What causes stretch marks to become itchy and dry. How can you minimize discomfort from itchy stretch marks during pregnancy. What are the best ways to prevent and treat stubborn itchy stretch marks.

Understanding Stretch Marks: What Are They and Why Do They Form?

Stretch marks are a common skin concern that affects many people, particularly during pregnancy or periods of rapid growth. But what exactly are these marks and why do they appear?

Stretch marks are small tears that occur in the middle layer of skin (dermis) and extend into the top layer (epidermis). They typically form when the skin stretches beyond its normal elastic capacity or stretches too quickly. This excessive stretching causes the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin to rupture, resulting in visible scarring.

Do stretch marks only appear during pregnancy? While pregnancy is a common cause, stretch marks can also develop during puberty, rapid weight gain or loss, and even bodybuilding. They most often appear on the abdomen, breasts, hips, buttocks and thighs.

What Do Stretch Marks Look Like?

Fresh stretch marks often appear as reddish or purplish lines on the skin. Over time, they tend to fade to a silvery-white or flesh color. The texture may feel slightly raised and different from the surrounding skin.

Why Do Stretch Marks Become Itchy and Dry?

Many people experience itching and dryness along with their stretch marks, which can be quite uncomfortable. But what causes this irritation?

• Skin stretching: As the skin stretches rapidly, it can become tight and itchy.
• Hormonal changes: Pregnancy hormones can affect skin elasticity and hydration.
• Reduced skin barrier function: The damaged skin may have difficulty retaining moisture.
• Inflammation: The healing process can cause localized inflammation and itching.

Can itchy stretch marks be a sign of a more serious condition? While itching is usually harmless, severe or persistent itching during pregnancy should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to rule out other conditions like cholestasis of pregnancy.

Preventing Itchy Stretch Marks: Proactive Measures

While it’s not always possible to completely prevent stretch marks, there are steps you can take to minimize their appearance and reduce associated itching:

1. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin supple from the inside out.
2. Maintain a healthy diet: Consume foods rich in vitamins C, D, E, zinc, and protein to support skin health.
3. Gain weight gradually: If pregnant, aim for steady weight gain as recommended by your healthcare provider.
4. Exercise regularly: This can help improve skin elasticity and circulation.
5. Use moisturizing creams: Apply specially formulated stretch mark creams or oils to keep skin hydrated.

Is it true that genetics play a role in stretch mark formation? Yes, genetic factors can influence your likelihood of developing stretch marks. If your mother or close relatives have them, you may be more prone to developing them as well.

Effective Treatments for Itchy Stretch Marks

If you’re already dealing with itchy stretch marks, don’t despair. There are several ways to alleviate discomfort and improve their appearance:

1. Topical Treatments

Moisturizing creams and oils can help soothe itchy skin and may improve the appearance of stretch marks. Look for products containing ingredients like:

• Cocoa butter
• Shea butter
• Vitamin E
• Hyaluronic acid
• Centella asiatica

2. Hydration

Keeping your skin well-hydrated is crucial for reducing itching and promoting healing. In addition to using topical products, make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

3. Gentle Exfoliation

Gently exfoliating the affected areas can help remove dead skin cells and improve product absorption. However, be careful not to over-exfoliate, as this can irritate the skin further.

4. Cold Compresses

Applying a cool, damp cloth to itchy areas can provide immediate relief and help reduce inflammation.

5. Oatmeal Baths

Soaking in a lukewarm bath with colloidal oatmeal can help soothe itchy skin and provide overall relief.

Are there any medical treatments for severe stretch marks? For persistent or severe cases, dermatological treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser therapy may be recommended. However, these should only be pursued after pregnancy and under professional guidance.

Natural Remedies for Itchy Stretch Marks

Many people prefer to try natural remedies before turning to commercial products. Here are some options that may help alleviate itching and improve skin health:

• Aloe vera gel: Known for its soothing and healing properties
• Coconut oil: Rich in fatty acids that can help moisturize the skin
• Olive oil: Contains antioxidants and can help improve skin elasticity
• Cucumber: Its cooling properties can help relieve itching
• Lemon juice: Rich in vitamin C, which may help boost collagen production

Can essential oils help with itchy stretch marks? Some essential oils like lavender, frankincense, and neroli may have skin-soothing properties. However, always dilute essential oils properly and perform a patch test before use, especially during pregnancy.

When to Seek Medical Advice for Itchy Stretch Marks

While itchy stretch marks are generally harmless, there are instances when you should consult a healthcare professional:

• Severe or persistent itching that interferes with daily life or sleep
• Signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or pus
• Sudden onset of itching in the third trimester of pregnancy
• Stretch marks that appear unusually dark or change color rapidly
• Accompanying symptoms like fever, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss

Should you be concerned if stretch marks appear suddenly? Rapid appearance of stretch marks, especially if accompanied by other symptoms, could indicate an underlying hormonal issue and should be evaluated by a doctor.

Embracing Your Skin: The Psychological Impact of Stretch Marks

While the physical discomfort of itchy stretch marks is challenging, the emotional impact shouldn’t be overlooked. Many people, especially new mothers, struggle with body image issues related to stretch marks.

It’s important to remember that stretch marks are incredibly common and a natural part of many people’s lives. Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Jameela Jamil have been vocal about embracing their “stretchies” or “babe marks,” helping to normalize and celebrate these common skin changes.

Tips for Building Body Positivity

• Practice positive self-talk and affirmations
• Focus on what your body can do, rather than how it looks
• Surround yourself with supportive people who uplift you
• Consider joining support groups or online communities for people with similar experiences
• If negative feelings persist, don’t hesitate to speak with a mental health professional

How can partners support someone dealing with stretch mark-related body image issues? Partners can offer reassurance, compliments, and understanding. Avoiding negative comments about appearance and focusing on health and well-being can also be helpful.

Debunking Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

There’s a lot of misinformation circulating about stretch marks, particularly online. Let’s address some common myths:

Myth 1: Stretch marks are always a sign of poor skin health

Fact: Stretch marks are primarily determined by genetics, hormones, and rapid body changes. Even those with excellent skin care routines can develop them.

Myth 2: Only overweight people get stretch marks

Fact: People of all sizes can develop stretch marks, including athletes and those who are slim but experience growth spurts.

Myth 3: Stretch marks are a sign of a serious health condition

Fact: In most cases, stretch marks are harmless and purely cosmetic. However, in rare instances, they can be associated with certain medical conditions, which is why unusual presentations should be evaluated by a doctor.

Myth 4: Creams and oils can completely prevent stretch marks

Fact: While moisturizing can help improve skin elasticity and reduce itching, no topical product can guarantee complete prevention of stretch marks.

Myth 5: Stretch marks are permanent and untreatable

Fact: While stretch marks are permanent, their appearance can often be improved with various treatments and time. Many fade naturally over the years.

Is it true that men don’t get stretch marks? This is a common misconception. Men can indeed develop stretch marks, particularly during periods of rapid muscle growth or weight gain.

The Science Behind Stretch Mark Formation

Understanding the biological processes involved in stretch mark formation can help in developing more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

The Role of Collagen and Elastin

Collagen and elastin are proteins that give skin its strength and elasticity. During rapid skin stretching, these fibers can break down, leading to the formation of stretch marks.

Hormonal Influence

Hormones like cortisol can affect the production of collagen and elastin. This is why stretch marks are common during pregnancy and puberty when hormone levels fluctuate significantly.

Genetic Factors

Research suggests that certain genetic variations may predispose individuals to developing stretch marks more easily.

Inflammation and Healing

The formation of stretch marks involves an inflammatory process, followed by a healing phase. This is why fresh stretch marks often appear red or purple before fading to a lighter color.

Are there any promising new treatments for stretch marks on the horizon? Research into treatments like stem cell therapy and advanced laser technologies shows potential for more effective stretch mark reduction in the future.

In conclusion, while itchy stretch marks can be uncomfortable and distressing, they are a common and natural occurrence. By understanding their causes, taking preventive measures, and utilizing appropriate treatments, you can manage both the physical discomfort and emotional impact of stretch marks. Remember, every body tells a unique story, and stretch marks are often a part of that narrative, representing growth, change, and the amazing capabilities of the human body.

