The whole body itches during pregnancy. Causes and treatment of skin with itching in the intimate area in pregnant women

This is a pathological condition that is a symptom of various diseases that have arisen or aggravated during gestation. It is manifested by a sensation of painful tickling irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, which causes a scratching reflex. There may be a rash, other skin symptoms, signs of damage to various organs and systems. It is diagnosed with the help of biochemical, immunological, hormonal, allergological, microbiological studies, PCR, RIF, ELISA, ultrasound. For pathogenetic and symptomatic treatment of itching, antihistamines, corticosteroids, emollients, and sedative herbal remedies are used.

ICD-10

L29.8 Another itch

General information

According to observations of obstetricians-gynecologists, temporary or permanent itching sensations of varying intensity occur in more than half of pregnant women. 45-50% of patients complain of genital (intimate), 18-22% - skin, 8-10% - anal itching. In some women during pregnancy, the simultaneous appearance of different types of itching is noted. Usually, the disorder develops as a result of an exacerbation of pre-existing diseases. In some cases, the cause of diseases, the symptom of which is itching, is the changes that occur during pregnancy. The relevance of timely diagnosis of the pathology that caused itching of the skin or mucous membranes is due to the risk of developing serious obstetric complications in some pathologies.

Causes

Specialists in the fields of obstetrics name many factors that can provoke the occurrence of itchy sensations in pregnant women. Itching can manifest diseases that have become aggravated or that have arisen in the gestational period, systemic responses of the body to the action of exogenous agents and endogenous metabolites. The most common causes of the disorder are:

Probable prerequisites for more frequent occurrence of itching in various diseases in pregnant women are an increase in dryness of the skin as a result of the influence of progesterone, a physiological decrease in immunity aimed at maintaining gestation, stretching and rupture of the connective tissue fibers of the skin with the formation of autoantigens, and a violation of the natural microflora of the vagina. Pregnancy also serves as a trigger for the development of a number of diseases accompanied by itching - gestational diabetes, postpartum autoimmune thyroiditis, etc. Additional risk factors are obesity, wearing synthetic clothing and underwear, the use of scented pads and irritating alkaline skin and genital products, non-compliance with the rules personal hygiene, the use of spicy food with seasonings, spices.

Pathogenesis

The mechanism of itching during pregnancy depends on the causes that caused it, however, the key link in the pathogenesis in all cases is the irritation of certain sections of the afferent pathways that transmit nerve impulses. Most often, itching occurs due to stimulation of peripheral nocireceptors. The receptor apparatus is usually affected by mediators formed during a local inflammatory, allergic, autoimmune reaction, microbial toxins, metabolites (bile acids, nitrogenous compounds, high concentrations of glucose), drugs.

Perhaps the development of itchy sensations due to damage, in which the inflammatory reaction is secondary, constant local effects (insect bites, movement of helminths, irritation with urine, leucorrhoea). Sometimes pathological afferentation, characteristic of itching, is noted against the background of microcirculatory disorders (for example, in diabetes mellitus), damage to sensory nerve fibers (with multiple sclerosis). With volume neoplasms of the brain, strokes, neurotic and mental disorders, the focus of pathological impulses, subjectively perceived as itching, is localized in the central parts of the nervous system.

Symptoms of itching during pregnancy

The main symptom of the disorder is local or generalized itching sensations of varying intensity, from slight tingling and burning to an unbearable desire to scratch or rub the skin, mucous membranes. Depending on the causes of itching, it can be constant or periodic, serve as the only sign of the disease or be accompanied by other skin manifestations - redness, scratching, macular, papular, vesicular, pustular rash, peeling. In general, the clinical picture is characterized by significant polymorphism, determined by the leading pathology, the symptom of which was skin or intimate itching.

