Dry skin during pregnancy is a common problem. The pregnancy glow due to rosy cheeks may make many women think skin can be smooth and glowing during pregnancy. However, skin itching and dryness are experienced by most expecting mothers. Pregnancy hormones make the skin more elastic to stretch the belly and accommodate the growing baby. The stretched skin may lose moisture and lead to dry skin. Read on to know more about the causes, complications, treatments, and how to prevent dry skin during pregnancy.
Is It Normal To Have Dry Skin During Pregnancy?
About 90% of the women experience changes in their skin when they are pregnant. Some may have pre-existing skin issues, while others may develop new ones, mostly due to hormonal changes at the time (1). One such issue could be dry skin during pregnancy. Whether you are pregnant for the first time or experiencing dryness of the skin for the first time during pregnancy, note that it could be normal and possibly a short-term condition that may go away after the delivery.
When And Where Does Dry Skin Appear?
Your skin, particularly around the belly, starts to feel dry during the second and third trimester (2). As your pregnancy progresses, the skin might feel dry on the face, arms, neck, breasts, and thighs. Dry skin during pregnancy could be due to various reasons, which we see in the next section.
What Causes Dry Skin During Pregnancy?
The life developing in your womb brings many changes in your body, and some of them could be responsible for your dry skin. Sometimes, dry skin during pregnancy could become a complex problem for some women.
How To Deal With Dry Skin During Pregnancy?
Here are a few things you might do at home to manage dry skin.
Extremely cold or hot water could extract the moisture from your body, which otherwise keeps your skin supple. So, wash your face and take a shower with lukewarm water and see the difference.
Drink adequate water and stay hydrated.
Moisturize and hydrate your skin. Hydrators might add water to the surface of your skin, while moisturizers may prevent moisture from going away. Add these in your routine skincare regimen to avoid dry skin.
You may add essential oils to your bathing water as it might help reduce dryness of your skin.
Cover your skin and use herbal sunscreen lotions when you go out in the sun. This might protect your skin during the summer.
Include nutritious foods with healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, olive oil, canola oil, and leafy vegetables in your diet. Image: Shutterstock
If you live in a place that lacks moisture, you may put a humidifier in the room that might prevent excessive dryness of your skin.
Use mild cleansers, preferably herbal ones, to wash your skin.
If your skin isn’t dry, but you’re worried it could turn dry due to the weather or other factors, follow the preventive measures mentioned in the next section.
Can You Prevent Dryness Of Skin During Pregnancy?
There are certain things you do unknowingly to damage your skin, making it dry, itchy, and flaky. Avoiding them might help prevent dry skin. If you notice dryness spreading all over your skin or the condition troubling you a lot, then home care alone may not be of help.
What Are The Complications Of Skin Dryness During Pregnancy?
Excessive dryness of skin during pregnancy, combined with some pre-existing skin conditions, can lead to a few skin problems such as (6).
Eczema: In this chronic condition, the skin turns dry and flaky. The commonly affected areas include the legs, abdomen, neck, and arms. If not treated, it could lead to red rashes and other skin problems. It could be treated in time with medications.
Prurigo: This condition is not so common during pregnancy, with the chances of 1 in around 300 pregnant women being affected. It usually occurs after the first trimester, when there are chances of the skin turning too dry (6).
Other skin problems: Excessive dryness could be responsible for polymorphic eruptions in pregnancy or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP). These conditions would need a doctor’s consultation, followed by treatment.
The above conditions could make your skin itchy but try not to scratch as it could lead to scars and infections. Dry skin during pregnancy might not harm your baby. Also, it does not predict your baby’s gender. It is just a temporary discomfort and could be treated. Read on to know when you must see a doctor about dry skin during pregnancy.
When To See A Doctor?
When you are unable to treat your dry skin with home remedies, and the condition is becoming worse, consult a doctor. A visit to the doctor becomes necessary in the case of:
Red rashes on your skin, with too much itching or swelling of the follicles.
Bleeding or bacterial infection at the cracked skin.
In the case of complications such as eczema, PUPPP, and prurigo, get the medications and treatment as soon as possible.
