Many people associate pregnancy with irritability, but sometimes expectant mothers are faced with a strong susceptibility not only of their psyche, but also of their body. Itchy skin can occur during any period of gestation. Regardless of why it appears, this symptom causes a lot of inconvenience and requires immediate action. The problem is that in pregnant women, many symptoms are eliminated using extremely gentle methods.
Why can itchy skin during pregnancy?
Itching during pregnancy can be normal. It is explained by hormonal changes in the expectant mother, which make her body an ideal "incubator" for the fetus. Estrogens produced in the female body affect the work of all its systems. The skin becomes drier and more sensitive, it reacts sensitively to any stimuli and can itch at the very beginning of gestation for completely different reasons.
With the development of pregnancy, discomfort can either increase or disappear completely. For all women, this happens in different ways: in some, the whole body itches, in others, the unpleasant sensations are localized in a certain place. Most often, pregnant women are worried about discomfort in the abdomen, chest and perineum. 
In the early stages
In the 1st trimester, toxicosis is the culprit for all the troubles of the expectant mother. Due to the fact that a lot of "garbage" is thrown into the bloodstream, a woman develops itching, which is most felt in places where the epidermis is thinnest.
Another physiological reason for itchy skin is dryness. It's okay if she doesn't have breakouts.
In the first months of bearing a baby, a common cause of itchy skin is increased sweating. Under the influence of hormones, the woman begins to sweat harder than before. The skin is not used to this, so it reacts with irritation and itches where moisture accumulates: in the armpits, under the breast, in the perineum, etc.
Itching in the abdomen and chest in pregnant women in the 1st trimester is explained by the processes taking place inside the abdominal cavity and mammary glands. When a woman's nipples and the skin around them begin to itch, her breasts prepare for lactation.
If the expectant mother has cracks on her skin, her legs and arms began to itch, perhaps her body lacks vitamins A and E. Vitamin E deficiency is dangerous for the fetus, therefore it is often prescribed to pregnant women.
At a later date
The skin can itch in the later stages of bearing a baby (for more details, see the article: the stomach itches in late pregnancy). In the 3rd trimester, many expectant mothers complain of itching in the abdomen and the appearance of stretch marks. Stretch marks are often accompanied by very severe itching, causing discomfort to a woman.
The reason for unpleasant sensations in the last months of bearing a baby is often the weight gained by the mother. The epidermis stretches, unable to adapt to the new body size, and itches.
In the 3rd trimester, the expectant mother sometimes begins to itch the body due to nervous overstrain. In this case, the itching is not very pronounced, but manifests itself to a greater extent during the appearance of thoughts about the upcoming birth. Especially sensitive women who are very worried about how to cope in one of the most difficult moments in life should definitely take soothing teas for pregnant women. As a rule, such funds relieve itching of different localization well.
Pathological processes accompanied by itching and accompanying symptoms
In most cases, mild itching while carrying a baby is normal and goes away on its own. If the condition is accompanied by a rash on the skin, a change in body temperature and other signs, it is associated with some kind of pathology. Pathological causes of itching in the expectant mother may be as follows:
Localization of itching
Pregnant women can itch in different places depending on the cause of the discomfort. For example, the presence of fungal lesions explains why the skin of the feet itches. Hormonal changes are responsible for discomfort in the abdomen and chest during pregnancy. With varicose veins, the legs itch very often. Itching throughout the body is less common and, as a rule, is a sign of pathological processes in the body.
Diagnostic methods
To determine exactly why the expectant mother suffers from itching of various parts of the body in the early and late stages of pregnancy, the doctor needs to take a complete history of the disorder. He does a visual examination to see if the skin is showing signs of irritation.
If there are visible lesions, a scraping is taken from them. If the skin itches without rashes, additional examinations are prescribed - blood and urine tests, ultrasound of internal organs.
How to get rid of itching during pregnancy, depending on its causes?
Discomfort caused by internal illness should only be treated in a hospital. Serious disorders of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, causing itching of the body, pose a clear threat to the health of the fetus, therefore, treatment should be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor.