Complications

Diseases with intense itching can be complicated by secondary infection of excoriated sites. The likelihood of developing obstetric complications depends on the influence of the underlying disease on pregnancy. Most skin diseases, transient allergic reactions, dermatosis of pregnant women cause discomfort and worsen the quality of life, but do not pose a serious threat to the woman and the fetus. In severe cholestasis of pregnant women, many systemic processes, the likelihood of gestosis, spontaneous miscarriage, premature birth, fetoplacental insufficiency, fetal growth retardation, anomalies in labor, coagulopathic bleeding, DIC increases. Possible complications of infectious diseases that occur with itching are chorioamnionitis, intrauterine infection of the fetus, postpartum endometritis, obstetric peritonitis.

Diagnostics

The main task of a diagnostic search for complaints of a patient about itching of the skin, genitals, and perianal area is to identify the cause that caused the disorder. To make a diagnosis, a wide range of laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods are used to determine the state of various organs and systems, to detect biochemical markers of the disease. In addition to a gynecological examination, general blood and urine tests during pregnancy, the following are recommended:

• Blood chemistry. Indicative for some diseases are data on the level of glucose, bile acids, total bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides, serum iron, urea, uric acid, creatinine, enzymes (AlT, AST, alkaline phosphatase), the composition of blood protein fractions.
• Hormonal studies. To exclude endocrinopathies, manifested by itching of the skin, mucous membranes, an insulin resistance index, an assessment of the blood levels of insulin, TSH, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyroxin-binding globulin are used. In some cases, determine the level of sex hormones.
• Study of immune and allergic status. Confirmation of the atopic nature of the disease is an increased concentration in the blood of IgE, histamine. In some disorders, specific markers of autoimmune processes (antibodies to collagen, AT-TPO, AT rTTG) are detected.
• Diagnosis of infections. Highly sensitive methods for detecting infectious diseases are polymerase chain reaction, RIF, ELISA. With their help, you can detect signs of genital herpes, candidiasis, chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, and other urogynecological diseases.
• Culture of the discharged urogenital tract. Microbiological examination allows not only to determine the causative agent of an infectious disease, but also to assess its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. The method is especially indicated for patients with itching of the vulva, vagina, urethra.

In the presence of elements of the rash, a scraping or separated skin is analyzed. To assess the morphological state of various organs, ultrasound diagnostics that is safe for the fetus is used - ultrasound of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and small pelvis. As additional methods, chemical and toxicological analyzes, histological examination of biopsy specimens, scraping for enterobiasis, and fecal analysis for helminth eggs can be recommended. Differential diagnosis is usually carried out between diseases in which itching occurs during pregnancy. In addition to an obstetrician-gynecologist and a dermatologist, according to indications, the patient is consulted by a venereologist, an infectious disease specialist, an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist, a hepatologist and a urologist.

Treatment of itching during pregnancy

When developing tactics for managing a patient with complaints of itchy sensations, the influence of the underlying disease on gestation is taken into account. In most cases, it is possible to prolong pregnancy until the term of physiological birth. The treatment regimen is determined by the protocol for the relevant disorder, may include antibiotics, hormones, antifungal, hormonal, anticonvulsant drugs, drugs from other pharmacotherapeutic groups, taking into account their possible impact on fetal development. To reduce or eliminate itching, nonspecific pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy is effective:

• Antihistamines. Due to the blockade of histamine receptors, the transmission of excitation along sensitive C-fibers decreases, the release of mediators by mast cells decreases. Suppression of an allergic reaction can significantly reduce the intensity of itching or completely stop it.
• Glucocorticoids. Local application of corticosteroid ointments, creams, emulsions has a pronounced antipruritic effect. Local treatment is more effective with limited dermatitis and dermatosis. Given the possible effects on the fetus, systemic corticosteroids during gestation are used to a limited extent.
• emollients. Since the skin becomes drier during pregnancy, which increases itching, its moisturizing and softening have a positive therapeutic effect. Means of this group also allow you to accelerate the restoration of damaged epidermis and lipid intercellular structures of the skin.
• Sedative herbal remedies. Due to the mutual influence of itching and emotional disorders (bad mood, irritability), the appointment of sedative preparations makes it possible to reduce the intensity of perception of uncomfortable sensations at the level of the central nervous system. Sedative therapy also contributes to the normalization of disturbed sleep.

