Skin changes – Which symptoms should you ignore?

A good man is without sin, and a good skin without blemish.”

But let’s face it: flawless skin is like a saint on earth, desirable but virtually impossible to acquire. During your pregnancy, hormonal changes will affect every system of your body. Your skin, like any other part, will not be spared.

You may develop patches on your face, which are lighter in colour than the rest of the face. Hormonal changes in pregnancy normally causes these patches. The patches are called chloasma. They will clear as soon as you give birth and should not alarm you. Exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet rays aggravates the skin patches. It will help if you use a protective sun screen while outdoors.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy a dark line, called linea nigra, will appear on your belly extending from the belly button to just above the pubis.

The skin around the breasts will also change. The area surrounding the nipple, the areola, becomes darker than usual.
You will develop stretch marks especially in the last months of pregnancy. These occur as a result of the strain that abdominal skin goes through to accommodate the growing fetus.

You may also develop mild generalised itching because of increased blood supply to the skin. During late pregnancy the abdominal skin stretches and this may also cause itchiness. Wearing loosely fitting clothing helps decrease the discomfort. If itching is severe but without a rash, particularly in the last four months of pregnancy, it may be an indication that a more serious problem called obstetric cholestasis could be developing. This is a potentially dangerous liver disorder, which seems to run in families, although it can occur without any family history. It is important to contact your doctor if you have troublesome itchiness because obstetric cholestasis may lead to premature labour, stillbirth or serious health problems to the baby, and to an increased risk of maternal haemorrhage (loss of blood) after delivery.

Jaundice

If you notice yellowing of the skin on the sclera (white part) of the eyes or on the palms of your hands, you are developing jaundice. Seek urgent medical attention.

Severe itching associated with a rash may also need treatment. If you notice that you are developing small blisters (they may or may not be painful) that contain water clustered in one place, seek immediate medical help.
Any ulcer developing in your private parts needs to be checked to rule out any sexually transmitted infection. The ulcers usually are not painful but may produce a watery discharge when rubbed. Some women get fungal infections during pregnancy. This may be due to the fact that the pregnant woman’s immunity is slightly lowered to accommodate the growing fetus: otherwise it would be rejected as a foreign body. These infections can be treated by applying topical medication that your doctor prescribes. If boils develop all over your body this may indicate the presence of a severe bacterial infection, for which your doctor can prescribe an appropriate antibiotic.

END: PG 1/16