Itchy skin can be
more than just another pregnancy symptom. We've got the deets on how to figure
out whether your itch is because of something scary (but totally treatable) or
just a matter of your skin being stretched thin. Plus, how to make it go away!
What is
itchy skin during pregnancy?
Does it seem like as
your bump gets bigger, your skin gets itchier? You might feel the urge to
scratch all over, but especially around your belly and breasts. This is totally
common and normally happens around the second and third trimesters.
What
could be causing my itchy skin during pregnancy?
As it stretches and
tightens from your growing belly, your skin may feel dry and itchy. Your changing
hormones may be causing the itching as well. If you have severe itching
that spreads to your arms and legs, it could be pruritic urticarial papules and
plaques during pregnancy (PUPPP). If you have PUPPP, you have itchy red spots
on your skin. But it’s nothing to be worried about; it’ll go away after you
give birth. Itchy skin can also be a symptom of allergies or cholestasis of
pregnancy.
When
should I go to the doctor with my itchy skin during pregnancy?
While itchy skin
comes with the pregnancy territory, if you have severe itching — particularly
on your hands and feet — late in pregnancy that’s accompanied by dark-colored
urine, light-colored bowel movements, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and fatigue,
talk to your doctor. They could be signs of cholestasis, a disease that affects
the liver and that could also affect baby’s health.
What
should I do to treat my itchy skin during pregnancy?
Avoid hot showers
and baths because they dry out your skin. You should moisturize a lot and go
for unscented stuff, since it's less likely to irritate. You can also take
colloidal oatmeal baths. Colloidal oatmeal is extremely fine-ground whole oats,
which can relieve itches and soothe skin. You can make your own if you grind
the heck out of oats with a coffee grinder (essentially to powder form) and
drop a couple of cups’ worth into a warm bath. But you can just as easily buy
Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment from your local drugstore. For optimum relief,
make sure the bath is warm, not hot, and gently pat yourself dry afterward.
Also, wearing loose-fitting cotton gear won’t irritate your skin as much.
http://www.thebump.com