The patient is advised to exclude from the diet foods that increase irritation or can cause allergies, normalize the drinking regimen, get enough rest, and avoid stress. Usually, natural delivery is recommended for pregnant women with itching. Caesarean section is performed only if there are obstetric indications.

Forecast and prevention

In the absence of systemic disease, pregnancy outcomes in women with pruritus are usually favorable. The prognosis worsens when serious somatic diseases, endocrinopathies are detected. As a preventive measure, for patients suffering from skin and other pathologies, when planning pregnancy, it is necessary to take into account the recommendations of a dermatologist and specialized specialists. Pregnant women without concomitant pathology are advised to carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene, refuse synthetic underwear, moisturize the skin with natural means, avoid situations in which sweating increases sharply - staying in stuffy rooms, overheating in the sun. For washing linen and clothes, it is better to use phosphate-free neutral washing powders.

Pregnancy is a big stress for the female body. Some pregnant women had to endure several months of toxicosis, while others did not even encounter such symptoms. Another problem of pregnant women is itchy skin. Why does this happen and how can this disease be treated?

Itching manifests itself in pregnant women on the skin in different ways. He worries some in the morning and evening, while others around the clock. Sometimes the symptoms are minor. Often itching brings great discomfort to the expectant mother. If it is very strong, then on the body you can see the comb to the blood.

Also, other symptoms may appear on the body during the bearing of a child:

• dry skin;
• stretch marks on the chest and abdomen;
• rashes on the arms, chest and legs;
• change in skin color.

The patient must tell the attending physician about all such changes so that he can make the correct diagnosis.

Allergy as the cause of itching

Sometimes in the early stages of pregnancy, severe itching worries, the reasons for this phenomenon may be an allergic reaction.

In this case, a woman needs:

• limit contact with pets;
• avoid rooms where there is a lot of dust;
• replace the feather pillow;
• temporarily stop wearing woolen clothes;
• limit the use of allergic products;
• avoid contact with sunlight.

If itching during pregnancy is the cause of an allergy, then it is possible to get rid of all its symptoms by eliminating the irritant. Once and for all, it is impossible to eliminate this disease, but if you follow the advice of a doctor and a healthy diet, you can improve the condition.

The main symptoms of this disease are pruritus, which often increases at night. On the skin, you can see certain wounds. Often several people in the family suffer from this disease at the same time.

To cure the disease, you should see an infectious disease doctor. After that, you need to pass a scraping from the skin to identify the scabies mite. Further, patients are prescribed ointments, medicines and careful treatment of the bed.

Cholestasis of pregnancy and itching

Cholestasis often develops against the background of pathological processes in the liver. In this case, there is stagnation of bile in the gallbladder. There is intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis.

With this disease, pregnant women may feel itching in the plantar and palmar surfaces. Further unpleasant symptoms can be felt throughout the body. The most pronounced complaints are at night. Cholestasis occurs in the last month of pregnancy.

Intrahepatic cholestasis

Women who have:

• diseases of the digestive tract;
• pancreatic tumor;
• hereditary predisposition;
• problems in the bile ducts;
• cholelithiasis.

In addition to severe skin itching, pregnant women need to pay attention to feces, urine and skin color. If you start the disease, then the feces will have a light shade, the urine will become dark, and the skin will turn yellow. A high content of bile pigments can harm mother and child.

To determine cholestasis, pregnant women need to pass the following tests:

• general analysis of urine and blood;
• blood glucose;
• Ultrasound of the liver and gallbladder;
• blood biochemistry.

Analysis of the level of bile acids and liver tests are taken twice. This is due to the fact that pruritus is often a precursor to changes in blood counts.

How to deal with itching yourself?