Bartonella Rash vs Stretch Marks

Due to false information on the internet, people are becoming panicked that perfectly normal stretch marks are a “Bartonella rash” or “Bartonella tracks”. This unnecessary anxiety is similar to the unnecessary anxiety we see with Lyme disease.

Usually, it is the same misinformed individuals spreading false information about both Bartonella and Lyme disease. Bartonella is not a tick-borne disease or Lyme co-infection, but this fact is not stopping victims from being falsely diagnosed with both.

See full LymeScience article: Bartonella: Not a tick-borne disease or Lyme co-infection

Celebrity Chrissy Teigen calls her stretch marks “stretchies” while actress Jameela Jamil proposed renaming them “Babe Marks.”

Stretch marks are very common. According to Medscape:

Approximately 90% of pregnant women, 70% of adolescent females, and 40% of adolescent males (many of whom participate in sports) have stretch marks.

See more at the American Academy of Dermatology: Why stretch marks appear and how to get rid of them

Stretch marks, also called striae distensae, are not harmful to anyone’s health. Below is a photo of typical stretch marks:

Johns Hopkins dermatologists studied the issue in 2018 and found that unsubstantiated information about Bartonella is being spread by Lyme-oriented web sites (such as lymedisease.org, lymeactionnetwork.org, and lymeneteurope.org).

The dermatologists also found that stretch marks:

• Have nothing to do with bacterial infections, including Bartonella and Lyme disease.
• Are associated with rapid growth spurt, tall stature, and family history of stretch marks.
• Are not related to chronic medical conditions or anabolic steroid use.
• Are not a reason to order more medical testing.

If you are concerned about skin issues, we recommend a board-certified dermatologist. We recommend avoiding unscientific practitioners, including those who market themselves as Lyme literate, functional, integrative, naturopathic, and holistic.

Bad info on Google

A Google Image search for “rash bartonella” returns photos of streaked rashes that are likely stretch marks and not skin manifestations of Bartonella. The top hit from the search is from the pseudoscience organization LymeDisease.org.

No reputable science organization features photos like this of Bartonella. One of the images is just a mislabeled version of the Wikimedia stretch marks image.

What is Bartonella?

See full LymeScience article: Bartonella: Not a Lyme coinfection, many false diagnoses

Bartonella is a genus of bacteria. The most common species is called Bartonella henselae, which causes cat-scratch disease because it is spread by cats (and not ticks).

This is a photo of papules caused by Bartonella henselae after a cat scratch:

Cat-scratch disease usually clears up on its own and results in lifelong immunity. The illness can be more severe in a small minority of patients, for example the immunocompromised.

There is significant disease mongering about Bartonella. This means that the diagnostic boundaries of Bartonella are being expanded and that Bartonella is aggressively and disproportionately being promoted to the public.

Real Bartonella bears little resemblance to the false “Chronic Bartonella” diagnoses commonly found in Chronic Lyme pseudoscience groups.

References for this article can be found on our Bartonella page.

Itchy Stretch Marks: Causes, Symptoms, And Tips

When you’re pregnant, your body goes through a lot of changes. The majority of those changes are a wonderful part of motherhood. But some — like stretch marks and itchy, dry skin — can be extremely uncomfortable.

To make matters worse, stretch marks and itchy skin can occur in the exact same spot, at the exact same time. As if one wasn’t wasn’t enough to manage, now you’ve got two! Let Mustela’s experts show you how to minimize itchy stretch marks before they become a major problem.

Along the way, we’ll answer some very important questions, such as:

• What are stretch marks?
• Why do stretch marks become dry?

We’ll also give you five simple steps to treat and prevent even the most stubborn itchy stretch marks. Let’s get started!

What Are Stretch Marks?

Stretch marks are small tears that start in the middle layer of your skin (the dermis) and extend up into the top layer of your skin (the epidermis).

Under normal circumstances, your skin can stretch without tearing, thanks to the naturally occurring collagen and elastin fibers that add an elastic quality to your skin. But when your skin exceeds its ability to stretch or stretches too fast, tearing and scarring occur.

The result is white, sometimes discolored lines on your belly, thighs, and chest.

Stretch marks usually form gradually over the span of a month or two, so there’s little pain involved.

When a tear first occurs, your body gets right to work healing the “wound,” but the skin on top of the stretch mark can stay tight and extremely dry long after the tear has been healed. It’s this latter issue—dryness—that makes the problem even worse.

Why Do Stretch Marks Become Itchy?

Dry skin is the result of a weakening—or the complete breakdown—of a layer of fat, oil, and water (the hydrolipidic barrier) on the surface of your skin. When the hydrolipidic barrier stops working correctly, small holes can form.

These holes allow vital moisture to evaporate quickly into the air. The lack of moisture in and next to your skin leads to dry, itchy patches.

Unfortunately, dry skin is often caused by an internal imbalance of hormones that prevents the hydrolipidic barrier from functioning at 100%.

That hormonal imbalance is at its worst during pregnancy. The likelihood, then, of developing dry skin while you’re pregnant is very high because of all the hormones that are released during those nine months.

To sum up, itchy stretch marks are actually two separate problems: dry skin and small scars. The first part you want to address is the itchiness, because it’s the most disruptive and uncomfortable.

After you have the itchiness under control, then you can start to treat the stretch marks underneath. Or better yet, treat both problems at the same time! We’ve got a few suggestions to do so.

But before we get to that, there’s one other thing we’d like to mention. If you’ve read this far and think that the itchy stretch marks you’re experiencing are more than simply dry skin and stretch marks, it could be something called pregnancy rash.

Pregnancy Rash

Pregnancy rash is also known as pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) and polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP). We’ll refer to it as PUPPP.

It’s a relatively common skin condition in pregnant women and is more prevalent in women who are pregnant for the first time, are carrying more than one baby, or are pregnant with a boy (strange, right?). Doctors aren’t entirely sure what causes it.

Typically, PUPPP makes an appearance in the third trimester and goes away a couple of weeks after your baby is born. The good news is that this rash is not harmful to you or your baby, though it can be quite itchy and annoying.

What are the symptoms, and what does it have to do with stretch marks?

The reason you might confuse this rash with regular itchy stretch marks is that PUPPP begins in your stretch marks as tiny, itchy, pink or red bumps. After a few days, it could form larger red skin plaques, spreading from your belly to your legs, bottom, arms, and hands.

It’s also important to know that a red, itchy rash could also be a more concerning skin condition called pemphigoid gestationis (PG).

Regardless, if your itchy stretch marks look like anything more than just dry, itchy skin, it’s best to let your doctor take a look.

If you have PUPPP, your doctor may advise you to apply a topical steroid or corticosteroid cream or take an oral antihistamine to control the symptoms.

There are also natural ways to calm PUPPP and treat the symptoms while you wait for your baby to arrive. Check out our article here.

All of that being said, let’s get back to itchy stretch marks and how to manage them!

How To Manage Itchy Stretch Marks

The best time to deal with itchy stretch marks is early and often. Don’t wait until the stretching and itching have started. Begin adding the following practices into your daily skincare routine as soon as you know you’re pregnant.

1) Apply A Hydrator & A Moisturizer At Least Three Times A Day

One of the things that keeps your skin smooth, supple, and healthy is moisture. When you get right down to it, moisture can prevent and treat both stretch marks and dry, itchy skin.

Moisture makes stretch marks less visible by promoting the growth and activity of the collagen and elastin that give your skin its elasticity. Moisture also heals dry skin by keeping all three layers (hypodermis, dermis, and epidermis) soft and pliable.

Now that you know moisture can be used to lessen the effects of both stretch marks and dry skin, you may be wondering about two of the words we used in the subheading for this section: hydrator and moisturizer.

Aren’t those the same thing? Not exactly. In fact, they actually perform two separate functions.

Hydrators Versus Moisturizers

Once applied, a moisturizer forms a layer on the surface of your skin that locks moisture in and prevents it from evaporating. You might think of moisturizer as a hydrolipidic barrier in a bottle (or tube). A hydrator, on the other hand, is designed to actually put new water into your skin.