If itching appears as a side reaction of bearing a baby, you can use various methods to deal with it. The main thing is that they cannot harm the child. 
Conservative therapy
Doctors recommend relieving the sensation of itchy skin with regular hygiene. Expectant mothers need a shower or bath at a comfortable water temperature. In no case should it be hot - this will increase the discomfort. It is advisable to use hypoallergenic products for washing. After taking a shower, it is useful to apply baby cream to the skin.
With itchy skin caused by skin diseases, a special ointment is prescribed, which relieves discomfort. For example, Fenistil Gel helps with allergies.
Many mothers who complain of itchy skin suffered from dermatological disorders even before pregnancy. They are accustomed to using certain medicated ointments and creams for treatment. To make sure that the product does not harm the baby when used during gestation, you must first consult with your gynecologist. Knowing about the tendency of your body to such reactions, the use of drugs for internal and external use should be discussed with the obstetrician at an early stage, while the disease has not worsened.
Folk remedies
Many women who are contraindicated in pharmacy ointments for itching are rescued by recipes of traditional medicine. All of them are safe for the expectant mother and quickly relieve skin irritation:
- Warm bath with a decoction of chamomile or string. To prepare it, you need to boil 100 g of grass in 3 liters of water, let the broth cool and pour it into the prepared bath. You should sit in such a medicinal mixture for at least 15 minutes.
- Oatmeal compress. It is necessary to carry out such a procedure with the addition of kefir or yogurt to the flakes. It is recommended to apply a compress for 20-30 minutes.
- Cabbage leaf. For itching, it is recommended to make lotions from a cabbage leaf soaked in apple cider vinegar. If you want to relieve the itching sensation from an area where there are cracks, the application should be done without using vinegar. Before use, the cabbage leaf must be kneaded in your hands.
Is it possible to prevent itching during pregnancy?
Preventive measures that can prevent dermatological problems during pregnancy:
Instructions
Do not self-medicate. If the problem has become acute, consult a gynecologist or dermatologist. The correct treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. After all, many drugs are contraindicated during the period of bearing a baby. Expectant mothers can only fight the cause of itching on their own only by assistants and.
If the cause of itching is skin changes - stretch marks, then creams and folk remedies will help. With the growth of the baby, the expectant mother's belly increases ,. Sometimes this is accompanied by stretch marks on the skin and discomfort. Sign up for a massage. If this is not possible, do it yourself. Buy a cream against stretch marks, just be sure to look at the note about the possibility of using this product by pregnant women. Folk remedies, baths with decoctions of herbs help well. Pour a glass of chamomile flowers with a liter of boiling water, leave for 24 hours. Add the liquid to the water and take a warm bath. Chamomile relieves irritation and inflammation. Do not miss the opportunity to take a contrast shower for the day. Follow the rules of personal hygiene. In hot weather, try to wear only natural fabrics so that the skin breathes. If you can't take a shower, and you feel sweaty, buy special hypoallergenic wet wipes.
Sometimes hormones are the cause of itching, they cause stagnation of bile in the liver, and as a result, there is a greater production of bile acids, and this becomes the basis of irritation on the skin. A pregnant woman's palm and feet. A cooling body cream can help fight this itching. It can be purchased at the pharmacy.
When the irritation on the body is of a psychological nature, excitement, anxiety, nervousness, the doctor prescribes light soothing ones. You can do prevention yourself. Drink herbal teas. The root can be purchased at the pharmacy. It can be added to regular black tea, or it can be infused with chamomile. Dried mint and lemon balm are brewed in a one-to-one ratio - in the amount of a teaspoon per glass of boiling water. The infusion should stand for 10-15 minutes. You need to take it 30 minutes before meals. When it comes to the psychological cause of itching, a young mother should take care of eliminating factors such as anxiety, anxiety and nervousness from her everyday life. Walk in the fresh air more often, smile. Do what you love in your free time. Pregnancy is the most wonderful condition, let it not be overshadowed by anything.
Itching- This is a painful sensation that is caused by constant irritation of the nerve endings and is manifested by a strong need to scratch the skin and mucous membranes.