Treatment of itching on the skin is aimed at eliminating the underlying cause, the onset of the symptom. To do this, you can use the following recommendations of doctors:

1. Ventilate the apartment every day so that the room is no more than 18 ° C. The procedure is necessary to prevent excessive sweating.
2. Doctors recommend taking a shower every day and following the rules of hygiene.
3. Itchy places should be washed daily with a soda solution or medicinal herbs in the form of a tricolor violet, chamomile and a string.
4. It is advisable for pregnant women to make compresses with duckweed and chamomile. Herbs must first be ground to a state of porridge, and then put them on the skin, covering them with a gauze napkin. The procedure is preferably carried out twice a day.

Such methods can eliminate itching. However, it is important not to forget to treat the underlying disease. Indeed, otherwise, the itching can return again and bring discomfort to a pregnant woman.

Patients with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar levels. Sometimes you will need to inject insulin. Such treatment must take place under the supervision of an endocrinologist.

If pregnant women suffer from dermatosis, then they are prescribed a diet that excludes spicy and salty foods. To eliminate itching, lotions with a solution of potassium permanganate are applied to the itchy place. Antihistamines and vitamin therapy help to eliminate burning sensation.

Treatment for cholestasis takes place in a hospital. Patients are prescribed drugs for the outflow of bile (Papaverine) and to maintain the functioning of the liver (Essentiale).

If women have jaundice, then there is a direct threat to the health of the expectant mother. With such a disease, a pregnant woman is hospitalized and the pregnancy is terminated at any time.

What should a future mother do?

Regardless of which part of the body is prone to discomfort, a woman should definitely consult a doctor. Only a doctor can determine the true cause of the itching. If there are suspicions of abnormal liver function, then a number of important studies should be carried out: take a blood test or do an ultrasound scan. In the event that a woman needs the help of doctors, a pregnant woman can be admitted to a hospital in order to undergo the entire course of treatment under the supervision of doctors.

The following recommendations help to alleviate the condition of the expectant mother:

1. Pregnant women need to watch their diet. You should refrain from salty, fried and fatty foods. You also need to give up overseas fruits and seafood. After all, they cause allergies. To improve bowel function, you should eat dried apricots and prunes. It is worth temporarily abandoning the intake of sweets. Instead of chocolate, you can eat homemade yogurt and fresh fruit.
2. Cleanliness of the body should come first. You should abandon your favorite gel, and instead buy a children's series that does not irritate the skin.
3. A cosmetic cream that does not have dyes and a pronounced aroma helps to eliminate itching. In extreme cases, you can buy baby cream.
4. Don't forget to take water. If a pregnant woman does not have edema, then you should drink up to 2 liters of water daily.
5. You can improve your condition by walking in the fresh air and healthy sleep in a well-ventilated room.
6. It is important to review your personal wardrobe and abandon underwear made from synthetic materials. Clothing must be spacious and not interfere with movement.
7. Bathing in hot baths is prohibited.
8. If the legs itch, then a soothing compress of oatmeal, which is steamed in milk, can be applied to the inflamed area.
9. Pregnant women need to endure so as not to scratch the skin.
10. To eliminate itching, you can take baths with herbs once every 7 days, which relieve inflammation. You can choose good herbs with the help of a gynecologist. A string and chamomile help improve health.

Itching brings a pregnant woman a lot of unpleasant troubles. After all, the body is constantly itching, and this interferes with doing other things. Sometimes for this reason, the mood can deteriorate or sleep can be disturbed. In this case, you should clearly follow all the doctor's recommendations.

Every second expectant mother is faced with such a phenomenon as itching during pregnancy in the intimate area, which causes significant discomfort and is not included in the normal criteria. This symptom may appear due to various factors associated with hormonal changes in the body and a decrease in immune defenses. Less commonly, gynecological problems are the source of the problem.

Regardless of the cause of the pathology, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the hormonal background of a woman is actively rebuilt. At the same time, the mucosa of the external genitalia, which was previously dense and elastic, under the influence of hormones becomes more loose, porous and highly sensitive to minimal exposure to any external stimuli.