Think about it this way: a hydrator is like boiling water in a pot. As long as the water’s there, you’ll have moisture in the pot. But boiling water evaporates.

How do you keep the moisture in the pot? With a lid. A lid placed on top of a pot of boiling water keeps the steam where it belongs—inside the pot.

Using the boiling water analogy above, consider what happens to the moisture in your skin. It’s constantly evaporating—sometimes more than you’d like. You need something to stop the process.

The best way to keep the water on the surface of your skin from evaporating away is to cover it with a moisturizer.

To get the most out of a hydrator and moisturizer combination, you want to apply the hydrator first. We recommend a product like Mustela’s Stretch Marks Oil to put the most hydration into your skin.

This fast-absorbing, nourishing oil is specially formulated to deliver hydration to help limit the appearance of stretch marks, ease feelings of tightness, and leave your skin soft, supple, and radiant.

And since it’s made with 100% naturally derived ingredients, you can rest assured that our stretch marks oil is safe for both you and your unborn baby! It’s EWG Verified, paraben-free, phthalate-free, phenoxyethanol-free, and hypoallergenic.

After you’ve applied the hydrator, top it off with a moisturizer to lock in the moisture. We recommend a natural-based product, like Organic Hydrating Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe, to not only moisturize, but to also encourage skin elasticity.

Made with 99.6% naturally derived ingredients — including organic aloe vera, organic sunflower oil, and organic olive oil — this cream is EWG Verified and a real treat for your skin!

It’s also eco-friendly inside and out with packaging made from sustainably sourced sugar cane and no secondary cartons.

The great news is that you can take care of your whole family with this one lotion. It leaves both baby and adult skin soft and moisturized and is safe for even the most sensitive skin.

2) Massage Your Skin With Oil To Minimize Itchy Stretch Marks

Massaging stretch-marked skin is a great way to break up the scar tissue that makes lines permanent. It can also be an effective way to heal itchy skin when you use an oil product during the massage.

Oil-based products, like Mustela’s Stretch Marks Oil, contain natural ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, and musk rose.

The combination of these ingredients:

• Improves your skin’s elasticity.
• Helps your skin withstand stretching.
• Keeps your skin feeling supple and silky-smooth.

The oiliness of the product also reduces friction so your skin doesn’t get damaged further.

If you’re not quite sure where to start with a stretch-marks massage, don’t worry. There’s nothing to it! Here’s what you need to know.

Tips For A Great Stretch Mark Reduction Massage

1. Pour a bit of Mustela’s Stretch Marks Oil into the palm of your hand.
2. Rub your hands together to spread the oil evenly.
3. Gently massage stretch-marked skin by alternating between small circular motions and an easy kneading action.
4. Focus on one area for five minutes before moving on to another area.
5. Add more oil as needed or if your skin starts to feel too warm.

This soothing massage is great to do at the end of the day while watching TV or before going to sleep. Just leave the oil on when you’re finished so it can continue to soothe and heal.

3) Wash With A Gentle Moisturizing Cleanser

Bathing is a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle, but the way you kept clean before you conceived may not work as well once you’re pregnant. This is because your body’s going through a lot of changes, and your skin’s chemistry is reacting to a surge in hormones.

Before you became pregnant, a steaming-hot shower and a bar of regular soap may have been all you needed. Now that you’re pregnant, however, your skin is much more sensitive and prone to drying. The hot water and the harsh soap only exacerbate this problem.

That’s why we suggest showering with lukewarm water and a gentle moisturizing cleanser. This combination will help protect your skin from becoming excessively tight and dry.

If you don’t have a cleanser that’s gentle on your dry, delicate skin, try Mustela’s Organic Cleansing Gel with Olive Oil and Aloe. This sulfate-free cleansing gel will clean your skin without stripping it of those natural oils that it needs.

In fact, it’s so gentle that it’s made for little ones and adults alike! It’s made with 97.5% naturally derived ingredients, including organic aloe and organic olive oil, which is sourced from family-owned olive groves in the south of France.

To care for the earth at the same time, our formula is biodegradable and the packaging is made from sustainably sourced sugar cane. Win-win for everyone!

4) Pat Your Skin Dry Instead Of Rubbing

The friction caused by rubbing dry, damaged skin with a towel only makes the problem worse. It doesn’t even matter if the towel is made from the softest material on Earth. The heat and friction are still going to cause irritation.

Remember, your dry skin has “holes” in its hydrolipidic barrier, which means that moisture can evaporate off the surface. It also means that external toxins like dirt, dust, pollen, and rough material can make your skin red and itchy.

This is because a weak hydrolipidic layer (which results from the lack of adequate moisture) isn’t able to provide sufficient protection against that rough material.

With that in mind, we recommend patting yourself dry after a shower or bath, instead of rubbing. This removes the water without irritating your skin or further damaging the protective layer.

5) Use Specially Formulated Creams

The best way to prevent and treat itchy stretch marks while you’re pregnant—and after—is to use a specially-formulated stretch mark prevention or firming cream, such as Bust Firming Serum, or Stretch Marks Cream.

These products contain natural ingredients like baobab, pomegranate, and avocado peptides that improve your skin’s elasticity and help it withstand the stretching that comes with being pregnant.

We also strongly recommend continuing to use these products for a few months postpartum to help increase your skin’s elasticity as your body continues to change.

And because all of Mustela’s products are hypoallergenic and free of harmful chemicals—like phthalates, caffeine, and alcohol—you don’t have to worry about the health of your baby while breastfeeding.

Love The Skin You’re In

Your skin (along with the rest of your body) goes through major changes while you’re growing a baby.

Yes, itchy stretch marks can be frustrating during pregnancy, but if you follow the tips in this article and show your skin some love and TLC, they will be much more manageable!

Apply a hydrator and moisturizer, massage your skin with Stretch Marks Oil, wash with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, and use specially formulated products, like Mustela’s Stretch Marks Cream.

Love the skin you’re in, itchy stretch marks and all. With the right care, you can ditch the itch and minimize the appearance of stretch marks!

Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

Is the skin on your abdomen breaking out in itchy bumps? Although it might be uncomfortable (and unsightly), these bumps aren’t dangerous to you or your baby. You’re likely suffering from what’s known as PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy) or PEP (polymorphic eruption of pregnancy).

What is PUPPP?

PUPPP is an itchy, bumpy rash — annoying but benign — that usually develops on the abdomen in stretch marks and sometimes appears on the thighs, buttocks or arms.

It’s most common in first-time mothers and those carrying multiples. Sometimes itching can become very severe and spread to the rest of the body, but never on the face (thank goodness for small miracles).

What does PUPPP look like?

PUPPP often resembles bumpy skin legions, or skin-colored, pink or dark bumps.

PUPPP may look pink or red in fair skin, but it may be skin-toned or darker in women with more richly pigmented skin.

What causes a skin rash during pregnancy?

No one’s really sure. Unlike most other symptoms of pregnancy, PUPPP doesn’t appear to be the result of increased hormone levels. One theory suggests that fetal cells invade the mother’s skin during pregnancy, causing an itchy belly to develop. Another theory says PUPPP is genetic and can be traced through the father’s side. At any rate, PUPPP usually appears in the third trimester and disappears after childbirth.

What can I do about PUPPP during pregnancy?

There are a few home remedies for PUPPP, and what’s right for you is whatever makes you feel better. Try:

• Taking an oatmeal or baking soda bath.
• Applying cold compresses.
• Using aloe vera gel after you shower.
• Wearing soft cotton clothes (and gloves if you’re a scratcher).

If the itching becomes unbearable, consult your practitioner or dermatologist about medications or anti-itching creams. Some topical steroids are considered safe during pregnancy but must be used in small quantities under strict medical supervision.

The good news: The condition generally disappears after delivery and doesn’t necessarily recur in subsequent pregnancies.

Sensitive Skin During Pregnancy

What treatments for a skin rash are off-limits during pregnancy?