Information During pregnancy, many women complain of frequent itching (especially of the skin of the abdomen and chest), which gives them considerable discomfort. Itching can be persistent or appear from time to time, intensify in the evening and at night, or disturb throughout the day, manifest on its own or be a symptom of another disease.
Causes of itchy skin
TO main reasons include:
- Rapid abdominal growth and breast augmentation... In the second half of pregnancy, the skin begins to stretch rapidly, there are breaks in the connective tissue fibers, and there is a constant desire to scratch the skin. Itching is especially worse in the evening and at night;
- Allergic reactions and. An allergen can be new hygiene products, plant pollen, food products, etc. In addition to itching, allergies are characterized by redness, swelling, and the presence of rashes;
- Excessive sweating... If the rules of hygiene are neglected, sweat can accumulate in the folds of the body and cause itching;
- Cholestasis pregnant women (disorders of the liver and biliary tract caused by hormonal changes). Cholestasis is characterized by severe itching and redness of the palms and feet, then it can spread to the rest of the body;
- Diabetes;
- Dermatoses of pregnant women, as a manifestation of rare types of toxicosis. This is a group of skin diseases that only appear during pregnancy. Itching of pregnant women is more common, which spreads throughout the body and leads to a deterioration in general well-being, irritability, and insomnia. Less common eczema, manifested by severe itching, burning and the presence of skin rashes;
- Jaundice of pregnancy(also a rare type of toxicosis). It is characterized by liver damage, icteric staining of the skin, severe itching;
Important In any case, you should not try to independently determine the cause of itching, and even more so to self-medicate. At the first sign of itching, you should immediately seek the advice of a doctor.
Treatment of pruritus during pregnancy
Itching treatment primarily aimed at eliminating the cause that caused the appearance of this symptom. Before that, you can use methods to help temporarily relieve itching or at least to facilitate its manifestations:
- Ventilate and humidify the room regularly... The room should be cool (no more than 18 degrees Celsius) to avoid excessive sweating;
- Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene... It is recommended to take a warm or contrast shower several times a day;
- Systematically wash itchy areas decoctions of medicinal herbs (calamus, chamomile, tricolor violet, string) or a weak solution of baking soda;
- Make applications regularly with chamomile and duckweed. The herbs must be grinded to a mushy state, laid out on the itchy area of the skin and covered with a gauze napkin. The procedure is performed 2 times a day for several hours.
These methods will help relieve itching for a short time. The main thing is still the treatment of the underlying disease.
When itching occurs as a symptom allergic reaction it is important, first of all, to identify and eliminate the effect of the allergen, often after that the itching immediately stops. Self-administration is strictly prohibited, treatment should be prescribed only by an allergist.
With diabetes mellitus it is necessary to strictly control blood sugar levels. Additional insulin may be needed. Treatment should take place under the constant supervision of an endocrinologist.
With dermatoses of pregnant women a woman is usually recommended inpatient treatment. Prescribe a sparing diet with the exception of spicy and salty foods, smoked meats. Lotions with a solution of potassium permanganate are applied locally to the affected areas. To reduce itching and burning, vitamin therapy, calcium preparations are prescribed.
At cholestasis of pregnant women treatment should be carried out only in a hospital. Prescribe drugs to improve the outflow of bile (,) and hepatoprotectors to maintain liver function (Carsil, Essentiale).
Jaundice of pregnancy(a rare type of toxicosis) is an extremely dangerous disease and threatens the health and life of a woman. When the diagnosis is made, the pregnant woman is urgently hospitalized and the pregnancy is terminated at any time.
Itching prevention
Itchy skin gives the pregnant woman a lot of unpleasant moments, affects her health, worsens sleep. Treatment is not always effective and often itching may recur. For this reason, the direct preventive actions:
- Weight control... With excess or uneven weight gain, there is a high likelihood of stretching the skin and the appearance of stretch marks, which leads to itching;
- Observe the rules of hygiene... You should take a warm shower (not hot) at least once a day, taking it during pregnancy is contraindicated;
- Avoid dry skin... After water procedures, be sure to apply a lotion or body cream to the skin;
- Massage with alternating strokes and rubbing. It helps well as a preventive measure against the appearance of stretch marks, and, accordingly, the occurrence of itchy skin;
- Give preference clothes made only from natural fabrics(cotton, wool, linen).
