Dermatoses of pregnancy

Dermatoses of pregnancy are skin conditions that some women can have during pregnancy. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body goes through a lot of changes as it prepares to grow a baby. Sometimes, these changes can cause problems with her skin.

There are a few different types of dermatoses of pregnancy, but the most common ones are:

1. PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy): This is a condition where a woman can get small, itchy bumps on her skin, especially on her belly. The bumps can turn into larger, hive-like patches.

2. Pemphigoid gestationis: This is a rare condition where a woman can get very itchy, blistering rashes on her skin, usually on her belly, but other areas as well.

3. Cholestasis of pregnancy: This is a condition where a woman's liver doesn't work properly during pregnancy, and one of the symptoms is severe itching all over her body, especially on her hands and feet.

It is not clear why some women get dermatoses of pregnancy and others do not, but it is believed that hormones play a role. Some women are more likely to get these conditions if they are carrying multiples (twins or more), have a history of these conditions in previous pregnancies, or have other hormonal imbalances.

If a woman thinks she may have a dermatosis of pregnancy, she should talk to her doctor. Depending on the particular condition, treatment options may include topical creams, oral medications, or even early delivery of the baby. In most cases, dermatoses of pregnancy go away on their own after delivery, within a few weeks to a few months.