Oral steroids are generally considered a no-no during pregnancy. If you’re close to your delivery date, your practitioner may consider inducing labor if the itching is so intense that you need to be treated with those kinds of drugs.

Can I prevent PUPPP?

Unfortunately, no, PUPPP can’t be prevented. If you’re going to get PUPPP, you’re going to get it. Try to remember, though, that it’s temporary and will disappear soon after your beautiful baby is born.

PUPPP Skin Rash During Pregnancy: Symptoms & Causes

When you think about pregnancy skin, one of the first things that often comes to mind is the pregnancy glow. But a healthy glow is not the only thing pregnancy can do to your skin.

It can also bring acne, stretch marks, and, for some women, a painful and itchy rash known as PUPPP.

Let’s talk about what causes PUPPP rashes, what you can do about them, and when you can expect relief.

What Is PUPPP?

PUPPP, short for pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, is an itchy but benign rash that occurs during pregnancy, usually in the third trimester. It’s fairly common, occurring in about 1 in every 160 pregnancies, and is more common in first-time moms and moms carrying multiples ⁽¹⁾. Also, you might be more likely to experience PUPPP if women in your family had it.

The PUPPP rash begins typically in the stretch marks on your belly and looks like small pimple-esque hives at the beginning ⁽²⁾. The rash is often red and patchy, closely resembling eczema. It is also extremely itchy.

Within a few days, it will then move onto other parts of your body like your back, legs, thighs, buttocks, and arms. The good news? It never goes to your face for some reason. No one seems to know why, but we are grateful either way.

Your doctor might use any one of the names below to describe the same condition:

• Bourne’s toxemic rash of pregnancy.
• Toxic erythema of pregnancy.
• Nurse’s late-onset prurigo.
• Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP).

While some of these sound scarier than others, they are all the same condition.

Who Gets It?

PUPPP develops at a higher rate in Caucasian women, experiencing their first pregnancy, or are pregnant with multiples. Those expecting triplets have a higher chance of developing PUPPP than those with twins. It also seems to occur twice as often in women pregnant with a boy. It’s more common in those who are experiencing high blood pressure during their pregnancy.

While these scenarios might make you more likely to experience PUPPP, remember that women can still have PUPPP without these risk factors. PUPPP does not discriminate and can affect women of all nationalities and skin types. And most importantly – despite the apparent discomfort, it is benign.

In up to 15% of women who get PUPPP, it actually happens after the delivery.

What Causes PUPPP?

No one knows exactly what causes PUPPP, but some studies show the following reasons may cause a woman to experience PUPPP while her friends do not.

1. Skin Stretching

When stress is put on the skin, causing it to stretch quickly, it can damage the connective tissue. This is what causes stretch marks, but in some pregnancies, it can also cause a PUPPP rash.

This is why it’s more common for PUPPP to occur in women who are pregnant for the first time or are carrying multiples. The faster your skin stretches, and the more it stretches, the more damage occurs and the higher the risk for PUPPP.

The same thing can happen in women with increased maternal weight gain during their pregnancy because, consequently, they have more skin stretching.

2. Fetal Cells

Fetal cells can migrate to different parts of the mom’s body, and that includes your skin. While sometimes this benefits the mom because it protects against certain diseases, your body can also look at these fetal cells as a foreign body it needs to fight against.

Some studies show that PUPPP rash is a reaction to the fetal cells that migrate to your skin. Fetal cells seem to migrate to the skin more often in women who are pregnant with boys, which would explain why 60 to 70 percent of PUPPP cases occur in moms who are carrying a boy.

3. An Overworked Organ System

The liver is our body’s main detoxification organ, while the kidneys are in charge of filtering out our blood. If your liver is overworked and unable to detoxify your body’s toxins properly, this can sometimes reveal itself in a skin rash or discoloration. The same can happen if the kidneys are having a hard time keeping up.

How Is It Diagnosed?

It’s important to see your doctor for an official diagnosis instead of assuming your rash is PUPPP. That’s because while PUPPP is generally harmless, other similar conditions can develop during a pregnancy which is a lot more serious.

Conditions such as pemphigoid gestationis, which can be passed on to your baby, need to be ruled out ⁽³⁾. Intrahepatic cholestasis, which can also cause a rash, is a liver disease that can occur in pregnancy and carries risks such as preterm birth, fetal distress, and even stillbirth ⁽⁴⁾. Your doctor will also exclude allergic reactions, some infections and other, less frequent, possible causes of a rash.

Will It Require A Test

Most doctors can diagnose PUPPP with a simple clinical exam. Other tests they might order to rule out infections and other conditions are blood tests including a liver function test, a complete blood count, serum cortisol, and a serum human choriogonadotropin. Your doctor will rarely need to order a skin biopsy to rule out other issues.

Can I Prevent PUPPP?

Unfortunately, no, there is no way you can fully prevent PUPPP from happening. That’s because we aren’t completely sure what causes it, and some things, like migrating fetal cells, can’t be prevented.

What you can do is make sure to eat a healthy diet, gain weight slowly and steadily, and try not to scratch as your skin stretches to prevent irritation. These things can help lower your risk for PUPPP.

Having PUPPP in one pregnancy does not mean you will or won’t have it again in your next pregnancy. If it does happen again, which is very rare, it will usually be milder than the first time.

Editor’s Note:

Dr. Irena Ilic, MD

Tips for Managing PUPPP Skin Rash

The bad news is there is no definitive cure for PUPPP — all that is known is it will usually go away within several weeks after your baby is born ⁽⁵⁾. But the lack of a cure does not mean you have to sit idly by while your body feels like it’s slowly being taken over by a colony of ants.

Below is a list of tried-and-true methods that can help gain some relief from the itching, and help you maintain your sanity while dealing with PUPPP.

1. Do Not Scratch: When you have an itchy area of skin it’s normal for you to want to give it a good scratch. Don’t! Scratching only leads to further damaging already stretched-out skin and will eventually just make your rash worse.
2. Antihistamines: Oral antihistamines can do a great deal to relieve the itching that comes with a rash like PUPPP. But while they are usually safe to take while pregnant, you should always talk to your doctor before deciding to take them and discuss the choice of the one that is right for you. Still, don’t expect wonders from these drugs as they are often only mildly effective ⁽⁶⁾.
3. Oatmeal Baths: Oatmeal baths can help to relieve itching and also soothe and moisturize your skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties will help calm irritated skin. Take one cup of oats and process it with a blender or food processor until it reaches the consistency of fine powder. Then place it into a bathtub filled with warm but not hot water. If you do not want to deal with the mess the ground oatmeal can leave, you can also place the ground oats into a cheesecloth or muslin bag and allow the water to run over it into the bath.
4. Moisturize: Aloe vera, Vitamin E, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and shea butter are all topical moisturizers that can help to soothe your skin and stop the discomfort that comes with PUPPP rash. You should avoid moisturizers that contain fragrances since they can be drying to the skin. You should also avoid moisturizers that contain retinol, calamine, Vitamin A, and salicylic acid since they have been known to cause birth defects.
5. Steroids: Steroids can be an effective way to treat PUPPP rash, but it’s imperative you use them only with your doctor’s guidance. When you go to your doctor, they might first suggest a topical steroid cream with hydrocortisone to help with the areas of itching. If your rash continues to get worse, they might even prescribe a round of oral steroids to treat the condition more aggressively.
6. Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap: Why this soap works isn’t clear, but some moms swear by it. The best part is it doesn’t only seem to help with the itching, but for some women, it helps with making the rash go away. For this treatment, wash the affected area, as well as the skin around it, three times a day. After bringing up a good lather with the soap, rinse it off with cool or lukewarm water. Moms who have used this method say they have seen the rash start to disappear in as little as three days.
7. Cold Compresses: Cold temperatures can slow down the transmission of nerve signals to your rash, temporarily helping with the itching the rash can bring on. Simply soak a cloth in cool water and then lay it on the affected area. You can also soak it in cold milk for a compress that will help nourish the skin while it cools it.
8. Soft Clothing: Nothing is more annoying than an itchy sweater against the already aggravated skin. While dealing with PUPPP, choose soft and loose clothing. These will be more comfortable and won’t irritate your skin more than it already is. Try to wear cotton clothes as much as possible.
9. Natural Anti-Inflammatories: Peppermint and chamomile are natural anti-inflammatories ⁽⁷⁾, and when applied topically can give some relief to itchy and irritated areas. Combine the herbs with either aloe vera or unscented lotion and apply to your rash three times a day.

