Natural treatment for itchy skin during pregnancy

During pregnancy, as blood flow to the skin increases, mild itching is very common. You may also feel itchy when the skin on your abdomen is stretched.

While most itching during pregnancy is completely normal and not a cause for concern, more severe itching may indicate an underlying liver disease known as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy or obstetric cholestasis.

Obstetric cholestasis is a liver disease that interferes with the flow of bile throughout the body during pregnancy. Bile salts normally circulate from the liver to the digestive tract to aid digestion.

In obstetric cholestasis, the outflow of bile is disturbed, which causes the accumulation of bile in the body. This can cause intense itching all over the body, although for some women itching mostly occurs on the arms and legs.

This itching may worsen at night, but is usually not accompanied by a rash. Other symptoms may include dark urine, gray stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

Obstetric cholestasis most often occurs in the third trimester, although it can develop earlier. The good news is that this usually goes away within a few days after giving birth.

Although obstetric cholestasis affects less than 1% of pregnant women, it is a potentially serious condition that should be monitored by your doctor, especially as it increases the risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm labor and stillbirth.

An additional condition that can cause itching is pruritus during pregnancy. This condition is characterized by small, itchy bumps on the skin that can be mistaken for insect bites.

Pruritus can occur at any time during pregnancy and may continue after childbirth. Many believe it is caused by changes in immune function during pregnancy. Luckily, pruritus is not dangerous for your baby.

How to naturally treat itchy skin during pregnancy

If you experience mild itching during pregnancy, there are a few natural steps you can take to help relieve your symptoms.
Regularly apply unscented lotion or moisturizer.
Wear loose clothing so as not to irritate your skin.
Try to wear clothes made from natural fibers such as cotton, which are more breathable than synthetic materials.
If you experience more severe itching, it is important to consult your doctor. Your doctor may do a series of liver function tests to determine if you have obstetric cholestasis. If you are diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis, your doctor will need to perform regular liver function tests throughout your pregnancy to monitor your health and that of your baby.

Although there is currently no cure for obstetric cholestasis, some options for relieving symptoms include taking a warm bath or applying ice to the itchy area of skin. Because obstetric cholestasis can interfere with the absorption of vitamin K, which is needed for blood clotting, your doctor may also recommend that you take vitamin K supplements.

You may also find that calamine lotion is helpful in relieving itching. Keep in mind, however, that the safety of using calamine lotion during pregnancy and breastfeeding is unknown, so be sure to talk to your doctor before using it.

How to treat itchy skin during pregnancy if it doesn't work naturally

If natural options don't work, you may want to consider taking medication. To treat prurigo, a doctor may prescribe emollients or topical steroids in combination with oral antihistamines.

Antihistamines or corticosteroid creams are not recommended for obstetric cholestasis during pregnancy because they can harm your baby. However, medications can help reduce bile in the mother's blood.

These drugs also relieve itching and reduce the risk of complications for the fetus.

While these drugs can help treat obstetric cholestasis, your doctor may also want to induce labor early to prevent complications such as stillbirth. If you have obstetric cholestasis, be sure to talk to your doctor or midwife about your options.