What are the skin changes during pregnancy?

Skin changes during pregnancy

During your pregnancy, you may begin to see a lot of changes happening to your skin. You may observe changes such as a sudden new glow on your face or pinkish, reddish streaks on your stomach. However, not every pregnant woman will experience the same skin changes. Following is a list of skin changes that are quite common during pregnancy:-

Stretch Marks:

Stretch marks are one of the most common skin changes that can occur during pregnancy. Approximately 90% of pregnant women will experience stretch marks. Stretch marks become visible as pinkish or reddish streaks running down your abdomen and/or breasts.

Mask of Pregnancy:

"Mask of pregnancy" is also known as melasma and chlosma. Melasma results in dark splotchy spots to appear on your face. These spots usually appear on your forehead and cheeks and are an outcome of increased pigmentation. When you get pregnant your body produces a large number of hormones, which results in an increase in your pigmentation. Nearly 50% of pregnant women show signs of the "mask of pregnancy".

Pregnancy Glow:

When you are pregnant your body produces 50% more blood, thus resulting in additional blood circulation through your body. This increase in blood circulation causes your face to become brighter. Your body is also producing a fair amount of hormones that cause your oil glands to work in over drive, leaving your face a little shiny. Both these things can result in the "pregnancy glow" that is quite talked about.

Pimple Breakouts and Acne:

If you have a problem with pimples and acne already, your pimples and acne may become more irritated during pregnancy. The extra hormones in your body cause the oil glands to secrete more oil, which can result in such breakouts.

Varicose Veins:

The bulky bluish veins that usually appear on the legs during pregnancy are nothing but Varicose veins. These are a result of your body compensating for the extra blood flow that is going to your baby. Varicose veins can be uncomfortable and sometimes quite painful. Sadly, if you have a family history of varicose veins, you are likely to get them during your pregnancy. The good news is that you can start taking measures now to prevent or at least decrease the symptoms.

Spider Veins:

Spider veins, also called spider nevi, are minute reddish tiny blood vessels which branch outward. Spider veins are caused by the increase in blood circulation. They will usually appear on the face, neck, upper chest as well as arms. Spider veins do not hurt and usually tend to disappear shortly after delivery.

Dry Itchy Abdomen:

As your belly grows, your skin stretches and tightens. This causes a lot of dryness and itching. If you begin to experience severe itching late in pregnancy that is accompanied by nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fatigue and possibly jaundice, you should contact your doctor right away. This could signal cholestasis, which is related to the function of the liver. Your doctor may perhaps take blood tests to make sure if you are experiencing cholestasis. Cholestasis occurs in about 1 in every 50 pregnancies and is not a problem after pregnancy.

If the itching is very intense and spreads to your arms and legs, it might be pruritic urticarial papules and plagues (PUPP). This condition occurs in about 1 in every 150 pregnancies. PUPP are itchy, reddish, raised patches on the skin that go away after delivery.

Linea Nigra:

Linea nigra is a dark line that runs from your navel to your pubic bone. This is a line that may have always been present, but you may have never noticed it before as it was a light color. During pregnancy this line darkens and is probably caused by the hormonal imbalance. It generally appears around the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy.

Skin Tags:

Skin tags are very tiny, loose growths of skin that generally appear under your arms or breasts.

Darkening of Freckles, Moles and Other Areas of Your Skin:

Increased hormones cause changes in skin pigmentation. You will observe that areas with dark pigmentation, such as freckles, nipples, areolas, moles, and labia, can turn even darker.