The Bottom Line

PUPPP can be painful, itchy, and irritating. If it’s happening to you, we understand how annoying it can be. We’ve been there, done that, and with a lot of patience and self-control, we reached the light at the end of the PUPPP tunnel.

If your PUPPP rash requires taking medication, it’s likely you will be on your treatment for a week or two, and possibly even after the delivery. Make sure you discuss your treatment and how it may affect breastfeeding with your doctor.

Editor’s Note:

Dr. Irena Ilic, MD

If you’re currently experiencing the discomfort that PUPPP can bring, remember that this is not forever. The rash will go away within weeks of your baby being born, and soon it will all be just a distant, albeit annoying, memory.

Skin Conditions During Pregnancy – Rash on face

Path to improved well being

Most pregnancy-related skin changes are normal. Many have limited treatment options and go away on their own. Common conditions include:

Stretch marks

• Symptoms: Brown, red, or purple streaks on your stomach, thighs, buttocks, breasts, or arms.
• Cause: Skin stretching as your body expands to support your growing baby. Most women get them.
• Treatment: There’s nothing to prevent them or make them go away. Creams and lotions could help itching and keep the skin soft. Most fade over time but may never disappear completely.

Acne

• Symptoms: Breakouts of pimples on your face or other areas. This happens even if you normally have clear skin.
• Cause: Pregnancy hormones.
• Treatment: Wash your face every day. Try to avoid picking the pimples so you don’t leave scars. Some over-the-counter treatments are available. Talk to your doctor before trying anything.

 Chloasma (melasma, or the “mask of pregnancy”)

• Symptoms: Brown patches on the cheeks, nose, or forehead.
• Cause: An increase in melanin. This is the substance in your body that gives color to the skin and hair. It’s more common in darker-skinned women.
• Treatment: There’s no treatment. Patches usually fade after you’ve had the baby. Being in the sun can make the condition worse. Wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you’re outside.

Hyperpigmentation

• Symptoms: Spots already on your body get darker or bigger. These include freckles, scars, or the area around your nipples. Some women get a line down the center of their belly. This is called the linea nigra.
• Cause: Pregnancy hormones.
• Treatment: No treatment is necessary. Discolorations usually fade after the baby is born. Use sunscreen and cover up when you go outside. This could lessen the darkening.

Skin tags

• Symptoms: Small, flesh-colored growths on the skin. Most often found in folds of the skin, such as the neck or armpits.
• Cause: It’s unknown why pregnancy increases your chance of getting them.
• Treatment: No need for treatment. If they bother you, talk to your doctor about removing them.

Varicose and spider veins

• Symptoms: Spider veins are small patches of veins that can appear. Varicose veins are swollen veins that often stick out above the skin. They can be twisted or bulging, and are blue or purple. They can be painful.
• Cause: Increased hormones and blood flowing through the veins. Pressure from your growing uterus can decrease blood flow from your lower body. This can cause varicose veins.
• Treatment: Spider veins don’t need treatment and go away after birth. There are things you can do to relieve discomfort from varicose veins. Take walks, put your feet up, and use compression socks. Ask your doctor what you can do to ease your symptoms.

Pregnancy can affect any skin conditions you normally have. These include psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne. For some women, symptoms get worse. For others, the condition improves while they’re pregnant.

Top 6 Annoying Pregnancy Skin Issues (and How to Deal)

Now that you’re expecting, you may be radiating with excitment, but your pregnancy complexion doesn’t always reflect that inner joy. Skin issues can abound during pregnancy—we’re talking everything from teenage-like acne to stretch marks and strange rashes. Here are some of the most common skin problems women encounter during pregnancy, and what you can do about them.

Issue #1: Newfound Sensitivities

Your skin is extra-sensitive right now, so be easier on it now that you’re pregnant. You might get red more easily if you scrub at it too hard, and even your normal facial might verge on painful. So skip the body scrub and exfoliants and instead use a loofah or a soft, textured washcloth. “You certainly don’t want anything causing micro-tears on your skin,” says Melissa Schweiger, coauthor of Belli Beautiful: The Essential Guide to the Safest Health and Beauty Products for Pregnancy, Mom, and Baby. “The more cuts and wounds on your skin, the easier it is for chemicals to be absorbed into your bloodstream.” That’s why many mamas-to-be start choosing natural lotions and washes with less chemicals. Certain ingredients aren’t just potential irritants—some can actually pose health risks to baby. (See which ones to avoid here.) Even if generally benign, some perfumed lotions might also irritate your skin (and make you nauseated, thanks to your heightened sense of smell), so consider switching to unscented products.

Obviously, your hormones are all out of whack by now, and that might mean pimples reminiscent of those you got back in high school. The cruel joke, of course, is that some acne products are unsafe to use during pregnancy, so before you use anything, check it with your doctor. Prescription medications like Retin-A and tetracycline are definite no-nos. The jury’s out on over-the-counter creams, since they haven’t been tested specifically on pregnant women (yup, you find that a lot with products). While some experts believe low concentrations of ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid may pose low risk, others recommend avoiding altogether to be safe. “You can safely use lactic acid, tea tree oil or sulfur to treat acne,” Schweiger says. Don’t touch, pick or squeeze pimples—wash with a mild cleanser twice a day and use steam to clear clogged pores. Read more on treating acne during pregnancy here.

Related Video

Issue #3: Dryness and the Itchies

While some moms-to-be find themselves breaking out, others are dealing with drier skin than they’ve ever experienced (if you’re one of the lucky ones who’ve got a combo of the two, our sympathies). Make sure you’re drinking lots of water—you need more now that you’re expecting—and try running a humidifier in your bedroom at night to help your body keep in as much moisture as possible. Use a gentle lotion or moisturizer. And if you get nasty,  itchy sensations because of your dry skin (and all that stretching!), try a warm (not hot!) oatmeal bath. Get more info on dry skin during pregnancy here.

Issue #4: Sun Sensitivity

Sorry, mom-to-be, but “pregnancy glow” does not refer to a bronzed, sun-kissed complexion. You should actually try to stay out of the sun as much as you can while you’re pregnant. That’s because your surging hormones make you susceptible to dark patches on your skin—known as melasma, or the mask of pregnancy, which is triggered by sun exposure. So pull out the big floppy hat, find a beach umbrella and be diligent about wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. “The safest sun protection to use during pregnancy is physical or mineral blocks—the ones made with either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide,” Schweiger says. “Chemical sunscreens, such as oxybenzone, homosalate and avobenzone, can potentially irritate the skin and have higher risks associated with them.” We know, we know: more annoying label-reading. But you’ll feel good knowing you made the safest choice for you and baby.

Now you’ve got another big skin concern: stretch marks. Anytime someone’s body grows quickly, they’re at risk for stretch marks, so the fact that baby is growing exponentially in there puts you right in the high-risk zone. Of course, not every mom-to-be gets stretch marks. “For most people, whether or not they get stretch marks has to do with genetic predisposition,” says Glenn Kolansky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey. But you can do your best to head them off by gently exfoliating and thoroughly moisturizing your belly, breasts, stomach, hips and thighs as much as you can. As for what moisturizer to use, it’s hard to make a recommendation. “A lot of products make claims,” Kolansky says. “Some may help but aren’t really proven to prevent stretch marks.” Check out more on preventing and treating stretch marks here.

Issue #6: Weird and Freaky Rashes

If you’ve got red, itchy skin, it’s important not to ignore it. Itchy feet and hands could be a sign of cholestasis of pregnancy, a complication that can cause liver problems for baby. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to make sure that’s not causing your rash. Another common pregnancy rash is PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy), which often starts in the abdomen and spreads from there. PUPPP is actually harmless to baby, but it will be completely aggravating for you. We’ve got full details on how to deal with it here.

