Why is it itchy during pregnancy?

After pregnancy, every expectant mother will experience various discomforts, the most common ones are loss of appetite, vomiting, drowsiness, fatigue, etc., but some expectant mothers will also feel that their belly is very itchy. So is skin itching after pregnancy a physiological symptom, or is it caused by certain diseases? We also experience itchy skin on weekdays, and most of them are related to the climate, such as excessively dry weather in autumn and winter. However, for expectant mothers, there are more reasons for skin itching. Experts have summarized six common diseases that cause skin itching in expectant mothers during pregnancy. The details are as follows:

1. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

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This is an important cause of skin itching in pregnant women in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. For most pregnant women, the symptoms will be relieved within one or two days after delivery, and for some pregnant women, the symptoms will subside in about a week.

This may be because the high hormone levels in the body during pregnancy affect the metabolism of bile in the body, causing an increase in bile acid and bile salts, causing skin itching; in addition, women with a family history (such as mother or sister with illness) or their own medical history have a higher risk of occurrence.

It usually appears after 30 weeks of pregnancy, but may appear earlier. It is mild during the day and severe at night. The itching usually starts from the palms and gradually spreads throughout the body. Scratches will appear on the limbs and abdomen due to scratching. A small number of patients will also develop skin jaundice.

Its toxic effects are very harmful to the fetus, causing fetal distress or even sudden death. The mortality rate of newborns is also higher than that of normal newborns.

Cracking tips:

Because it can cause serious harm to the fetus, once skin itching occurs, do not think it is just an ordinary skin problem and treat it on your own. Go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time. The doctor will decide whether to use drug treatment based on the pregnant woman's symptoms and bile acid levels. When the bile acid level is too high, a drug called ursodeoxycholic acid will be given to lower the bile acid level, thereby reducing the toxicity of bile acid to the fetus.

2. Abnormal liver function during pregnancy

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If a pregnant woman vomits violently, has a poor appetite, feels tired or has yellow urine, even the doctor may ignore these symptoms and think they are normal. In fact, they may be manifestations of abnormal liver function. During pregnancy, liver function abnormalities are likely to occur due to increased metabolism, relatively poor nutrition, endocrine changes, etc.

In medicine, cholestasis of pregnancy is caused by the placenta producing a large amount of androgen during pregnancy, which leads to itching all over the body in the late pregnancy. If you suffer from acute fatty liver of pregnancy or severe hepatitis during pregnancy, the maternal and infant mortality rates can reach 80%.

Cracking tips:

It is a bit difficult to judge cholestasis of pregnancy, so it is important to pay attention to pre-marital and pre-pregnancy examinations. If abnormal liver function is found, it is best to consult a liver disease specialist for a comprehensive evaluation.

It is best for pregnant mothers to receive drug treatment under the guidance of a doctor. If the pregnancy has exceeded 32 weeks, it is best to be hospitalized for observation and monitored through fetal monitors, fetal maturity measurements, placental function measurements, etc.

3. Herpes during pregnancy

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Herpes during pregnancy usually occurs during the 3rd to 6th month of pregnancy, and begins with symptoms such as general discomfort, fever, and itchy skin. A few days later, erythema, papules, blisters, etc. will appear, often gathering in groups and arranged in a ring shape. After the blisters burst, scabs will form, and pigmentation will be left after they heal. It is generally harmless to the mother, but it can cause stillbirth, congenital abnormalities in babies and neonatal mortality as high as 50%.

Cracking tips:

Local skin lesions can be treated with topical medications, such as compound glycerin lotion, calamine lotion, etc.; pregnant mothers should keep their skin and hands clean, trim their nails twice a week, and avoid long nails scratching the skin and causing infection; those with serious conditions need to go to the hospital for treatment.

4. Itch or eczema during pregnancy

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About 2% of pregnant women may develop the disease, usually between the fourth and ninth months of pregnancy. Small red rashes appear on the skin, most often on the extremities, and look like insect bites.

Prurigo is caused by the mother's rejection of the genes and chromosomes in the child's body that come from the father. In addition to the itchy belly, rashes and itching may appear on the thighs and even upper limbs, and some may also have pigmentation.

Eczema is common in pregnant women who sweat a lot, have a high metabolism, or are obese.

Cracking tips:

Pregnant women with itchy skin can apply lotion to moisturize their skin. When bathing, avoid using water that is too hot or scrubbing vigorously with alkaline soap, as this will aggravate the itching.

Expectant mothers can choose lotions, olive oil, massage creams, etc. that are suitable for their body types. They should select mild and hypoallergenic moisturizing products to ensure that there is no irritation to themselves or their babies.

5. Pregnancy skin diseases

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More than 15% of pregnant women may encounter this skin disease. The whole body may itch, usually occurring during the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. There are no changes on the skin other than itching, and no rashes or blisters appear. The cause of the disease is generally believed to be related to the increase in estrogen during pregnancy and has no effect on the fetus.

Cracking tips:

Pregnant women with itchy belly can use salt water, or cold tea water and bath salt to scrub, which has the effects of astringency, antipruritic and heat clearing. If the symptoms do not improve, you can consult a professional doctor and take medication to improve the itching.

Reduce food stimulation, such as eating less spicy foods such as chili peppers, ginger, raw garlic, etc. Seafood should be consumed in moderation, as it can aggravate skin itching, especially for pregnant women who already have sensitive skin. In addition, do not wear non-breathable synthetic underwear, and change and wash bedding frequently.

6. The skin is stretched and pulled

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After pregnancy, a woman's endocrine, metabolism and immunity will change, and her skin will also undergo corresponding physiological changes. The abdominal skin is stretched by the enlarged uterus, and the elastic fibers of the skin are stretched, forming stretch marks, which will cause itching in the area where the stretch marks are located.

Many mothers can't help but scratch the itchy skin with their hands. In fact, scratching is exactly what the itch bug likes; the more you scratch, the more active it becomes. This phenomenon is more common in the middle and late stages of pregnancy.

Cracking tips:

Pregnant women with itching symptoms should not eat irritating foods such as bamboo shoots, mushrooms, clams, squid, eggplants and pig skin. Instead, they can eat more cooling foods such as mung beans, loofahs, pears, or drink mung bean water, which have the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying.

Pregnant mothers can increase skin elasticity and prevent skin itching caused by stretch marks through diet. Don't eat too much sweets and fried foods. Eat more foods containing collagen fiber, such as pig's trotters, nuts, and more vegetables and fruits.

Gaining weight too quickly during pregnancy will cause the abdomen to expand too quickly, leading to excessive stretching of the skin tissue and causing itching. During pregnancy, weight gain should be controlled within 2 kg per month, and should be controlled within 11 to 14 kg throughout the pregnancy.

Finally, the editor would like to remind you, the expectant mothers, that skin itching will definitely bring us a lot of discomfort, but everyone still needs to adhere to the correct treatment and it is best to avoid scratching as much as possible.