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Pregnancy and your skin PREGNANCY AND YOUR SKIN
Pregnancy has a profound hormonal effect on the body. Consequently, changes may occur at all levels of the skin. Some or all of these changes may equally well occur in women on the oral contraceptive pill. Being on the Pill is, as far as the hormones are concerned, like being pregnant.
Some of the more common changes are those associated with alterations in the blood vessels. In pregnancy there is an increase in blood flow due to the increased rate of blood formation and the dilation of blood vessels. As a result a woman may develop little blood-vessel enlargements which appear as red spots or as spider-like tracings. These usually occur on the face, chest or hands, and are known as 'spider naevi'. Some women may develop swollen ankles or varicose veins. Many also exhibit very red palms.
Changes in pigmentation are also common. There is a general deepening of colour, particularly in brunettes. These changes are most conspicuous in certain areas, such as the skin about the nipple and the genital area. About 70 per cent of women, especially those with a dark complexion, develop chloasma, the so-called 'mask of pregnancy'. This usually occurs during the second half of pregnancy. It takes the form of irregular areas of brown discolouration in a symmetrical pattern. It is usually on the forehead, temples, and upper lip. These changes can be diminished by adequate sun screening measures, together with the application of such bleaching preparations as hydroquinone creams. Frequently there is an increase in the number of pigmented moles. Similarly, many existing moles, freckles or birthmarks may become darker in colour. These changes need not cause alarm, although if an isolated mole grows rapidly, a doctor should be consulted.
hair, which may go on for three to six months. This is due to the hair follicles going into a resting stage. Full recovery usually follows. There may also be an increased growth of facial hair, but frequently this, for some unknown reason, persists after delivery. This hirsutism may also be accompanied by acne.
Fleshy, soft skin tags, or papillomata, may develop in considerable numbers, particularly on the neck, upper chest, and under the breast. They may disappear after delivery; if not, they can be easily removed by diathermy.
Itching is a quite common accompaniment of pregnancy. In fact it may be one of the earliest signs of the condition. Very occasionally it may be associated with a mild dysfunction of the liver or even jaundice. More commonly it is unassociated with liver changes or even a rash, and is simply of nuisance value. The abdomen is mainly affected, and it tends to be worse in the last months of pregnancy. The itching should disappear within a week or two of delivery.
Stretch marks, or striae, also appear on some pregnant women. Similar marks occur on some adolescents, girls being more commonly affected than boys. (Striae will also result from the prolonged use of steroid cream, particularly in the creases.) Both in pregnancy and puberty, these stretch marks are due to excessive adrenal gland activity, together with rapid overdistension of the abdomen, breasts or thighs. Consequently they cannot be prevented or even diminished by the application of any known creams or oils. Fortunately, after delivery, most cases improve with the passage of time.
There are a small number of extremely itchy diseases, confined solely to pregnant women. They usually occur towards the end of pregnancy, and invariably disappear after delivery. The commonest type does not affect the foetus, whereas the rarer ones may. Furthermore, some pre-existing skin disorders may be profoundly affected by pregnancy in rather unpredictable ways.
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