Melissa Schweiger is a New York City-based beauty writer and the coauthor of Belli Beautiful: The Essential Guide to the Safest Health and Beauty Products for Pregnancy, Mom, and Baby

Glenn Kolansky, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology Surgery & Laser Center in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. He earned his medical degree at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Brooklyn, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Striae Distensae Treatment Review and Update

90,000 Now, with COVID-19, there is also a rash / Geltek-Medica company blog / Habr

Doctors also have skin problems, but already because of masks and aggressive antiseptics

Our laboratory is developing means for the treatment and regeneration of the skin already several decades. And right now, scientific publications have appeared about a new symptom that concerns us directly. And I have a story to tell.

Denis Protsenko, chief physician of Kommunarka, reported that the majority of patients in the hospital complex have rashes on the abdomen and arms.The Italian physician, Sebastiano Recalcati, also noted 20.4% of patients with skin manifestations – erythematous rash (14 cases), widespread urticaria (three cases), chickenpox blisters (one case).

In addition, the head of the medical research group, Ignacio Garcia-Doval, also conducted a study summarizing the symptoms based on 375 clinical cases. Among the unusual features, the authors noted polymorphism (heterogeneity) of the skin manifestations of the disease.

In total, they identified five types of skin symptoms.

What happens to the skin

If for most ordinary people all pathological skin elements are very conditionally divided into peeling, pimples and red spots, then, from the point of view of dermatologists, everything is rather strictly classified and has its own designations. I hid the pictures under the spoilers, in case someone is psychologically traumatized by the sight of skin lesions.

Covid fingers

Covid fingers
“Covid fingers”, reminiscent of the effects of frostbite

Prevalence: 19%

Asymmetrical spots resembling a picture of frostbite.As a rule, they are found only in young patients in the later stages of the development of the disease. Due to the specificity of the picture, the phenomenon has already received the unofficial name “Kovidny fingers”.

Focal eruptions with small blisters

Prevalence: 9%

Can occur almost anywhere on the torso, arms and legs. Often itch. They appear before all other symptoms and are found mainly in middle-aged people.

Focal rash resembling urticaria

Abdominal rash
A characteristic rash on the abdomen of a patient with Covid-19

Prevalence: 19%

In structure, this rash is similar to the usual allergic urticaria and is most often found on torso …It usually itches.

Maculopapular rash

Maculopapular rash

In fact, this is the stomach with rubella. But the type of rash is very similar

Prevalence: 47%

Looks like red small flat or raised papules that rise above the surface of the skin. Most often, this type of rash appears simultaneously with other symptoms and accompanies a severe course of the disease.

Thai researchers also report that the coronavirus rash can be confused with the manifestations of Dengue fever.However, mosquitoes that carry this fever are almost never found in most regions of our country and are not very relevant for us.

Livedo

Leg with Livedo
Livedo reticular with a characteristic vascular pattern

Prevalence: 6%

Livedo is the appearance of a purple reticular venule pattern on the skin. The discoloration is caused by swelling of the venules due to obstruction of the capillaries due to the formation of small blood clots. One of the key points in the course of Covid-19 is the risk of blood clots forming, both in small and large vessels.The mechanisms prior to this effect are not fully understood, but there are suggestions that this may be associated with the activation of platelet aggregation, since the vascular endothelium has ACE2 receptors and is a target for the virus.

As a rule, this symptom is characteristic of elderly patients with a severe course of the disease. They already have not everything in order with microcirculation due to age, and then there is also such a viral gift from above.

How will this help us in early diagnosis?

No way.

Firstly, the symptoms most often appear already in patients with moderate and severe course of the disease, when there is no longer any doubt about the diagnosis.

Secondly, they are extremely nonspecific. You could be allergic to celery or medications, you could be bitten by mosquitoes, or you sunbathed badly on the balcony of your apartment.

Moreover, despite the epidemic, we still have rare measles, rubella in unvaccinated people and other viral infections. And also various enteroviruses, including the same Coxsackie and ECHO viruses.They also cause rashes.

However, it can help predict the course of the disease in people who are already in hospital. So, the symptoms of ischemia and microthrombosis on the skin may indicate a worsening of the condition and the need to prescribe anticoagulants.

Why haven’t you noticed it before?

Phylogenetic map of the distribution of SARS-nCoV-2 strains. Early March

The US CDC has also not included cutaneous manifestations in the list of typical manifestations of the disease at this time.Previously developed statistics apps such as King’s College London’s COVID Symptom Tracker also lack questions about skin rashes.

Perhaps in the near future they will be added to the diagnostic checklists, as happened with the loss of taste and smell.

I have several hypotheses as to why reports of skin symptoms are only now emerging. The least likely option, in my opinion, is that they were not noticed or considered significant. This is rather strange considering that the same diarrhea and headache were accounted for.

The second hypothesis is, in my opinion, more probable changes in the properties of the virus itself and its clinical manifestations.

Judging by the genetic data that are carefully accumulated and visualized on nextstrain.org, genetically the strains identified in Russia were brought from Europe and the USA. Moreover, the bulk of the US strains also originate from Europe (Italy and Spain). The original “null” strain from China does not appear to be detectable in our population.

Phylogenetic tree of SARS-nCoV-2 strains.China, Asia and Australia are purple, we are blue-green, Europe is yellow, and the USA is red

As has been written more than once, beta-coronaviruses belong to a group of relatively genetically resistant viruses and slowly mutate. The strains farthest from the original have no more than 18 different nucleotides. This is relatively small, given that the entire genome of the virus is in the region of 29,000 nucleotides. Nevertheless, individual nucleotide substitutions can introduce new clinical manifestations and symptoms.

The researchers themselves suggest that such symptoms may be due to interactions with other chronic viral infections, such as Herpes Zoster.

What to do if you get sprinkled

For starters, don’t panic. The risk that you will get infected anyway will not go away, but with a high probability you will carry it in a mild form. Exclude any contact with other people. Even if this is not Covid-19, but, say, rubella, then it will also not be a gift for the rest, especially for unvaccinated pregnant women.

If you have any other symptoms from the general list, do not rush headlong to the clinic and cough at all passers-by. Call the hotline 8-800-2000-112 and wait for people with doctor’s flamethrowers. If it gets really bad, call an ambulance right away. In any case, most likely, you just sit at home with a temperature, and that’s all.

As you understand, in a global pandemic, no one will bother with a rash or accelerated regeneration of skin lesions.Are you breathing? Well done. Moreover, the majority will be ill in a mild form. To endure itching, itching and walking spotty, of course, is not at all necessary. Usually, these dermatitis responds fairly well to treatment. Now I’ll tell you what you can do.

If you’re unlucky and it’s Covid-19

There are several typical pathological processes in medicine. For example, inflammation. It is not so important whether it is an abscess of the heel, exacerbation of tonsillitis or dermatitis. The general principles of damage and response are similar in many ways.The key mechanisms in this case always boil down to the fact that locally tissues begin to suffer from a lack of oxygen, acidosis develops – a shift in pH to the acidic side. Plus, the vessels expand and their permeability increases. As a result, fluid from the vascular bed rushes into the surrounding tissues and forms edema, which further impairs blood circulation. On top of that, free radical defense mechanisms such as superoxide dismutase stop working. As a result, oxygen radicals begin to damage cell membranes.

Various dermatitis, including covid dermatitis, are no exception. Therefore, in order to maintain tissues under hypoxic conditions, the use of a combination of vitamins C and P will be justified. Vitamins of group P are derivatives of the flavonoid quercetin. They work as antioxidants, reducing vascular fragility and permeability due to lipid peroxidation of endothelial cells in areas of hypoxia. In particular, they are indicated for varicose veins, allergic diseases and diseases that cause rashes (typhus, measles, scarlet fever).