The changes also affect the composition of the microflora of the vagina - due to hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother, the production of lactic acid increases, against which the number of yeast fungi may increase and the number of beneficial bacteria may decrease.

So, what external irritants can cause itching and burning during pregnancy:

1. Wearing synthetic underwear, which cannot fully pass air, against which a favorable environment is formed for the active growth and reproduction of pathogenic microflora.
2. Frequent douching. If a pregnant woman regularly performs this procedure, thus intending to get rid of vaginal discharge, she risks breaking the protective mucosal barrier and changing the normal acidity of the intimate area.
3. Active use for the toilet of the genital organs of ordinary soap or shower gels. Such funds easily dry out the vaginal mucosa and disrupt its normal microflora, so the expectant mother is faced with itching of the labia and burning sensation in the vagina during pregnancy.

It must be remembered that throughout the pregnancy a woman should carefully monitor her character. Normally, they have a milky or transparent color, a uniform consistency, and any foreign smell should be completely absent. If vaginal discharge during pregnancy is normal, there is nothing to worry about. If there are changes in their color and consistency, during pregnancy, signs such as itching and burning appear, you should consult a doctor.

Internal problems

A decrease in the immune defense of the body during pregnancy is a physiological aspect - it is thanks to him that a woman gets the opportunity to normally endure and give birth to a healthy child. But, despite this indisputable advantage, the deterioration of immunity is due to an increased risk of getting sick for a long nine months.

Consider what pathological processes can affect the body of the expectant mother and, as a result, cause itching in the intimate area during pregnancy.

infections

During the period of bearing a baby, various infectious factors can negatively affect the state of the urogenital area. In most cases, the painful itching of the genitals is caused by diseases such as and. Their development is due to inflammation affecting the urethra and bladder, as a result of severe hypothermia, overheating and subsequent infection.

A growing burning sensation in the urethra during pregnancy with frequent painful urge to empty the bladder will tell a woman about the onset of cystitis. In this case, the urine acquires a cloudy color, it is excreted less than usual. Despite frequent urination, there is no relief, the genitals itch. The condition requires immediate treatment, as there is a high likelihood of complications in the form of an ascending kidney infection.

Candidiasis

Itching and discharge during pregnancy are often a symptom. Many women in the position face vaginal candidiasis, because their immune system is weak in order to fully fight the pathogens of this pathology. Some even perceive it as a sign of pregnancy.

You can identify thrush yourself by the following symptoms:

• itching and cheesy during pregnancy;
• sour smell of vaginal discharge;
• discomfort when urinating;
• discomfort and pain during intercourse.

Thrush needs to be treated. Usually, for this purpose, the doctor chooses drugs that are safe for the intrauterine development of the baby - and. It is necessary to eliminate this disease before the 36th week of pregnancy, since the mucosa affected by a fungal infection can be seriously affected during childbirth, and probably the baby's oral cavity.

Dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis or develops in a future mother as a result of the displacement of the normal microflora of the vagina by opportunistic microorganisms. The main signs of dysbacteriosis during pregnancy are a fishy smell from vaginal discharge and excruciating itching.

The exact cause of bacterial vaginosis is unknown. Experts believe that pathogenic microflora can capture the mucous membrane against the background of such predisposing factors as stress, hormonal changes, poor ecology, unhealthy foods, long-term antibiotic treatment.

Herpes

Herpetic rash on the skin and mucous membrane of the intimate area and severe itching without discharge during pregnancy - anxiety symptoms. If these clinical signs are diagnosed, it is necessary to consult your doctor, since self-treatment of this disease with antiviral drugs is not recommended.

If diagnostics and therapeutic measures are neglected, herpes can be dangerous for carrying a pregnancy by the occurrence or malformations of the unborn baby. The sooner the expectant mother sees a doctor, the better.

