Itchy skin during pregnancy - what is normal and what is dangerous?

Causes of itching

During pregnancy, not only your arms and legs may itch, but also your stomach, chest and any other parts of the body. Such symptoms cannot be ignored. Itchy skin can have both minor causes, which will disappear immediately after the birth of the child, and the result of a liver disease that is very dangerous for the fetus.

Therefore, if the itching does not go away for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor. The reasons why a limb or other part of the body itches may be as follows:

Allergic rashes. Working in double load mode, the pregnant body is highly exposed to allergens. Any berries, fruits, chocolate and other foods that were normally digested before pregnancy can now cause allergic reactions.
The abdomen and chest may itch due to stretching of the skin during an active increase in their volume. Such symptoms usually appear in the second half of pregnancy and disappear immediately after birth.
Skin dermatitis. The cause of the disease may be fungal infections that worsen during pregnancy or other pathogens that cause eczema and dermatosis.
Increased bilirubin levels can cause itchy hands and feet. To identify this problem, you need to take a liver test. If the norm is exceeded, treatment with liver cleansing drugs is required.
A disruption in the normal functioning of the gallbladder may be the reason why a pregnant woman's hands itch. The abdomen puts pressure on the internal organs and prevents them from working effectively. A special diet that excludes fried, spicy, and salty foods will help relieve symptoms.
An increase in the hormone estrogen in the body can cause itchy skin in absolutely all parts of the body, including itchy hands during pregnancy. If the estrogen level does not exceed acceptable levels, then such symptoms are not dangerous and go away on their own.
The most serious and dangerous cause of itching of all parts of the body during pregnancy is liver dysfunction. Such symptoms may indicate serious diseases such as cholecystitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis or cholestasis of pregnancy and require immediate treatment.

With liver diseases, the whole body can itch unbearably, starting from the toes. The itching is especially worse at night. This condition is dangerous both for the woman herself and for the fetus, so it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

How to get rid of burning and itching during pregnancy?

You should not resort to self-medication; it is recommended to consult a doctor, and first use preventive measures:

baths at a pleasant temperature, you can always add neutral herbs;
a light massage of the legs will solve the problem of burning and even swelling;
Maintain good hygiene and try to follow a healthy diet. Itching can be an indicator of a lack of some substance in the body.

Ointments for hormonal imbalance

To establish the cause and course of treatment, a hormone test is often taken, which allows us to determine which ones are “raging.” Taking into account the results of the analysis, treatment is established:

Lokoid is considered a weak-acting drug. The ointment is suitable for pregnant women and even children for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children under 2 years of age.
Triderm, Afloderm and Belosalik - have an average level of impact, containing betamethasone and dexamethasone. Prescribed if the first drug is not suitable.
Elokom, Flucinar - for solving more chronic problems.

Cream against itching from stretch marks

The ideal remedy that would completely get rid of stretch marks has not yet been invented. Let's look at the most popular cosmetics:

Biovergetures, Biotherm ensures the synthesis of natural collagen. The risk of new ones appearing is minimized, and existing ones will be less and less noticeable.
Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil, Kiehl's nourishes and moisturizes the skin, contains squalane and grape seed oil.
Lipikar Lait, La Roche-Posay softens the skin, making it elastic.

In general, whatever cream is chosen, it should have a moisturizing effect and contain useful components.

If your palms itch

If a woman had skin problems before pregnancy, then over time everything only gets worse. The cause of teeth on the palms and folds between the fingers can be eczema, scabies mites. Modern medicine has already developed many means to solve this problem.

Itchy head and neck

The symptom is associated with:

For dry skin, use special moisturizing shampoos to solve the problem.
Changing shampoo or mask can lead to an allergic reaction.
Fungal skin diseases require analysis by a dermatologist and development of a course of treatment.
Seborrheic dermatitis is treated not only with special shampoos, but also with immunomodulators and diets.

To eliminate the problem, it is important to study its cause by passing the appropriate tests.

