes by several different names. The rash itself is made up of different types of lesions, including raised dots or bumps and fluid-filled blisters. The rash may diminish before delivery, but returns following childbirth for many patients.

Some women experience future flare-ups when using oral contraceptives or during menstruation. Women may also experience pemphigoid gestationis in subsequent pregnancies, although the condition may occasionally skip a pregnancy.pregnant women may experience severely itchy skin that is not accompanied by a rash. This is known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and it tends to occur during the third trimester.

The condition interferes with liver function, causing bile acid levels to build up in the blood. Mild jaundice (yellowed skin and eyes) sometimes accompanies this condition. Women carrying multiple fetuses or who have a family history of ICP have a higher risk of developing the condition. Most often ICP is diagnosed after 30 weeks gestation, and it often recurs in subsequent pregnancies.