Physiological Skin Changes During Pregnancy

    December 2014 in “ Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology ”
    Kelly Tyler
    Image of study
    TLDR Most skin changes during pregnancy go away after giving birth.
    The document from 2015 reviews the common physiological skin changes during pregnancy, which include hyperpigmentation, melasma, striae gravidarum, telogen effluvium, hirsutism, nail changes, and vascular changes like spider angiomata and palmar erythema. It notes that up to 90% of pregnant women experience hyperpigmentation, 45% to 75% develop melasma, and up to 90% of white women get striae. Telogen effluvium causes postpartum hair loss due to more hair entering the resting phase, and hirsutism leads to male-pattern hair growth but usually resolves after pregnancy. Vascular changes are attributed to high levels of estrogenic hormones, and varicosities affect up to 40% of pregnant women. Glandular activity also changes, with reduced apocrine and increased eccrine gland activity. The document concludes that these skin changes typically regress or resolve after pregnancy, and reassurance is the main treatment.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    3 / 3 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 18 results

      community Does finasteride/dutasteride reverse aging?

      in Chat  45 upvotes 1 month ago
      Finasteride and dutasteride can improve skin texture and reduce acne by lowering DHT but do not reverse aging. They may enhance skin and hair health for some, but can also cause side effects like dry skin and sexual dysfunction.

      community I am a dermatologist with a clinical interest in alopecia. AMA

      in Will treatment work for me? 2 years ago
      In this conversation, 4990 discussed various treatments for hair loss, including oral minoxidil, PRP, transplan, Jak inhibitors, Dutasteride, Finasteride, Olumiant, Ketoconazole, RU58841, microneedling, baricitinib, and CCCA. They recommended scalp biopsies in unclear cases of DUPA, twice weekly to twice daily shampooing for topical minoxidil users, and two sessions spaced one month apart with follow up at month three to determine the effectiveness of PRP treatment.

      community Massive preliminary success with my thorough regime

      in Update  4 upvotes 4 years ago
      A 28-year-old male reported significant hair regrowth after 5 weeks using a regime including Minoxidil, Ketozolin shampoo, microneedling, hyaluronic acid, saw palmetto, pumpkin seed, MSM, frankincense, zinc, multivitamins, and vitamin D. He also noted improvements in digestion, dry eyes, and skin health, and observed beard growth from microneedling.

      community Started Finasteride almost three months ago and I'm upset

      in Update  153 upvotes 8 months ago
      A user started taking finasteride three months ago to treat hair loss and unexpectedly cleared their acne, which they had been struggling with since age 12. The conversation includes others sharing their experiences with finasteride, its effects on acne and hair loss, and mentions a related treatment, clascoterone, for acne and hair loss.

      community Microneedling makes a difference. Non responders, please read

      in Microneedling  66 upvotes 8 months ago
      A 48-year-old who had been thinning since 25 and reached NW4-5 baldness saw no improvement with 1mg/day finasteride and 5% minoxidil twice a day after 8 months. After copying another person's routine, they now use 0.5mg finasteride, ketoconazole shampoo weekly, daily microneedling with 0.5mm and 1mm once a week, and apply minoxidil twice daily, resulting in baby hairs on their bald spot and temples after three months.

      community Almost 8 months. 40 years old. Owe it all to this sub.

      in Progress Pictures  815 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 40-year-old man successfully regrew his hair in 8 months using 0.5mg Dutasteride, 2.5 oral minoxidil, minoxidil foam twice a day, derma rolling/stamping twice a week, and retinol serum. The community praised his progress, asked about his routine, and shared their own experiences.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results
      Dermatoses of Pregnancy

      research Dermatoses of Pregnancy

      208 citations, July 2001 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”
      Pregnancy can cause various skin changes and diseases, with PUPPP being the most common skin condition specific to pregnancy.
      Obstetric Dermatology

      research Obstetric Dermatology

      January 2009 in “Springer eBooks”
      The document concludes that managing skin conditions during pregnancy is important and requires specialized care.
      Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy

      research Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy

      6 citations, September 1990 in “International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics”
      The skin condition PUPP usually gets better on its own after giving birth and is unlikely to happen again in future pregnancies.
      Physiologic Skin Changes Associated With Pregnancy

      research Physiologic Skin Changes Associated With Pregnancy

      64 citations, June 1992 in “International Journal of Dermatology”
      Pregnancy often causes skin changes like darkening, stretch marks, and hair growth, which may improve after childbirth.