Ears itch

The cause of itching in the ears may be normal nervousness during pregnancy. However, more serious situations also occur - fungi, bacilli, or coccal infections get into the ear.

You should not clean your ears with cotton swabs, as they only push wax and germs into the depths of the ear.

If your body itches and a rash appears

Women often experience these symptoms as a result of an allergic reaction.
Think about what allergen you might have eaten - citrus fruits, sweets. It is no secret that doctors prescribe medications with a complex of vitamins, and then the pregnant woman suffers from itching. Traditional allergens include even washing powder, pollen or animal hair.

The cause of the rash may be scabies, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, psoriasis. By taking an analysis to a dermatologist, you will be able to determine the real cause.

Signs of cholestasis

Cholestasis in pregnancy can cause itching of the hands, feet and other organs. This disease can develop in the last trimester and cause serious problems for the fetus, including its death. The cause of cholestasis is a strong increase in the amount of sex hormones.

The liver cannot cope with such an excess of estrogen and malfunctions. A large amount of bile acids accumulate in the body, causing severe itching, first of the palms and soles, and then of other parts of the body. Symptoms intensify in the evening and interfere with the pregnant woman’s restful sleep.

The main signs of cholestasis are unbearable itching of the skin and scratching. The color of the skin does not turn yellow, as with other liver diseases, so the cause of the disease can only be identified with the help of a special blood test for the amount of bile acids.

Why does your body itch during pregnancy?

Causes that are not included in the dangerous group:

Large load on the liver. The liver enzymes ALT and AST reflect the real load on the pregnant woman’s liver. Their increase is called hepatosis or cholestasis of pregnancy, which occurs as a reaction of the body to bearing a fetus, taking vitamins and other medications.
Hormonal surge. During this period, the body produces estrogen (female hormone) several times more than usual. As a result, the liver cannot cope with processing, which leads to the accumulation of bile. Then all these substances are distributed through the blood into the muscle fibers, irritating the nerve endings. The body begins to itch.
Itching occurs due to drying out and stretching of the skin . This is usually observed in women who are rapidly gaining weight. Therefore, doctors recommend strictly monitoring body weight during pregnancy. In this case, there is a slight itchy tingling sensation in the abdomen and lower back.
Formation of stretch marks. Striae appear due to a lack of elastin and collagen and rapid weight gain.
Increased sweating. Body moisture promotes the spread of pathogenic bacteria. It is important to maintain personal hygiene.
Wearing synthetic and excessively tight underwear .

If your body is constantly itching, contact your supervising doctor immediately. Itching can be a sign of serious pathological abnormalities!

Treatment of liver disease

Cholestasis can cause fetal death at any time, so when the disease is detected, urgent treatment is required. To improve the condition, medications based on non-toxic water-soluble acids are used. They neutralize toxic bile components and reduce the threat to the fetus.

Treatment should be carried out in a hospital under round-the-clock supervision of medical personnel. To relieve itching, patients undergo blood purification procedures using hemosorption and plasmapheresis. Taking medications in the form of vitamins and minerals for pregnant women is temporarily stopped in order to completely relieve the liver of additional stress.

In particularly difficult cases, when treatment does not bring the desired results, the only way to save the child may be early delivery. This extreme measure is carried out in very rare cases.

Diseases with body itching

Pregnant itching can be a sign of serious disorders in the body of the expectant mother, which, without adequate drug correction and immediate response from doctors, often cause premature termination of pregnancy or pose a real threat to the health of the woman and her baby.

The following diseases are identified that can cause itchy skin during pregnancy:

diabetes mellitus diagnosed in a woman before pregnancy, as well as persistent hyperglycemia in later stages (gestational diabetes);
allergic reactions, which are frequent companions of pregnant women and occur under the influence of various factors on their body, including food, hygiene products, synthetic vitamins and the like (an itchy rash most often appears on thin and delicate skin, in natural folds);
skin itching during pregnancy can be an early symptom of severe liver dysfunction;
thrush or candidiasis provokes the appearance of itching sensations in the genital area, which are accompanied by copious discharge with a sour odor;
hormonal changes in pregnant women with increased activity of production of thyroid hormones and adrenal glands;
nervous disorders;
skin diseases, in particular, lichen, eczema, dermatitis, scabies and fungal infections of epidermal tissues;
chronic intoxication of the body.

