CUTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS IN PREGNANCY IN A SEMI-URBAN SET UP OF RAJASTHAN

Dr. Sinni Jain*, Dr. Savita Agarwal and Dr. Manisha Nijhawan

ABSTRACT

Skin in pregnancy undergoes various changes which can be either physiological, skin conditions affected by pregnancy or specific pregnancy dermatosis. Aims & objectives:- To study the cutaneous manifestations in pregnancy and to distinguish between physiological and pathological changes occurring during pregnancy. Methods:- All consecutive pregnant females attending Department of Dermatology and those referred by Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology were included. Results:- A total of 250 pregnant females were included in the study, out of which 163 (65%) were multigravida and 87 (35%) were primigravida. Pregnancy dermatoses were categorized into three:- Physiological skin changes (all patients), specific dermatoses of pregnancy (23 patients), skin diseases affected by pregnancy (72 patients). Amongst the physiological changes, pigmentary changes were the commonest with linea nigra found in maximum cases (218; 87.2%) followed by striae gravidarum (202; 80.8%). Of the specific dermatoses of pregnancy, pruritus gravidarum (14; 60.87%) was the most common. The most common dermatoses affected by pregnancy was acne vulgaris (34; 47.22%) followed by dermatophytoses (21; 29.17%).

Keywords: Pregnancy Dermatoses, physiological changes, pathological changes.