When we think of side effects during pregnancy, we think of nausea, morning sickness, mood swings, etc. Itching is something that few pregnant women expect. But it is in fact very common and something that is fairly easy to deal with. In this write-up, you know everything you need to know about itching during pregnancy.
In This Article –
1. Is It Normal To Feel Itchy During Pregnancy?
Sometimes you can get itchy rashes during pregnancy
Yes! It is normal to feel a bit scratchy during this time, especially in the later months of pregnancy. Your body is going through many changes to give your baby a perfect home inside you. And sometimes, these changes can cause side effects such as itching in certain sensitive places.
Sometimes itching can be a symptom of a more severe condition lying underneath. Keep on reading to know when you should consult help for it.
2. What causes it?
Make sure you use chemical-free products for your skin
There is no one cause for feeling itchy during pregnancy. Instead, there can be many things that can result in itchiness during pregnancy;
- The most common ones can be stretching skin and hormones.
- Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) can make irritation rashes appear along the stretch marks during later months of pregnancy.
- Your skin tends to dry during pregnancy, which can cause irritation.
- Cholestasis can cause itchiness because of bile acid building up in your blood, and it typically occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy.
- Prurigo causes scratchy bumps to grow on the arms, legs, and abdomen of a pregnant woman. These bumps can occur in any trimester of pregnancy.
3. What can I do about it?
Feeling nausea along with itchiness can be due to cholestasis
There are different solutions for different situations, we can list them for you to try and see what works for you.
Don’t worry, we will share them in simple words without any jargon.
- A very frequent cause of itchiness is the perfume or detergent you are using. Consider changing them for all-natural and organic products.
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting or synthetic clothes, as they can really aggravate your already sensitive skin. Go for loose-fitting cotton clothes, as they are soft and gentle on your skin.
- Most times, itchiness can just be due to dry skin. Drinking an adequate amount of water can help in keeping your skin healthy.
- You can also apply perfume-free moisturizer or your good old coconut oil on your skin to keep it from drying out. Make sure you apply it twice a day.
- Control the urge to scratch your itchy skin. It will just increase the rashes. Instead, keep a cotton napkin in the freezer, let it cool, and use this for mild cold fomentation. This will help soothe your skin.
4. When should I see a doctor?
Some causes of itchiness are so serious that you should go to a doctor immediately. But how do we know when to do that?
If along with itchiness you are also showing symptoms like nausea, dark-colored urine, and yellowing of the skin, then you likely have cholestasis. It is a liver condition where bile acid gets accumulated in your blood. Consult a doctor immediately, so they can take a blood test and start treating it.
Next, if you have rashes along your stretching skin, you probably have PUPPP. Similarly, if you notice crusty-looking bumps along your legs, arms, and abdomen, it can be prurigo.
5. Conclusion
Itchiness is something that can be taken lightly by many. We hope that you are now a little more aware of how to deal with any itchiness that comes your way in your pregnancy journey and when to get medical help if necessary. You can also reach out to the TME team by joining our WhatsApp community, where you will get 24/7 peer support! Just click here to sign up: TME WhatsApp community.
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