Ways to get rid of allergic itching

The most common reason for itchy hands and feet during pregnancy is allergic reactions. To alleviate such symptoms, special attention must be paid to the diet of the pregnant woman.

When eating, it is necessary to exclude foods that cause allergies. These are fruits and vegetables of bright colors, chocolate, concentrated juices, citrus fruits and other products. To facilitate the liver's fight against allergens, it is better to avoid fried, pickled and spicy foods.

It is advisable to eat foods with a lot of fiber, which will help remove toxins from the body and drink more clean water, if there are no contraindications due to edema. These recommendations and daily hygiene procedures will help you quickly get rid of itching.

Common causes of itching not related to pregnancy

Not all reasons are necessarily related to the prenatal period. If before pregnancy a woman suffered from skin diseases or allergies (both permanent and seasonal), then in an “interesting situation” the situation will not change in any way.

Allergy. Anything can trigger an allergy:

flower pollen;
seafood;
fruits;
vegetables;
nuts;
washing powder:
synthetic clothing;
pet and so on.

For each person, the allergen is individual and affects it differently. Allergies manifest themselves in the form of redness of the skin and rashes that constantly itch. A runny nose and watery eyes may also appear. To help a pregnant woman with allergies, the first step is to get rid of the allergen. It’s good if you know about allergies in advance and already know what to do if they appear. In this situation, it is not recommended to use new washing powder or try unusual products, because they can cause scabies.

Skin diseases. Such diseases include eczema, dermatitis, skin fungus, etc. Perhaps the problem was present even before the baby was conceived. Skin diseases are characterized not only by rashes, but also by peeling skin.

Treatments to relieve symptoms

If the causes of itching of the skin of various parts of the body are not associated with liver diseases, the following procedures will help alleviate the condition of the pregnant woman:

Maintaining body hygiene using hypoallergenic products. This could be baby soap, shampoos and gels based on natural ingredients;
Use moisturizing creams and oils for the skin. Olive oil or cream is especially recommended;
Rinse problem areas with medicinal decoctions of herbs such as chamomile, yarrow, coltsfoot, thyme, string, calendula and other plants that relieve skin irritation;
Maintain optimal indoor conditions so that the air temperature and humidity are normal. Too high an air temperature dries out the skin and causes discomfort;
Pregnant women's clothing should be selected from natural, breathable fabrics that allow air to pass through well and prevent overheating of the body. It is especially important to wear underwear made of cotton material that is not too tight;
Maintaining a proper diet and drinking regime;
For local skin lesions, use anti-inflammatory compresses or oatmeal masks;
To wash pregnant women's clothes, use special powders intended for small children.

If your arms, legs or other part of the body itch, it is better not to scratch the affected areas to the point of wounds, as you can get an infection and get more serious problems.

Skin itching in a pregnant woman is a symptom that requires you not to self-medicate and consult a doctor.

Only in a medical institution can you identify the true cause of such discomfort and receive recommendations for eliminating it. If there is no serious threat to the health of the expectant mother and baby, following the above rules will help cope with unpleasant symptoms.

Treatment options

Itching is a signal that there are serious problems in the body. Therefore, at the first symptoms you should seek help from a specialist.

Common events

Depending on the cause of skin itching in pregnant women, the doctor prescribes individual therapy for each individual case.

If slight itching occurs on the body during pregnancy, the doctor prescribes general measures.

Wearing only cotton underwear for pregnant women.
Avoiding the use of cosmetics for the care of the intimate area and the entire body. Instead, the doctor prescribes special hypoallergenic products. You should also change your washing powder and stop using scented sanitary pads.
As a personal hygiene rule, it is necessary to take a warm shower more often, and after it wipe the body with a slightly damp towel dipped in warm water with a small amount of vinegar. After a shower, itchy areas can be lubricated with a neutral body care product.

