Hives during pregnancy

Approximately 1 in 5 pregnant women experience skin changes during pregnancy, including acne, skin darkening, and stretch marks. While women may be embarrassed by these new "beauty marks", skin changes during pregnancy are normal. Hives during pregnancy is less common, but common.

Pregnancy hives is an allergic reaction to foods, insect stings, drugs, chemicals, etc. With the increase in hormones and the changes taking place in your body, you may become more susceptible to pathogens and experience hives during pregnancy.

What are the causes of hives during pregnancy?

As your belly grows to keep up with your baby's growth, skin discomfort in the form of itching and dryness may occur. Pregnant women may experience more severe bouts of itching, hives, or rashes, and 1 in 150 pregnant women develop a more serious skin condition known as pruritic urticarial papules and pregnancy plaques.

Hives occurs as a result of allergic reactions. Dryness and stretching of the skin, as well as other changes, can increase the likelihood of hives during pregnancy. Hives can be caused by an allergic reaction to just about anything.

Some common causes of hives during pregnancy are listed below:

medicine
insect bites
chemicals
pollen
animal dander
foods (i.e. dairy, nuts, shellfish)

The rash can be triggered or triggered by stress from scratching or pressure on the skin. It is very important to take good care of your skin so as not to cause or aggravate the hives you are experiencing.

Another disease that affects 1 in 50 women is cholestasis of pregnancy. This is a condition in which intense itching is also accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and potentially jaundice. This condition may indicate liver problems. If you see these signs or symptoms, it's important to see your doctor right away.

What are pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPP)?

PUPP stands for pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Women who develop PUPP will see flashes of red raised patches on their skin.

The first site of an outbreak is usually the abdomen, but in women with PUPP, the disease can also spread to the arms and legs. Women with PUPP sometimes report severe itching with these flares.

Some research suggests that PUPP is linked to a genetic disorder as it appears to be inherited, but ultimately the cause of PUPP is still unknown. Generally, PUPP occurs more frequently in a woman's first pregnancy and is rarely seen in subsequent pregnancies.

How to treat hives during pregnancy?

Minor rashes may disappear on their own. However, it is important not to rub the affected area. Soap can make the condition worse, so reducing the amount of soap you use can be helpful.

One method that can reduce itching is taking an oatmeal bath or using baking soda in the bath. Moisturizing the skin can also help relieve itching and dryness.

There are several antihistamines that are considered safe to take during pregnancy. It is important to read the warnings of any medications and consult your pharmacist and doctor before taking any medications.

For more serious skin conditions, such as PUPP, doctors may prescribe oral medications or various anti-itch creams.

How can I prevent hives during pregnancy?

You may be someone who is more susceptible to hives in general. If so, you most likely know which foods or pathogens to avoid from previous experience.

Since you may be more susceptible and pregnancy usually causes dry and itchy skin, it's important to know what steps you can take to prevent hives during pregnancy. You, at the very least, want to know how you can minimize the hives you experience during pregnancy. Here are some tips to minimize or prevent hives during pregnancy: