Rashes During Pregnancy

Rashes during pregnancy are not uncommon in women. Majority of expectant mothers have to suffer from pregnancy rashes. They are mainly caused by stretching of the skin, as the body prepares itself for further stages of pregnancy development and hormonal imbalance. Though, they cause discomfort and irritation in pregnant women, they are mostly benign for both the would-be mother and her baby. There can be several types of skin rashes during pregnancy. A few common ones are described in brief here.

Types of Rashes During Pregnancy

PUPPP: The full-form of PUPPP is pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. It is one of the most common rashes occurring during pregnancy. It affects one in hundred expectant mothers. The rash appears as a small elevated papules within the stretch marks on the abdomen. It is characterized by strong itching. PUPPP has a tendency to spread to arms and buttocks. It never appears on the face. It occurs after 34 weeks of pregnancy and disappears after childbirth. It may reoccur with subsequent pregnancies. You can get relief from PUPPP by applying corticosteroids, topically. Oral corticosteroids e.g, prednisolone are also available. PUPPP causes a change in mother's skin but is absolutely harmless to both the mother and her baby.

Prurigo of Pregnancy: Prurigo of pregnancy is characterized by very itchy reddish spots. It generally occurs on the upper trunks and upper parts of arms and legs. It is rarely seen on the buttocks. Alike PUPPP, prurigo of pregnancy appears on stretch marks. It appears during second trimester of pregnancy and last week of pregnancy. Usually after childbirth, it spreads to the entire body, but within three weeks or so, it disappears. However, if you wish to rid yourself from prurigo of pregnancy, take anti-histamine tablets.

Papular Dermatitis of Pregnancy:The imbalance in the hormonal levels causes papular dermatitis of pregnancy. It mostly occurs due to the elevated levels of gonadotropins and lowered levels of cortisol and estrogen. Prurigo of gestation is again a common dermatosis (skin condition) of pregnancy. It affects almost one in every 300 pregnant women. The characteristic features are extremely itchy, raised spots, which are red in color and get covered by crust. The spots are never found in groups. There is no definite time for the occurrence of papular dermatitis of pregnancy. It can appear at any stage of the pregnancy development, and continues to do so till the child is born. It does not cause any harm to either the mother or her baby. The treatment is generally done with high doses of corticosteroids.

Impetigo Herpetiformis: The pregnancy rashes, called impetigo herpetiformis, is a rare dermatosis of pregnancy. You can identify this type of pregnancy rash as they appear in clusters of pus-filled blisters, arranged in somewhat spiral-shape. The blisters scab and disappear after a few days, but are followed by the formation of new blisters at their edges. The cycle repeats as the illness progresses. Impetigo herpetiformis is accompanied with chills, fever, vomiting, loose stools, hair loss and pain in the joints. You will find mild itching and burning sensation in the rashes. It usually starts with groins, armpits and folds of elbows and knees. It looks like a shallow ulcer when it affects the mucus membranes of mouth and reproductive organs. It occurs mostly during the last trimester of pregnancy and disappears after the delivery of the child. It generally leaves scars behind. Intake of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, that raises the production of steroids in your body, and cortisone are effective in the treatment of impetigo herpetiformis.

Pruritic Folliculitis of Pregnancy: This type of pregnancy rash is similar to prurigo of pregnancy. It also resembles the steroid induced acne. It mostly affects the trunk of the expectant mother. The incidence of this type of pregnancy rash is rare. More on skin disorders.

Rashes during pregnancy are most of the times, completely harmless. Still, it is considered safe to consult a doctor for their early and timely diagnosis, so as to avoid any further complication.