Chlamydia

Infectious diseases, such as, ureaplasmosis and, do not cause specific clinical symptoms in a woman's body, according to which the presence of these pathologies could be suspected. They can manifest themselves precisely at a time when a woman is least protected.

Chlamydia during pregnancy occurs with itching of the genitals, which increases after a long walk or during urination. This disease can negatively affect the normal course of pregnancy and cause spontaneous abortion or, as well as affect the intrauterine development of the baby, so it is necessary to treat the infection.

Other reasons

The diseases listed above are always accompanied by itching and burning, both in the early and late stages of pregnancy. But this is not all the possible factors leading to irritation of the genitals of the expectant mother.

There are cases when itching and burning during pregnancy is the result of such a serious disease as. In this case, there is constant thirst and hunger, frequent urination. The sugar contained in the urine causes increased dryness of the mucous membranes and skin of the genital organs, as a result of which the woman suffers from severe burning and itching in the intimate area.

Less commonly, itching in the vagina during pregnancy occurs against the background of liver dysfunction. This condition is accompanied by clinical manifestations of jaundice - yellowing of the skin and sclera, dark urine, discoloration of feces and pain in the liver.

Also, the source of the problem may be disorders that have arisen in the endocrine system - hyper- or hypofunction of the thyroid gland. The same can be said about the stress that expectant mothers often have in connection with imminent motherhood - in this case, psychosomatic processes are triggered in the woman's body that can cause symptoms such as itching and burning in the vagina during pregnancy.

Which doctor should I contact?

Solving a problem should always begin with identifying and eliminating the cause. Only a specialist can determine its source and choose tactics to deal with it. For this, the expectant mother is recommended to contact the gynecologist leading the pregnancy.

Any medications can be taken only with the permission of a doctor. Medicines are selected by a specialist depending on the gestational age, the cause of the pathological condition and its severity.

Less often, a woman is referred to other specialists, for example, to an endocrinologist with an increase in blood sugar.

How to get rid of discomfort?

Treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. But there are three drugs that are effective for itching and burning in the intimate area and have been tested during pregnancy.

Let's list them:

• Livarol. Candles that eliminate itching of almost any origin and in a short time. But you can use Livarol only from the second trimester of pregnancy. In just 5 days, suppositories will restore the vaginal microflora and eliminate the cause of bacterial vaginosis.
• Clotrimazole. Effectively fights fungal flora. Expectant mothers are recommended Clotrimazole in the form of an ointment. The agent is applied to the affected areas of the mucous membrane and skin for a month. In the first trimester, the drug should not be used.
• Hexicon. The drug successfully fights sexually transmitted and fungal diseases of the genital area. Candles Hexicon are inserted into the vagina 2 times a day for a week.

Harmless folk remedies will also help to eliminate discomfort and itching at home, the use of which must be informed by the doctor.

Here are some recipes:

1. Carrot juice to restore the microflora of the vagina. Douching is done in the morning and evening. This tool soothes and regenerates the mucosa, improves the condition of the microflora. Carrot juice can be replaced with soda douches, they have a similar effect.
2. Medicinal herbs for inflammation. To prepare a remedy, you will need a collection of birch buds, chicory, calendula, succession, hops and St. John's wort. 2 tbsp. l. collection is brewed with 1 liter of boiling water, infused for an hour and filtered. Infusion drink 200 ml 3 times a day before meals.

Prevention

Prevention of itching during pregnancy is primarily aimed at a woman's hygiene and lifestyle optimization.

We list the main preventive measures that all expectant mothers should adhere to:

• daily shower without the use of scented detergents;
• the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe intimate zone should always be kept dry and clean, frequent changes of soft cotton linen will help in this;
• underwear is recommended to be washed with a phosphate-free neutral detergent;
• the clothes of the expectant mother should not hamper movements, it is good if they are made of natural hygroscopic materials;
• do not leave the house in extreme heat and stay in a stuffy room for a long time;
• the expectant mother should not be addicted to sweet or unhealthy foods in order to maintain the normal microflora of the intestines and vagina.

