During pregnancy, skin problems often occur. One complaint that is quite disturbing is itching. Not only makes pregnant women uncomfortable, this itching can also cause wounds and infections if you keep scratching. Therefore, immediately deal with itching during pregnancy in a safe way.
Itching is common during pregnancy, and this is normal because of the stretching and increased blood supply to the skin during pregnancy. The most itchy areas of the body are the stomach, breasts, hands, and feet.
Various Causes of Itching During Pregnancy
Apart from stretching and increasing blood supply to the skin which makes the skin more sensitive, itching during pregnancy can also be caused by:
- Dry skin
- Allergy
- Pruritic urticarial papules & plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP)
- psoriasis
- Prurigo
- Eczema
Not only that, the itching that is felt during pregnancy can also be caused by a more serious medical condition, such as obstetric cholestasis (OC). However, this condition is quite rare.
Then, how to deal with itching that appears?
When feeling itchy, pregnant women usually will immediately scratch the itchy area, right? In fact, this only temporarily relieves itching and can actually lead to new problems, namely skin sores or even infection.
Therefore, if pregnant women experience itching during pregnancy, try not to scratch it. Here are some steps that pregnant women can take to treat itching on the skin:
1. Use a skin moisturizer
Itching during pregnancy is often caused by skin that is too dry. To overcome this, pregnant women can apply skin moisturizer to the itchy area. When the skin is moist, the itching will also be reduced. As much as possible use a skin moisturizer that does not contain fragrance to prevent irritation of the skin. Pregnant women can also use natural moisturizers, such as olive oil or aloe vera.
2. Use a cold compress
Instead of scratching it, a safer way to reduce itching is to apply a cooling sensation to the skin. This can be done by compressing the itchy body part with cold water or ice cubes wrapped in a cloth.
3. Wear loose clothes
Pressure and friction of clothes against the skin also often causes itching, even irritation. Therefore, use comfortable and loose clothing during pregnancy. In addition, choose clothes made of cotton, so that pregnant women's sweat can be absorbed well and do not make the itching worse.
4. Avoid hot showers
Some people think a warm bath can relieve itching. But actually, this method is less effective for dealing with itching. Taking a warm bath can actually make pregnant women's skin dry, making it easier to experience itching.
5. Use humidifier
One way to keep the skin from getting dry and itchy is to use humidifier (humidifier) indoors, especially if pregnant women use air conditioning or air conditioning. This tool can maintain the humidity of the air, so that pregnant women's skin does not dry out quickly.
If the various methods above have not been able to overcome the itching during pregnancy that pregnant women feel, you should immediately consult a doctor. Especially if the itching gets worse, spreads throughout the body, or is accompanied by rashes, bumps, and sores.