What Causes Rashes during Pregnancy and Their treatment?

During pregnancy, you may notice a variety of changes in your skin, hair, and nails. Some occur as a result of hormonal changes or specific stimuli. Others are more difficult to explain. Rashes can appear anywhere on the body and vary in appearance and sensation depending on the reason. Some rashes are benign, which means they pose no risk to you or your baby. Others may be a symptom of a more serious condition that necessitates medical treatment to keep you and your baby safe. It is critical to keep track of your symptoms in order to be properly diagnosed and treated. The good news is that there are frequently things you can do at home to assist calm your skin and relieve itching. And many rashes go after the kid is born.

Itchy skin is common during pregnancy, and some women suffer rashes as well. Some rash types are only seen during pregnancy, while others can occur at any time. Some rashes, however, may be more common during pregnancy for some women due to the physical changes their bodies are through. Skin rashes are usually harmless and do not signal a concern with the foetus. However, diagnosing the reason early on is critical because some rashes are an indication of a more serious ailment.

Let’s discuss about the type of Rashes one can face during pregnancy-

Some rashes that can occur during pregnancy include:

• heat rash
• hives
• atopic eruption of pregnancy
• pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) rash
• pemphigoid gestationis

Causes of Heat Rashes –

Because of the increased blood supply to the skin, pregnancy can cause people to feel particularly warm. As a result, a person may notice that they sweat more, which can contribute to a heat rash in some situations.

A heat rash, often known as prickly heat, is characterised by an uncomfortable area of small blisters on the skin. Staying cool and dry might aid in the healing of heat rashes. If a person has heat rashes, they can attempt the following remedies:

Wearing loose clothing made of natural fibres such as cotton, working and sleeping in cool, well-ventilated environments, and changing out of wet clothing as soon as feasible

What causes Hives?

Hives appear on the skin as raised lumps or welts. They itch and are frequently caused by an allergic reaction. However, additional possibilities are heat Scratching the skin, stress, pressure on the skin, Mild hives can be treated at home by chilling the skin. If the hives are severe, or if they are accompanied by swelling or difficulty breathing, get immediate medical attention

Atopic dermatitis of pregnancy is the most common pregnancy-specific skin disorder. The term refers to a grouping of several similar pregnancy rashes. Among these are Trusted Source:

• atopic eczema
• prurigo of pregnancy
• pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy

Eczema is marked by a dry, itchy rash that appears red on lighter skin and grey or brown on darker skin. Eczema sufferers during pregnancy may notice that their lesions flare up more than usual throughout the first and second trimesters. Prurigo of pregnancy is characterised by a rash composed of papules, which are tiny bumps packed with fluid. Pruritic folliculitis is characterised by papules that mimic pimples or acne. These situations are unpleasant, but they do not endanger the pregnant woman or the foetus. The rash will usually go away when the baby is born. To relieve itching till then, a doctor may give emollients, steroid creams, or antihistamines.

PUPPP rash-

PUPPP rash affects approximately one in every 160 pregnancies. This syndrome is more common in women carrying numerous foetuses, such as twins or triplets. A PUPPP rash appears as the skin expands, causing damage to the layer of tissue beneath. This results in inflammation, which manifests as a rash. A PUPPP rash can appear as early as the second trimester, but it commonly appears in the last three months of pregnancy. It fades disappear once you give delivery. A PUPPP rash is itchy and causes lumps on the skin, but it is not dangerous. To treat it, a doctor may recommend oral antihistamines, skin emollients, or steroid medicine.

Pemphigoid gestationis is a rare autoimmune illness that affects 1 in every 50,000 pregnancies, according to Trusted Source. It causes an itchy, hive-like rash around the navel that spreads to other parts of the body. Blisters may form as a result of the rash.This disease usually manifests itself in the second or third trimester. It can go away in late pregnancy, but it usually comes back before the baby is born. The menstrual cycle or the use of oral birth control tablets after pregnancy may cause the rash to reappear.

Is it safe to eat fish during pregnancy?

Should you consume fish when pregnant, or should you avoid it entirely? Pregnant women are bombarded with conflicting messages about which foods they should and should not consume, particularly when it comes to fish. So we're here to clear things up,

While different people have different dietary restrictions, fish may (and should) be a healthy part of a pregnant woman's diet. This is due to the fact that fish is a high-quality, low-fat protein source. In addition, fish provides a variety of essential elements such as calcium, iodine, and vitamin D. Most significantly, many fish are high in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a form of omega-3 fatty acid required for normal brain and eye development in developing newborns. DHA and its omega-3 cousin, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are mostly found in fish and shellfish. Furthermore, DHA from fish is the sort of omega-3 fatty acid that the majority of pregnant women require in their diets.

Fish is safe for pregnant women if they choose the proper fish. Experts have previously advised pregnant women to avoid eating fish and seafood due to mercury exposure. This is a valid concern, however not all fish contain high levels of mercury. Low-mercury fish, such as salmon, shrimp, crab, and haddock, are safe and suggested for expectant parents.

In fact, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both recommend consuming low-mercury fish and other protein-rich foods to aid foetal growth and development.

What kinds of fish should you avoid when pregnant?

Despite the numerous benefits of fish, you should avoid a select species during pregnancy. Some, particularly large, ocean-going predators, have high quantities of mercury, a poison that is particularly harmful to babies. Others, particularly those found in dirty lakes and rivers, can be contaminated with PCBs, a toxin you definitely don't want to feed to a foetus or infant.

Avoid the following seven varieties of fish, which are all rich in mercury:

• Tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico
• Shark
• Swordfish
• Orange roughy
• Bigeye tuna
• Marlin
• King mackerel

What kind of fish is safe to eat while having a baby?

Despite the large list of fish to avoid during pregnancy, the great majority of fish available in stores and restaurants are considered safe to consume at two to three servings (eight to twelve ounces) per week. These are some examples:

• Wild salmon
• Shrimp
• Catfish
• Tilapia
• Sole
• Flounder
• Haddock
• Halibut
• Ocean perch
• Pollock
• Cod
• Canned light tuna
• Crab
• Crawfish
• Lobster
• Hake
• Clams
• Black sea bass
• Anchovies
• Trout