I like!

Itching- This is a painful sensation that is caused by constant irritation of the nerve endings and is manifested by a strong need to comb the skin and mucous membranes.

Information During pregnancy, many women complain of frequent skin itching (especially of the skin of the abdomen and chest), which gives them considerable discomfort. Itching can be constant or appear from time to time, intensify in the evening and at night or disturb throughout the day, manifest itself or be a symptom of another disease.

Causes of skin itching

TO main reasons include:

1. Rapid belly growth and breast augmentation. In the second half of pregnancy, the skin begins to quickly stretch, ruptures of connective tissue fibers occur, and there is a constant desire to comb the skin. Especially the itching intensifies in the evening and at night;
2. Allergic reactions And. An allergen can be new hygiene products, plant pollen, food products, etc. In addition to itching, allergies are characterized by redness, swelling, and rashes;
3. Excessive sweating. If the rules of hygiene are neglected, sweat can accumulate in the folds of the body and cause itching;
4. cholestasis pregnant women (disorders of the liver and biliary tract caused by hormonal changes). Cholestasis is characterized by severe itching and redness of the palms and feet, then it can spread to other parts of the body;
5. Diabetes;
6. Dermatoses of pregnant women as a manifestation of rare types of toxicosis. This is a group of skin diseases that appear only during pregnancy. Itching of pregnant women is more common, which spreads throughout the body and leads to a deterioration in general well-being, irritability, and insomnia. Less common are eczema, manifested by severe itching, burning and the presence of rashes on the skin;
7. Jaundice in pregnancy(also a rare type of toxicosis). It is characterized by liver damage, icteric staining of the skin, severe itching;

Important In any case, you should not try to independently determine the cause of the itching, and even more so self-medicate. At the first sign of itching, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment of itching during pregnancy

Skin itching treatment primarily aimed at eliminating the cause that caused the appearance of this symptom. Until then, you can use methods to temporarily relieve itching Or at least make it easier:

1. Ventilate and humidify the room regularly. The room should be cool (no more than 18 degrees Celsius) to avoid excessive sweating;
2. Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. It is recommended to take a warm or contrast shower several times a day;
3. Wash itchy areas regularly decoctions of medicinal herbs (calamus, chamomile, tricolor violet, string) or a weak solution of baking soda;
4. Apply regularly with chamomile and duckweed. Herbs must be ground to a mushy state, put on an itchy area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin and covered with a gauze napkin. The procedure is performed 2 times a day for several hours.

These methods will help relieve itching for a short time. The main thing is still the treatment of the underlying disease.

With the manifestation of itching as a symptom allergic reaction it is important, first of all, to identify and eliminate the effect of the allergen, often after that the itching immediately stops. Self-administration is strictly prohibited, treatment should be prescribed only by an allergist.

With diabetes blood sugar must be strictly controlled. Additional insulin may be needed. Treatment should take place under the constant supervision of an endocrinologist.

With dermatoses of pregnant women a woman is usually recommended inpatient treatment. Assign a sparing diet with the exception of spicy and salty dishes, smoked meats. Lotions with a solution of potassium permanganate are applied locally to the affected areas. To reduce itching and burning, vitamin therapy, calcium preparations are prescribed.

At cholestasis of pregnancy treatment should be carried out only in a hospital. Prescribe drugs to improve the outflow of bile (,) and hepatoprotectors to maintain liver functions (Karsil, Essentiale).

Jaundice in pregnancy(a rare type of toxicosis) is an extremely dangerous disease and threatens the health and life of a woman. When a diagnosis is made, a pregnant woman is urgently hospitalized and the pregnancy is terminated at any time.

