Parentpedia

What Experts Say^*

Reviewed by Steven Johnson, M.D.

You experience so many skin changes when you're pregnant, that you might find yourself itching like crazy. You may have this urgent need to scratch all over or, more likely, the skin around your abdomen might itch terribly where it is stretching to make room for the growing fetus. High levels of hormones like estrogen also may be responsible for that urge to scratch. Itchiness is bothersome but perfectly normal.

Another reason for itchiness is called PUPPP or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, which is dermatological-speak for a really itchy rash that erupts in the third trimester of first pregnancies (you usually only have to suffer through this only once -- subsequent pregnancies are usually PUPPP-free)....

You experience so many skin changes when you're pregnant, that you might find yourself itching like crazy. You may have this urgent need to scratch all over or, more likely, the skin around your abdomen might itch terribly where it is stretching to make room for the growing fetus. High levels of hormones like estrogen also may be responsible for that urge to scratch. Itchiness is bothersome but perfectly normal.

Another reason for itchiness is called PUPPP or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, which is dermatological-speak for a really itchy rash that erupts in the third trimester of first pregnancies (you usually only have to suffer through this only once -- subsequent pregnancies are usually PUPPP-free).

What You Can Do

Experts agree that if your skin itches, scratch it. At the same time, the more you limit skin irritation, the less itchy you'll be:

• Wear loose-fitting clothing made from natural fibers.
• Use natural laundry detergents, dye-free soaps, and natural cleaning products.
• Avoid synthetic perfumes, which can irritate your skin and cause more itching.
• Keep cool. Heat exposure can irritate your skin and cause more itching.
• Try putting a natural belly balm (like WiseWays Herbals on your abdomen to sooth the itchiness.

Safety Note

Intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP)is a rare condition that can develop during the last trimester pregnancy (only .401% of women in Europe and North America develop it). ICP is caused by a backup of bile in the bloodstream because of liver malfunction and causes extreme itchiness on the hands and feet, which then spreads to the rest of the body. If you experience extreme itchiness, contact your doctor.

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