This group of components works especially well when applied locally. Our laboratory has developed an extremely effective Neo gel. Never mind that it’s anti-aging. In this case, it will be very appropriate from the point of view of the pathogenesis of a process that impairs microcirculation and damages the vascular wall. This gel also contains vitamin C, and the quercetin derivative is dihydroquercetin, which is similar in effect to rutoside.In addition, its structure is implemented on a complex phospholipid complex, which allows all active components to be delivered through the protective lipid layer of the skin. If the rash itches, you can additionally look towards the gels with Dimetindene in the composition. This is a very good topical antihistamine to relieve itching.

As a result, we will reduce inflammation and help the skin return to its normal state.

If it is not Covid-19

If the tests are negative and you do not have Covid-19, then first we are happy.

Remember what you ate soon. I once went to surrender to doctors at the local dermatovenerologic dispensary with suspicion of a terrible and insidious disease. It turned out that this is a banal urticaria caused by the recently drunk new mountain herbs tea. It’s hard to say what was mixed there, but my body was outraged. Doctors injected a life-giving dose of glucorticoid hormone into the muscle and released it back.

If there are no other problems, you can take antihistamines in the usual dose that your doctor prescribed for allergies.This will usually be enough to relieve itching and allergic rashes.

Better just wash your hands

Alcohol and other antiseptics damage the skin

Do not forget that in addition to viral diseases, the skin is also damaged by continuous hand washing with antiseptics and soap. Use them only when you really need to. There is no need to kill the natural microbiome of your skin by pouring corrosive substances on it every few minutes.

Use alcohol when you cannot reach the nearest sink and soap.Although hand washing does not kill the virus, it completely flushes it off the skin. Alcohol is able to dissolve the protective lipid layer of the skin, which allows us to resist the bacteria and mold that are constantly trying to devour us. As a result, you kill a certain amount of viruses and bacteria that have got on the skin, but leave it defenseless. The next batch of bacteria from the doorknob will come to the damaged skin and begin to colonize it with great pleasure.

If you constantly have to treat your hands with disinfectant solutions, especially alcohol-based ones, I can recommend our Hydratation series.It should help cover up against continuous chemical damage. The key ingredient there is high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which helps to restore the protective layer and saturate the skin with moisture.

When you live in a respirator

Have you ever fallen asleep with your face on an embossed towel? When you get up, you look in the mirror and see your face in a beautiful cell. When you squeeze the skin in the same area for a long time, you block the flow of blood in the localized capillaries.This usually goes away pretty quickly. Looked like a little rumpled, washed and beautiful again.

Things get much worse if you wear a respirator and have to tighten it tight every time you work. Nowhere to go, you have to defend yourself. And here a person gets the most natural bedsores, areas of necrosis, ulcers and just severe dermatitis in areas of hypoxia. Recently, there was a scientific study on skin lesions in physicians working with infected patients. About half had erythema and desquamation of the epithelium due to wearing protective masks and goggles.Every tenth person received deep damage to the skin in the form of erosion and ulcers. It’s not for nothing that doctors ask people involved in 3D printing to make various designs to reduce the stress on the skin.

Therefore, if you cannot do without a mask, first of all try to distribute the load as evenly as possible. For example, the thin loops of a conventional surgical mask very quickly injure the delicate skin behind the ears. Plus, be sure to treat areas that are experiencing maximum stress with special means.

For a long time we have been dealing with the restoration of skin trophism after damage. One of the coolest developments in this direction is the Intensive Regeneration Gel. It has a very powerful revitalizing effect due to hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan and D-panthenol. Plus herbal extracts for anti-inflammatory benefits.

It will not be perfectly beautiful, but the skin will be much lighter.

Gloves

In a number of cities of the country, in particular in Moscow, it was made mandatory

wearing gloves

.The effectiveness of this solution directly depends on how much you are used to wearing them. Gloves alone will not help reduce the risk of infection. The virus, even in the form of a puddle of infected mucus on a subway seat, cannot penetrate the skin of the hands into the body. You must rub it yourself into your eyes, nose, or mouth. Most likely, the risk reduction will be associated with the fact that most people are unaccustomed to wearing gloves and they will remember not to touch their face.

Professional surgeons and other doctors are out of luck.For them, this is already a second skin. Here you can advise to buy the most ugly gloves that will not be very comfortable. For example, take plastic, like for burgers.

Many will face the professional problem of many doctors – latex allergy if you choose this material. Outwardly, it looks like typical contact dermatitis with redness and itching. I would advise first of all to exclude the allergen, thoroughly wash your hands from latex particles on your hands and treat with Intensive Regeneration gel.He showed himself excellently for allergic dermatitis. I think that we will soon make a separate big post about gloves.

Don’t be hypochondriac

Attention to your body is very important. Just don’t turn into Marvin the robot from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Just try to limit your contact with others as much as possible if there is any suspicion that you are sick.

If you have a rash, but within a couple of weeks no other characteristic symptoms and temperature have appeared, then most likely it is not Covid-19, but an unsuccessful washing powder or something similar.

And you can also go to our telegram channel (@geltek_cosmetics). There we tell interesting things about the chronicles of our cozy laboratory. Take care of yourself.

Pregnancy rash

Many women, having learned that they will soon become a mother, immediately begin to “study” specialized literature. But when faced with a rash of unknown origin, she falls into a dead end. Indeed, the rash during pregnancy is little covered in the literature, but in life it occurs much more often.

There are a lot of reasons for a rash during pregnancy

A rash, as you might guess, is also a kind of sign of a rage of hormones in the female body. Moreover, hormonal changes can affect not only the skin, but also the hair and nails. But, unfortunately, harmless hormones are not the only reason for the appearance of a rash, there are many others.

Often, doctors diagnose pregnant women as dermatosis of pregnant women . Dermatosis is a skin condition that will most likely require a consultation with a dermatologist to recognize it.Dermatosis is especially common in women who are carrying their first child.

The rash becomes visible only in the last trimester. A pregnant woman, as a rule, first notices stretch marks in the abdomen and a reddish, small rash next to them. These rashes can then develop into larger plaques and may resemble hives. In addition to plaques, nodules may appear on the skin. This disease is not dangerous, although the rash can spread widely throughout the body. The rash goes away on its own within 7 days after the baby is born, but in case of severe itching in a woman, the doctor may prescribe an ointment or cream for her to reduce the discomfort.These drugs most often contain corticosteroid hormones, so they are best purchased with a doctor’s permission. Although even the usual 1% hydrocortisone ointment or zinc paste can greatly reduce this kind of rash.

Viral infection – a common cause

A viral infection can also cause skin rashes. A woman during pregnancy is not immune from rubella, measles, herpes, smallpox and many other similar diseases.As you know, one of the symptoms of these infections is a typical rash on the body. But itching and rashes are harmless inconveniences compared to the fact that viruses, entering the weakened body of a pregnant woman, can seriously harm the fetus. In women who have recovered from smallpox or measles during pregnancy, fetal malformations, chromosomal abnormalities in a child, and cases of stillbirth are more often recorded.

The worst effect on the fetus is rubella . Fortunately, it is not so easy for her to get sick, if a woman suffered from this disease in childhood, then she will not get sick with it again, and nothing will threaten pregnancy.If a woman wants to clarify the fact that she has immunity against rubella, then in the antenatal clinic, you can donate blood for this.
A pregnant woman who falls ill with rubella, in addition to the appearance of a rash, may have a significant increase in temperature, increased toxicosis, weakness in the body, and headache. Rubella eruptions are pale pink in color. Rubella in early pregnancy is much more dangerous than already, for example, in the third trimester. The disease affects the child’s central nervous system, cardiovascular system, eyes, ears (children are born blind or deaf).If your doctor diagnoses you with rubella before 12 weeks, they will most likely suggest terminating the pregnancy.

Measles is another infectious disease that many people had in childhood. As in the case of rubella, measles is most difficult to carry in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, causing severe malformations of the fetal nervous system. The consequences are the birth of feeble-minded children, stillbirth, miscarriages in women.
Symptoms of measles: a hacking dry cough, small rashes, which are first noticeable on the face, and then go down to the limbs.The acute period lasts 7 days, after which the rash becomes less noticeable. It is better for women with measles to resort to early termination of pregnancy.