Drug therapy

To treat itching during pregnancy, the doctor prescribes adsorbent drugs that remove toxins and harmful substances that provoke this reaction from the body. The best and most harmless remedy is activated carbon, all kinds of talkatives and Cholestyramine.

To support the full functioning of the liver, one of the hepatoprotectors is prescribed - Karsil, No-Shpa or Essentiale-Forte.

You should not self-medicate, because many medications are prohibited during this period of life and can harm not only the expectant mother, but also the baby.

Depending on the cause of skin itching during pregnancy, the doctor determines what is best to prescribe to his patient.

For diseases of internal organs, hepatoprotectors, the names of which were given above, help well. Additionally, dietary nutrition is required. All foods that put a strain on the liver - fried, spicy, smoked, fatty and salty - are excluded from the diet.

For allergies (food or external irritants), antihistamines and a corrective diet are prescribed. Such drugs also have their own restrictions - many of them are allowed to be used only in the second trimester.

If itching in pregnant women was caused by infectious diseases of the genital organs, then treatment is postponed until the second trimester. Since such therapy can negatively affect the condition and health of the fetus. If immediate intervention is necessary, treatment is selected only by a specialist.

Essentiale-Forte will support liver function

Rash on the stomach during pregnancy

Pregnancy, even today, is a mysterious process that brings many surprises to a woman, and they will not always be pleasant.
If a woman is faced with the appearance of a rash on her stomach, then quite severe itching appears. It is not enough to simply remove such an unpleasant symptom as itching, since it will soon appear again; you must first establish and then eliminate the cause that triggered the formation of the rash.

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After the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the woman, if necessary, he may prescribe additional clinical studies. The fact is that during pregnancy, the formation of a rash can be caused by a wide variety of reasons.

Is itching on the hands during pregnancy normal or pathological?

It is necessary to emphasize that itching of the skin in pregnant women is not an independent nosology - in any case, this phenomenon has its own root cause and is a manifestation of some deep pathology. It is very rare that the condition in question can be considered a relatively physiological phenomenon. This statement will be true only in the following cases:

There is paresthesia (impaired tactile sensitivity), caused by problems in the regulation of higher nervous activity. In other words, the girl is very worried about her condition, worries about the health of the child, and even the rapidly changing hormonal background also “makes its contribution.” Of course, all these factors together will cause the functioning of higher nervous activity to be disrupted. It’s just that for one it will all manifest itself as changes in character, while for the other there will be problems such as itching of the skin.
Another point is that in pregnant women the general level of sensitization of the body increases significantly. In other words, the irritant that would not provoke any allergy in the absence of pregnancy can now lead to a strong reaction. Considering that itching of the skin is one of the most common symptoms of allergies, it is precisely this that manifests itself in the foreground. It is necessary to re-emphasize that, given the increased reactivity of the body, the events that occur can be taken for granted.
Itching of the skin can be observed due to peeling of the skin caused by the ongoing restructuring of the body (hormonal levels change - the concentration of progestin increases many times and the concentration of estrogen decreases). In addition, the intensity of the sebaceous glands is significantly reduced, which also leads to significant exfoliation of the skin.

In all other cases, itching of the skin in pregnant women can quite reasonably be considered a manifestation of some pathology, and it may very well be that the disease that led to the manifestation of this condition is very serious, and the itching of the skin itself, even if pronounced , is more of a warning symptom than a significant problem. But finding out the etiology of the process and eliminating its consequences is the main task of the attending physician.

From all of the above, it becomes clear that whether itching of the skin during pregnancy is a pathological or physiological symptom depends solely on the cause of its occurrence.

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Why do pregnant women often itch their hands and not their elbows? What could this feature be related to?

No one can give an exact explanation for this phenomenon. Most likely, the situation under consideration is due to the fact that there are many more nerve endings and zones of increased tactile sensitivity on the palms than on the elbows (naturally, because it is with the hands that a person performs all his work). Accordingly, the clinical picture will be more pronounced, regardless of whether a physiological or pathological process takes place.

