Itching in pregnant women

Many women suffer from pruritus during pregnancy. This usually leaves a few weeks after birth. However, some diseases are recurrent in later pregnancy.

(Photo: Fargo)

Pruritus during pregnancy may be due to pregnancy boils, pregnancy cholestasis, pruritus dermatitis. In addition, when pregnant, the skin becomes more sensitive so hygiene is not guaranteed, exposure to foreign substances is easy to cause itching.

Treatment usually focuses on reducing symptoms. Scratching with an immediate effect is a reflex to soothe temporary itching. Using clean water to bathe daily is the most positive way. Acupuncture can relieve some itching but it can't be stopped.

Applying fat like almond oil also works somewhat. Acidic soap pH = 4.5 is also useful if there is no skin damage. Can apply phototherapy to inhibit histamine birth, anti-itching.

In terms of drugs, doctors can give drugs to inhibit H1 receptors, H2 (polaramine, atarax) to reduce histamine synthesis. Or use drugs to reduce pregnancy cholesterase stasis, sedatives, relieve anxiety . These drugs must be prescribed by a doctor.

With pregnancy bullion disease

This is a skin disease caused by autoimmune, acquired during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a pregnancy organ transplant into the mother's body, with the presence of antigen from the placental membrane. Antigen remains in the skin and releases chemical elements into the skin, causing a blister-like rash. Sometimes the rash spreads to the lining of the mouth, vagina and other areas of the body. The disease has the ability to relapse the next pregnancy.

Treatment with corticosteroids and antihistamines.

Seborrheic dermatitis, pruritus of pregnancy

The rate of pregnant women with this disease is 0.5-2%. At first, the rash has nodules (3-5 mm in diameter) that grow in the abdomen, on the pubic bone, and on the flanks and then disappear after birth, not spreading to the face.

Treatment with soft soothing drugs, oral antihistamines and corticosteroids.

Pregnancy cholestasis

The main symptom is pruritus due to cholestasis in the liver; The disease progressively worsens when it comes to birth and quickly disappears in the postpartum period. About 70% of cases occur in gestational ages 28-32 weeks. Pregnant women are very itchy, insomnia, itching starts from the limbs that spread to the whole body. There is skin damage caused by scratching, yellowish skin and mucosa. The patient is tired, vomiting.

When this symptom is present, pregnant women need to be examined and treated as directed by the doctor.