This is not my skin

You will also feel itchy, which mayor may not result in a rash around the growing belly and breasts as the skin stretches to accommodate the baby. The rash is considered normal and not a disease and for that reason, pregnant women should not mistake the skin rash for a skin disorder. It’s important for pregnant women to know that a skin rash is normal during pregnancy and is not necessarily an indication of any crisis.

However, since each pregnancy has its peculiarities and it is advisable to see your doctor when you notice anything you’re not comfortable with, including a rash. If it is a second pregnancy, then you know how you dealt with the rash the first time, so go right ahead and do it. Some ways to treat the rash are discussed below.

If any of the following happens, you should not be alarmed;

• Brown patches on the face, especially around the cheek bone.
• The nipples and the genital areas darkening.
• A dark line appears on the abdomen, running downwards from the umbilical cord.
• Stretch marks showing.
• Veins looking fuller on your hands skin.
• Swollen veins on your legs.

The darkening of the skin mostly happens due to the increase of the melanocyte hormones. The new skin colour is not permanent and will disappear after your child is born (and perhaps reappear during the next pregnancy). The rash does not affect your unborn child.

Types of rashes
According to vitiligo treatment, the skin rashes occur in three stages during pregnancy.

1. Pruritic urticarial papules are the most common rashes that appear during pregnancy. They are normally spotted within the stretch marks that appear at the lower abdomen.
2. There is another rash called prurigo of pregnancy. It is associated with abdominal hormone level in the blood. It mostly affects the trunk of the woman’s body. There is also another common one called melasma which manifests itself as brown, clearly defined patches on the skin, particularly on the cheekbones and the forehead.
3. Heat rash too is likely to afflict a pregnant woman because of an already over heating body, increased perspiration and also friction from straps of clothing such as your bra.

For relief
There are ways of ridding the body of these rashes. Some ways to provide relief are:

• Avoid wearing polyester clothes.
• Apply unscented powder.
• Avoid perfumes and hard soaps.
• Use baking soda to clean yourself.
• Take lots of water.
• Avoid very hot showers which dry “out your skin
• Cleanse the skin on your face (like you did when you had acne as a teenager)

If the above do not work, consult your care giver.

END: PG 37 /45