Common skin complaints during pregnancy

The moment you get pregnant, there will be a lot of changes happening in your body, regardless of internally or physically. Many women notice changes to their skin, nails, and hair during pregnancy. 

Today we will be looking into skin conditions that can develop during pregnancy. For some it could be confusing as the common term used ‘pregnancy glow’ may seem like a lie after experiencing unexpected skin conditions.

Common skin conditions during pregnancy generally can be separated into three categories: hormone-related, preexisting, and pregnancy-specific. Fortunately, the good news is, most of the skin conditions seen in pregnancy will disappear after you have your baby.

Below are some of the conditions you can take note of:

Chloasma

Chloasma, also known as melasma or the “mask of pregnancy,” is a pigmentation disorder of the skin characterised by darker skin patches that primarily affect the face and other sun-exposed areas. This is due to the increase in melanin production during pregnancy

Sweat rashes

This is caused by sweating, and it is most likely to occur in areas where the skin is easily rubbed, such as the groin and underarms. In hot weather, expectant mothers should pay more attention to personal hygiene, and use fans to relieve itching symptoms when needed.

Liver spots

Expectant mothers may have pregnancy spots (so-called liver spots). Pregnancy spots occur mostly on the cheeks, showing a reddish-brown colour. Many people mistakenly think that the liver is not good, but it is caused by an increase in hormones during pregnancy. It is important for expectant mothers to make sure the skin doesn’t get burned by the sun.

Rough skin

It’s common for pregnant women to have dry skin during pregnancy. Hormone changes cause your skin to lose elasticity and moisture as it stretches and tightens to accommodate a growing belly. This can lead to flaky skin, itchiness, or other symptoms often associated with dry skin.

As previously stated, most of these skin conditions will resolve on their own after delivery. There are treatments available if they don’t go away or if you want to do anything about them while pregnant. However it is important to make sure that you don’t use any medication or treatment while you are pregnant without talking to your doctor.

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