Cutaneous Changes During Pregnancy

Background:There are several changes which affect females’ skin that occur during pregnancy. These changes, although considered, physiological are quite distressing to many women. Discussion with the pregnant woman about the nature of her skin condition and the possible fetal risks associated with it is imperative. Aim of the work: This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of dermatological manifestations which affect pregnant women in our environment with different socio-economic levels. Patients and Methods: This study was a crosssectional design. It included 600 pregnant women who attended Dermatology, Venereology, Andrology and Antenatal care clinics. Local examination included morphology of skin changes (monomorphic or polymorphic), type of lesion (primary or secondary), distribution of skin disease (localized or generalized, unilateral or bilateral) and site of the lesion. Results: The most common physiological skin changes were pigmentary changes (98%) followed by striae distensae (76%), vascular changes (27.3%), hair changes (20.2%), glandular changes (19%) and nail changes (2%). As regarding pigmentary changes; lineanigra (86.6%), secondary areola (74.3%) and melasma (44%) were most common pigmentary changes in pregnant women.Scabies was the most common associated dermatological disorder (2.7%) of pregnant women followed by acute urticaria (1.3%), polymorphic light eruption (1.3%) and molluscum contagiosum (0.3%) of patients.Pregnancy-induced dermatoses were found in 67 (11.3%) of pregnant women. Atopic eruption of pregnancy (44.8%) was the most common condition [i.e. includes eczema (23.9%), prurigo (14.9%) and pruritis folliculitis (6%)]; polymorphic eruptions (44.8%), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (6%) and pemphigoid gestationis (4.5%) of pregnant women. Conclusion: Pregnancy is a unique physio-logical state characterized by metabolic, immunologic, and hormonal readjustments. These make a pregnant woman vulnerable to all dermatoses occurring in the non-pregnant state and also to certain eruptions related to the physiologic burden of gestation.