Is it normal to have rashes during pregnancy

Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. How to relieve itchy skin. American Academy of Dermatology. Skin conditions during pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Bergman H et al. Pruritus in pregnancy. Canadian Family Physician 59 12 Merck Manual. Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Understanding intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Tey HL et al. Psychosomatic factors in pruritus. Dermatoses of pregnancy. Karisa Ding is a freelance health writer and editor with expertise in preconception, pregnancy, and parenting content. A mother of two, Ding finds great joy in supporting new and expectant parents by providing information they need for the life-changing journey ahead. Ding lives in San Francisco with her family. Join now to personalize.

Photo credit: Thinkstock. Many forms of pregnancy rash are harmless, but it is always best to see a doctor so that they can identify the cause and confirm that a person does not need medical treatment. A doctor can also advise on the best way to care for skin conditions during pregnancy. A person should also see a doctor as soon as possible if they experience severe itchiness without a rash.

Rashes and itchy skin are common during pregnancy. Many rashes are harmless and may resolve after giving birth. However, in rare cases, rashes can be a sign of a more serious condition. If a person does not know the cause of a pregnancy rash, they should see a doctor for a diagnosis. Rashes can appear similar while pointing to a wide range of health problems. It is important to be able to identify different types of rash and when…. Heat rash, or prickly heat, is common, especially in babies and people living in hot, humid climates.

Here, learn how it forms, how to prevent it, and…. Home remedies, such as cold compresses, calamine lotion, and oatmeal baths, can help soothe the symptoms of heat rash.

Read on to learn more. Hives can result from a medical condition or exposure to substances or extreme temperatures. They can be very irritating, but there are many ways to…. Most people associate itchy skin with a rash, but many factors can cause itchy skin without creating a visible rash or skin changes.

In this article…. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. What rashes occur during pregnancy? Heat rash. Atopic eruption of pregnancy. PUPPP rash. Impetigo herpetiformis. Pemphigoid gestationis. Home care. When to see a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.

Related Coverage. What is heat rash, and how do we treat it? Medically reviewed by Harshil Matta, DO. How to treat hives. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. What can cause itchy skin without a rash? Itching , with or without a rash, is a common symptom during pregnancy. It can be due to several reasons:. No matter the cause, an itchy rash during pregnancy can add anxiety and discomfort to an already difficult time.

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, or PUPPP, is the most common pregnancy-related itchy rash, affecting up to 1 in pregnancies. PUPPP usually occurs during the third trimester of your first pregnancy. It results in an extremely itchy rash that resembles hives. The rash usually occurs on the abdomen and may be related to trauma from skin stretching.

Treatment of PUPPP involves oral antihistamines and topical steroids ; sometimes oral steroids are needed. Prurigo of pregnancy is another common form of itching you may experience while pregnant. Prurigo can occur at any time during the pregnancy and is treated with moisturizers, topical steroids, and oral antihistamines.

The rash usually resolves shortly after delivery but may occur again in future pregnancies. Itching from cholestasis of pregnancy typically occurs in the third trimester.

There's no associated rash, but you may experience skin jaundice yellowing. The itching usually goes away after delivery but may recur in future pregnancies.

Cholestasis can affect the baby, causing fetal distress and pre-term labor. If that happens, prompt medical attention is required. Pemphigoid gestationis PG formerly called herpes gestationis is a rare autoimmune rash that occurs during late pregnancy second and third trimester and affects 1 in 50, pregnancies.

It's not caused by a herpes virus infection ; the rash, however, may look like herpes—with blisters and vesicles that may form rings—and occurs mostly on the abdomen, especially around the umbilicus belly button.

Treatment usually involves topical, and sometimes oral, corticosteroids. Occasionally, pemphigoid gestationis is associated with premature delivery and low birth weights, but it does not otherwise affect the baby.

The rash commonly flares at delivery and resolves shortly thereafter. It's likely to recur with future pregnancies. Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy most commonly occurs during the second and third trimesters, affecting 1 in 3, pregnancies. It causes an itchy rash that looks like acne on the chest, arms, shoulders, and back.

Treatment includes topical acne treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and, occasionally, topical steroids and oral antihistamines. This rash usually goes away within a month or two after delivery and does not affect the baby.