Your Skin During Pregnancy

3 common pregnancy-related skin conditions:

PUPPP and symptoms:

Affecting just 1% of pregnant women, PUPPP (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy) causes harmless but severe itchy red bumps and hive-like rashes on the belly or around stretch marks and may spread to the arms, legs, breasts or buttocks. PUPPP usually appears in the third trimester of pregnancy and disappears a few days after the baby’s birth.

How to treat PUPPP:

Topical ointments, antihistamines, and in more severe cases, oral steroids can help alleviate the itch. PUPPP usually appears in the third trimester of pregnancy and disappears a few days after the baby’s birth.

Prurigo of Pregnancy (Papular Eruptions of Pregnancy) and symptoms:

Resembling bug bites and affecting random parts of the body Prurigo appears not before the third trimester and typically lasts up to three months after delivery. Fortunately, this condition causes no harm to the mother or the baby.

How to treat Prurigo of Pregnancy:

It can be treated with topical ointments, oral medications, antihistamines, or steroids.

Pemphigoid Gestationis (Herpes Gestationis) and symptoms:

Pemphigoid Gestationis is an extremely rare condition, which starts as a severely itchy, hive-like rash and turns into large blistering lesions. Often originating on the abdomen, it spreads to the arms and legs and occurs during the second or third trimester though it may also come and go intermittently throughout your pregnancy. It is associated with an increased risk for pre-term delivery and fetal health issues.

How to treat Pemphigold Gestationis:

If you suspect you may have this condition, we recommend you seek immediate medical attention by calling any of dermatologists at the Derma One Centre in Manama, Bahrain today.