Herpes simplex virus is also widespread during pregnancy. It is very easy to get infected with them, since it is transmitted both sexually, and tactilely (shaking hands), and by airborne droplets. The rash in this case will be in the form of bubbles and located on the mucous membranes. The rash is accompanied by itching, pain. Herpes should be feared during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.Infected pregnant women have miscarriages during this period or they have an abortion. Infected mothers give birth to children with Down syndrome, heart defects, blood vessels, congenital pneumonia, hepatitis. Treatment of herpes is possible only for periods longer than 12 weeks, for this, drugs containing acyclovir or valacyclovir are used.

Another unsafe but rare cause of rash is chickenpox . This infection gives especially severe consequences for the development of the fetus in the first and third trimesters.Of course, as in previous cases, pregnancy is often interrupted by spontaneous miscarriage; doctors diagnose various defects in children born, which are even sometimes incompatible with life. The chickenpox rash will be pink in color and look more like spots than bumps. Also, a smallpox rash is similar to blisters, like herpes. The rash is accompanied by itching. They can be treated with antiseptic antiviral drugs.

The rash may be of an allergic nature. Hormonal interruptions that characterize pregnancy may well provoke this disease.Itching and rashes can be caused by food, pollen, house dust, and many other factors. To accurately calculate the allergen, consult an allergist.

Allergic rash during pregnancy can be either in the form of bubbles with contents, or in the form of nodules or plaques. It can be localized to a specific part of the body, such as the abdomen, or it can spread throughout the entire skin. An allergist can diagnose the cause of the allergic reaction and prescribe the required treatment.

Treatment of rashes during pregnancy: traditional and folk remedies

To avoid the appearance of rashes and other symptoms associated with it, you should follow a simple diet during pregnancy, especially if the woman is prone to allergies. Strong allergens should be excluded from the diet: coffee, citrus fruits, chocolate, seafood. When cooking, use less seasoning.

If the cause of the rash is dermatosis, then most often doctors do not prescribe any special remedies for its treatment, since this is a harmless temporary phenomenon.Itching will help relieve antihistamines or ointments.

But for the treatment of serious infectious diseases, the doctor must select the treatment individually. In the early stages of pregnancy (I trimester), women have an abortion to avoid serious complications. A miscarriage can also occur. Remember that such diseases cannot be treated on their own.

When diagnosed with measles, a pregnant woman is prescribed bed rest, enhanced nutrition with the addition of fermented milk products, vitamins, symptomatic treatment.With the development of complications (pneumonia, otitis media, and others), treatment is carried out with antibiotics. In the room where the patient is located, the light should be dim.

Rubella in the way of treatment differs little from measles. With her, the woman is also sent to the hospital, where she spends 3-4 days in bed. Prevention of this virus, of course, is vaccination when planning pregnancy.

A pregnant woman infected with chickenpox is also hospitalized for observation by specialists.Smallpox can be treated with antiviral drugs given by vein or given as a pill. Fever with chickenpox is brought down with antipyretic drugs, an abundant drink, ascorbic acid is prescribed. Perhaps, if necessary, the use of antibiotic therapy for chickenpox.

Also, a doctor in Russia can prescribe various drugs to correct and raise a woman’s natural immunity, in particular, she is injected with intravenous immunoglobulin. Compliance with hygiene rules is also important, this reduces the risk of re-infection.A woman should regularly change her underwear, outerwear, take a daily shower or bath with a solution of potassium permanganate. Bubbles that appear on the mucous membranes are prohibited from scratching, piercing, tearing off. Otherwise, reinfection will occur and the infection will spread to other parts of the body. Hands are required to be clean, washed regularly with soap, and treated with antiseptics.

Herpes is difficult to treat, especially during pregnancy, when a woman’s immunity is lowered. A woman infected with it must strictly observe the rules of hygiene, use only individual household items (dishes, clothes, towels, personal hygiene items, etc.).NS.). It is recommended to lubricate the bubbles several times a day with antiviral ointments containing acyclovir, this will significantly reduce itching, and the rashes themselves will dry out. Do not pierce the contents or scratch the rash! As with chickenpox, it is a good idea to keep your body and personal belongings clean. To prevent the child from transmitting the virus sexually during childbirth, obstetricians perform a cesarean section for infected expectant mothers. In this case, it is forbidden to breastfeed children, the child is fed with artificial formula.

based on materials from the site swedmed.ru

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90,000 How lemons help to recognize early signs of breast cancer

January 15, 2017

Photo author, Worldwide Breast Cancer

Photo caption,

Various signs of breast cancer shown in the example of lemons

We think we know what are symptoms of breast cancer, but only until you have to feel your own breast – for preventive purposes.

That’s when we get lost in conjecture: what is it here for me – a seal? Do I need to worry if dimples appear on the skin, and what exactly should you pay attention to?

This is exactly what the young designer Corinne Beaumont, the author of the “Know Your Lemons” campaign, was thinking about, which has been shared 32 thousand times on Facebook in recent days.

Both of Corinne’s grandmothers died of breast cancer at the age of 40 and 62, and when she herself began to look for some information about the first symptoms of this disease and what to look for, she found very little useful.

Then she decided to come up with some simple guide, and so lemons became her visual metaphors for the various conditions of the mammary glands.

By placing them in a box containing a dozen eggs, Corinne wanted to create a simple, playful image that, firstly, could help women overcome their fear of this disease, and secondly, would be understandable to absolutely everyone – even the illiterate.

“Some people don’t want to talk about it and don’t even want to look at their breasts,” says the artist.And often the women portrayed on medical posters don’t look like normal women. ”

Two years ago, Corinne quit her main job to concentrate fully on the Worldwide Breast Cancer charity she founded.

Understandable

This educational campaign has already been launched in the USA, Spain, Turkey and Lebanon and has been translated into 16 languages ​​

Despite the fact that the “Know by lemons” campaign has existed since 2003, it has become widely known only this year after being shared on social media by Erin Smith Chiese.

She was diagnosed with grade 4 breast cancer after she herself noticed the dents on her chest – all thanks to the “lemon instructions” showing how and what it looks like.

“If I hadn’t accidentally come across a picture where everything is visible in nature, then I would not know what to look for,” Erin wrote on social networks.

Many women say that “Learn by lemons” is a simple, visual and at the same time vivid guide, helping to communicate in a simple way that important thing that is sometimes lost behind many incomprehensible words.

Photo by Science Photo Library

Photo caption,

Doctors urge women to regularly check their breasts for changes

A recent survey of thousands of women by the British charity Breast Cancer Care found that a third of women do not regularly check their breast for signs and symptoms of cancer.

While 96% of women know that a lump in the breast can be a symptom of cancer, more than 25% do not know that it can also be an inverted nipple.

It is a lump or lump in the breasts that is most often noticed by women, according to the official website of the National Health Service NHS Choices.

In 9 out of 10 cases, these lumps are not cancerous, but to be sure of this, you must definitely see a doctor.

You also need to watch for symptoms such as a change in the location of the nipple or the appearance of dents or uneven surfaces on the breast.

Early signs

As Professor of Surgery Giant Wadia of the University College London Cancer Department explains, dents in the skin of the chest or flattening of the chest, especially when the arm is raised or when the trunk is tilted forward, are important early symptoms.

“This is one of the main signs that can be seen at an early stage, along with bloody discharge from the nipple or discharge from only one duct,” says the professor.

Symptoms such as suddenly noticeable veins or inflammation of the mammary glands are rare, and sores on the skin of the breast or the appearance of a porous patch of skin resembling an orange peel and large bumps are signs that the disease is in an advanced stage …

“Lemons in an egg box attract interest in this topic, and people can better remember some specific signs. But usually women just find an” invisible “lump in their breasts – this is the most common and often the only symptom, “explains Professor Vadia.

Do not go crazy

But what is important to know is exactly how your breasts look and feel – experts say.

Any change in size or shape, induration or “ball” in any part of the breast must be taken seriously.

At the same time, Nurse Jen Murphy of Breast Cancer Care says she doesn’t want women to go crazy about it.

“The main thing is that everyone knows what their own breasts look like.