Prevention of itching

Skin itching gives a pregnant woman a lot of unpleasant moments, affects her well-being, worsens sleep. Treatment is not always effective and itching may often recur. For this reason, it is extremely important to directly preventive actions:

• Weight control. With excessive or uneven weight gain, there is a greater chance of stretching the skin and the appearance of stretch marks, which leads to itching;
• Follow hygiene rules. You should take a warm shower (not hot) at least once a day, taking it during pregnancy is contraindicated;
• Avoid dry skin. After water procedures, be sure to apply lotion or body cream to the skin;
• Massage with alternating strokes and rubbing. It helps well as a prophylactic against the appearance of stretch marks, and, accordingly, the occurrence of skin itching;
• Give preference clothing made from natural fabrics(cotton, wool, linen).

Physiological changes due to a surge of hormones can be caused by the fact that a woman itches her whole body during pregnancy. The frequency of itching in each case is individual. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to additional symptoms, which often indicate the presence of a serious illness.

Why does the whole body itch during pregnancy?

Itching of the skin does not occur in all women. Basically, this phenomenon occurs with some periodicity, more often at night, when the body is at rest. If the body itches in a pregnant woman, then this causes discomfort, a woman is not able to get proper rest during a night's sleep, so you should understand the causes of itching:

1. Stretching of the skin due to the active growth of the fetus and a sharp weight gain leads to the appearance of striae. The skin does not have time to recover, there are gaps in the layers of the epidermis, which appear on the skin as red stripes. Stretch marks are mainly affected by the hips, chest and belly, it also begins to itch around the navel. At the same time, itching does not cause severe discomfort, both in the early stages and in the later ones.
2. Hormonal changes become the main normal physiological factor in the occurrence of itching. In this case, not the whole body itches, but only the feet and palms, without rashes. After the birth of a child, all unpleasant signs disappear on their own, without additional interventions.
3. 3. Cholestasis - is caused by insufficient functionality of the liver during pregnancy. It mainly occurs in women with high cholesterol levels or in the presence of biliary tract dysfunction. Itching appears in the later stages more often at night, decreasing by morning, and is characterized by the appearance of redness on the feet and palms. However, with cholestasis, the skin can itch in different places.
4. 4. Skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema or various fungi) cause not only itching, but are also accompanied by peeling, redness, edematous reactions, and a rash often appears on the body.
5. 5. An allergic reaction of the body manifests itself differently in each person, and depending on the irritating factor (dust, washing powder, food, etc.), a rash may appear, arms, legs, back are subject to discomfort, the whole body often itches during pregnancy.

The 3rd trimester is characterized by a significant growth of the fetus inside the womb, the woman also gains weight, which leads to increased sweating, especially in the hot season. The places that are most prone to sweating begin to itch - armpits, head, nose, back.

If itching appears in the vagina, then this basically indicates the development of a disease that provides for the appearance of additional symptoms. As a rule, the intimate area and anus itch with thrush, but not infrequently itching is caused by underwear made from synthetic materials or insufficient hygiene of the genitals.

What to do if the whole body itches during pregnancy?

Treatment of itching of the skin, first of all, involves finding out the causes, and after diagnosis, you can deal with the reduction of symptomatic manifestations.

If during pregnancy the skin itches as a result of the appearance of stretch marks, then the use of various cosmetics will help here. At the same time, it is worth remembering that stretch marks are easier to prevent than to deal with those that have already appeared. Therefore, from the first trimester, it is necessary to take care of the condition of the skin of the whole body, use special creams, gels or oils to moisturize and nourish the skin.

In the evening, before going to bed, you can reduce the signs of scabies with a cool shower, as hot water can exacerbate the symptoms. After water procedures, it is useful to massage itchy parts of the body.

When diagnosing cholestasis, drug therapy can be prescribed, but in most cases a diet is used that excludes the use of chocolate, honey, citrus fruits and other products that affect the condition of the pregnant woman.

Clothing during pregnancy should also not cause irritation and discomfort, underwear should be made of natural fabrics so that the body can breathe in hot weather.

Severe itching and burning of the skin, together with other symptoms, require a visit to the doctor for subsequent diagnosis and treatment; you should not self-medicate in order to avoid aggravating the pathological process.