TLDR Pregnancy causes skin changes like darkening, hair thickening, nail changes, and increased risk of skin growths, most of which usually resolve after birth.
The document from 2006 details the skin changes women experience during pregnancy due to hormonal, immunologic, and metabolic factors. It reports that hyperpigmentation affects up to 90% of pregnant women, with the areolar region darkening in all 140 patients studied. Hair typically thickens due to a longer anagen phase but is followed by increased shedding postpartum. Nail changes and connective tissue alterations, such as striae gravidarum, affect many women, and vascular changes increase the risk of thromboembolic events. Glandular function changes and the development of cutaneous tumors like granuloma gravidarum are also noted. The document stresses the importance of differentiating these normal changes from pathological conditions to prevent unnecessary treatments, noting that while most pregnancy-related skin conditions resolve postpartum, vigilance for serious conditions is necessary. It also mentions that pregnancy-associated melanomas lack hormone receptors, indicating a non-receptor-mediated mechanism influenced by estrogen changes.
34 citations,
August 2003 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Pregnant women's hair gets thicker.
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.
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.
141 citations,
January 1984 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Pregnancy can cause skin darkening, varicose veins, more sweating, hair growth, hair loss after birth, nail changes, and gum inflammation.
96 citations,
January 1997 in “Clinics in Dermatology” Pregnancy can cause skin pigmentation, stretch marks, and changes in hair, nails, and sweat glands, with most resolving after birth.
47 citations,
May 2002 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Pregnancy can cause normal skin changes that usually go away after childbirth and don't need treatment.
35 citations,
December 2014 in “Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology” Most skin changes during pregnancy go away after giving birth.
41 citations,
October 2017 in “International Journal of Women's Dermatology” Most pregnant women experience skin darkening and hair changes, with these effects usually going away after giving birth.
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.