Itching during pregnancy is a common grievance. As you gain weight and your skin extends over to accommodate your growing baby, it is natural to feel a tightness that can border on uncomfortable. Your body is also on a roller coaster ride of changing hormone levels.
This can cause a variety of side effects and health grievances with itchy skin being simply one such condition. For numerous women, this feeling of itchiness may be felt throughout the nine months of pregnancy and only vanish after delivery.
Itching During Pregnancy Causes
Apart from hormonal changes and weight gain, there are other reasons why irritation happens during pregnancy. These include:
- Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP) are a hive-like skin rash that develops over a pregnant woman’s belly. This condition has the tendency to develop in the third trimester of pregnancy and is more typical during a first pregnancy or if a woman is having twins. While PUPP is harmless to both the mom and the baby the itching and skin welts can be extremely uncomfortable.
- Cholestasis of pregnancy is a liver issue that impacts pregnant women and affects the regular circulation of bile from the liver to the rest of the body. Cholestasis causes severe itching all over the body but without any noticeable rash. Cholestasis can be harmful to the baby and needs immediate medical treatment.
- Irritation during pregnancy especially irritation of the vagina is typically caused by a yeast infection. Yeast infections are a typical type of vaginal infections that establish as a result of an overgrowth of fungis in the genital area. This happens due to an imbalance of hormones or an undesirable diet that is high in sugar and carbohydrates. Specific medications such as antibiotics can also result in an overgrowth of fungi.
It is very important that you speak with a doctor at the first sign of any uncommon symptoms during your pregnancy. What may appear like an easy itch might be a sign of a more serious medical condition so do not think twice to bring any changes to your doctor’s notification.
See also: Simple Treatment for Itchy Hands and Feet During Pregnancy
Itching During Pregnancy Home Remedies
There are a number of methods to treat irritation without resort to standard medications such as antihistamines or corticosteroids. Natural treatments have less or no side effects and help reduce symptoms such as itchiness, swelling, pain, and inflammation of the skin.
Some tried and tested natural home remedy include:
- Immerse yourself in a warm bath with a cup of oatmeal added to it. The oatmeal helps relieve inflamed skin and reduce the irritation.
- Use a cold compress or ice pack to the impacted areas of the skin if the irritation is triggering an inflammation or redness.
- Herbs such as Dandelion Root can help treat liver problems and reduce symptoms such as itching caused by cholestasis.
- Soak a small towel in cool water, roll it up and place it in between your breasts and growing belly to naturally treat a breast itch during pregnancy.
- Calendula creams or ointments provide relief from itching and dry skin during pregnancy.
- Apply aloe vera gel on the afflicted area to reduce inflammation. The gel likewise produces a protective layer on the skin and prevents more damage caused by scratching the skin.
- Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it all over your belly or other areas of itchy skin to ease symptoms such as itchiness, soreness, and pain.
- If you suffer from PUPP, use calamine lotion or a scentless powder on the folds of skin between the breasts and thighs to reduce inflammation and inflammation.
Other Methods to Avoid Itching During Pregnancy:
- Prevent hot showers as they can dry out the skin and make the itching even worse. Do not use body brushes or loofah scrubs while bathing as this can intensify the skin even more.
- Do not use skin care products that are heavily scented or contain harsh chemicals. Glycerine creams can be used rather of soaps, as they are kinder to the skin.
- Specific cleaning agents might likewise cause an allergic reaction and ought to be avoided.
- Wear loose clothing and underwear preferably in cotton or natural fibers that allow the skin to breathe and avoids excessive perspiration.
- Do not sit around in damp clothes or a swimwear as this can encourage the growth of fungis and lead to a yeast infection.
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to remain hydrated and keep the skin healthy and moisturized.
- Prevent scratching the itchy skin as far as possible. While scratching can relieve the itch briefly, it can cause cuts and nicks in the skin that may lead to a secondary infection.
- Keep your fingernails brief and use gloves at night to avoid scratching.
Prior to trying any natural home remedy or natural treatment, you should constantly talk to your doctor to pick the right course of treatment for your certain issue.