A pregnant woman's hands itch in her sleep. Is it good or bad? Is it possible to get rid of insomnia resulting from this condition?

In any case, neuropsychological overstrain is extremely undesirable for a pregnant woman, and even more so if the stress is so severe that she cannot sleep normally. So, no matter how physiological or abnormal this condition is, it should in no way lead to the depletion of the nervous system of the expectant mother. By the way, the condition in question may well lead to the most unfavorable consequences, including the threat of termination of pregnancy, miscarriage or premature birth.

To get rid of insomnia in this situation, you should eliminate the cause of the itching of the skin. In principle, the disruption of sleep and wakefulness will go away on its own, but the use of certain psychological techniques (including hypnosis), as well as manual therapy techniques in combination with the Su-Jok technique will bear fruit much faster.

What pathologies in most cases cause itching of the skin in pregnant women?

Allergic diseases are the most common cause of pathological itching of the skin of the palms and feet in pregnant women. As mentioned above, during this period women experience pronounced sensitization of the body, due to which the likelihood of an allergic reaction increases many times over. In this regard, it is recommended to carefully review your lifestyle - exclude from your diet all products containing synthetic components, forget about everything fried, fatty, salty and smoked, as well as coffee, tea and sweets. In short, you can’t eat anything tasty until the baby’s feeding is completed;
Skin diseases. In parallel with the fact that hormonal changes are observed, the changes occurring in a woman’s body also affect the defense system, leading to its significant depletion. As a result, there is a significant increase in the likelihood of manifestation of those diseases that have long been in the stage of stable clinical remission. First of all, this concerns infectious skin diseases;
Liver pathologies. It is very rare, but sometimes pregnant women experience a complication of the condition such as fatty hepatosis. This is a very serious pathology, which, in the absence of proper treatment, can easily lead to the death of a pregnant woman. The mechanism of implementation of the pathological process in this case is the destruction of hepatocytes and liver cells by the own immune system. Because of this, cytolysis syndrome occurs, manifested by severe itching.

How to treat itching in pregnant women - therapeutic techniques and proven folk remedies

In this case, the only justified approach would be a risk/benefit combination. There is not a single drug that is clearly indicated during pregnancy. However, the consequences of inaction can be even worse, so you have to prescribe drugs based on the reason that led to the appearance of itchy skin:

Against allergies, you can safely prescribe antihistamines - loratadine, cetrin, claritin;

Infectious skin diseases are treated with local antiseptics;

For liver pathology, hepatoprotectors are used - Essentiale, Hepabene and Karsil;

Don't forget about medicinal cosmetics. Series such as La Cree and La Roche are perfect for a pregnant woman suffering from itchy palms!

There are also folk remedies against itching of the skin of the hands in pregnant women:

A decoction of oregano herb is prepared at the rate of 300 g of dry raw material per 1 liter of water, then take 100 ml three times a day;

You can make an infusion of thyme - for this you will need to pour 200 g of herb into 2 liters of boiling water and leave for 24 hours. Drink 150 ml twice a day until clinical results are achieved.

Itching in early pregnancy

Why does the body itch during pregnancy? Doctors hear this question every day. Itchy sensations can haunt a woman throughout the entire period of bearing a child, or can manifest themselves exclusively in the first or second half of pregnancy.

During early pregnancy, approximately half of expectant mothers experience body itching. This unpleasant symptom appears already in the first month and is associated with hormonal changes in the body of women. Sometimes some of them perceive such discomfort as a sign of pregnancy that has occurred. Such a judgment is far from reality, since these two concepts are not normally combined.

The main reason why the body itches in the first weeks of pregnancy is the activation of pathogenic microflora, exacerbation of chronic thrush and the development of bacterial vaginosis. All this occurs against the background of a sharp decrease in immunity, and therefore has pronounced clinical symptoms. Also, at the beginning of pregnancy, a woman begins to develop cholestasis and, as a result, severe itching throughout the body.