Among all the conditions and uncomfortable situations that often accompany the period of pregnancy, or occur at one time or another, sometimes itching of different parts of the woman's body occurs. This does not mean at all that the pregnant woman has some kind of disease. But, the discomfort that this state delivers is so high that sometimes it seems to drive you crazy. Of course, not every woman, having become pregnant, is faced with the problem of itchy skin. But, it can arise for everyone, no one is immune from this problem.
Itching is intermittent or persistent. It can be an independent symptom or accompany other symptoms., Change its character, intensify in the evening, and go to a minimum in the morning.
To find out the real cause of the cutaneous, it is worth consulting several specialists at once: a gynecologist, a dermatologist and an infectious disease specialist.
Why does the skin itch during pregnancy
There are a number of theories regarding the occurrence of itchy skin in women during the period of gestation. These include:
- occurrence: since the chest and abdomen during this period begin to increase, grow, the skin in these areas is stretched, micro fiber breaks occur.
The appearance of stretch marks, as a rule, is preceded by itching, which is localized in the places of their formation. These places include the stomach, thighs.
The buttocks, chest, and sometimes the upper arms. This kind of itching occurs, as a rule, at the end of the second - beginning of the third trimester, in women who are genetically predisposed to gaining weight;
- cholestasis: caused by liver dysfunction during pregnancy, which occurs as a result of natural changes with the onset of pregnancy.
Usually itching occurs in the palms and feet, with redness in these areas. After a while, itching can spread to the entire body, intensifying in the evening and subsiding in the morning. Cholestasis usually manifests itself in this way by the beginning of the third trimester.
In this case, the woman's urine visually darkens, and the feces, on the contrary, become light. The level of risk of cholestasis is increased in those women who have high blood cholesterol levels or chronic diseases of the biliary tract;
- a common cause of pruritus during pregnancy is the restructuring of the hormonal system. Itching that occurs for this reason is localized on the feet and palms, and disappears only after delivery;
- sometimes the cause of the itching is, of course, skin diseases. These include: dermatitis, dermatosis, eczema, skin fungus, and other diseases. In addition to itching, peeling of the skin, rashes and swelling usually appear;
- Allergies can also cause itching during pregnancy. Such itching will be accompanied by redness, and other accompanying symptoms inherent in allergies.
In this case, detergents, shampoos, exotic fruits, seafood, pollen, and others can serve as provocateurs.
During pregnancy, it is not recommended to change washing powder, shampoo, hand and face cream, diet. And in cases of an allergic reaction, it is necessary to eliminate and exclude the interaction of the allergen with the skin of the pregnant woman;
- itching can occur due to excessive sweating in a pregnant woman. To avoid itching, it is boring to take a shower more often, change into clean underwear and clothes, and underwear and preferably all clothes should be made of natural fabrics that "breathe". You can visit a doctor and listen to his recommendations on this issue;
- itching in the genital area is usually caused by thrush. Here you just need a doctor's consultation, diagnosis and treatment.
The causes of the skin child include both, and hepatitis. To find the cause, it is important to consult a doctor in time and undergo a thorough examination of your body. After determining the cause, the doctor will prescribe adequate treatment that will help relieve itching and get rid of the problem and discomfort.
Does itching affect the baby?
Itching on the body of a pregnant woman does not in any way affect the development of the fetus. But, severe itching that appears in the third trimester can be a sign of cholestasis, as described above, a serious liver disease.
Its symptoms will be: onset of itching on the palms and feet, worse at night, pale feces, absence of any type of rash. To soothe the itching, your doctor may prescribe a special drug in the form of a cream or ointment.
But expert advice is needed. Cholestasis during pregnancy can cause. Therefore, the doctor must constantly monitor such a future mother with a child in order to avoid adverse consequences and complications.
