Pregnancy is always accompanied by serious changes in the body. During this period, all systems are rebuilt, the volume of circulating blood increases, the growing uterus presses on the internal organs. And it’s not worth talking about hormonal changes: a significant increase in the levels of estrogen and progesterone contributes to a change in the mood, appearance, and well-being of a woman.
Eczema during pregnancy is often a direct consequence of the metamorphoses that the body is forced to undergo. How to get rid of this pathology, because during pregnancy many hormonal ointments and creams are prohibited for use? There are many popular methods for treating eczema during pregnancy. The pharmaceutical industry also offers a number of safe drugs that do not provoke the development of abnormalities in the growing fetus.
General information about the disease
Eczema is a dermatological disease that is expressed in the formation of inflamed areas on the skin. Depending on the form of eczema, the patient may suffer from skin itching, pain, the appearance of pustules on the affected area.
The most common form of eczema in pregnancy is atopic dermatitis. It can appear on almost any part of the body, but its “favorite” places are hands, forearms, cheeks, lower back. Many women complain of dandruff and severe itching of the scalp. This is seborrheic dermatitis, which medicine also ranks as a form of eczema. Future mothers may begin to lose hair, scalp will itch a lot. To get rid of these unpleasant manifestations of the disease, you can use the same methods of treatment as for the skin on the body or on the face.
Symptomatology
How to understand that a pregnant woman has eczema? Here is a list of symptoms characteristic of this pathology:
- A reddish spot with dark brown outlines appears on the skin.
- Itching is characteristic of skin changes, and mild soreness is sometimes observed.
- The skin in the affected area becomes dry, begins to crack.
- Blisters or pustules appear on the affected area, which can secrete a sacrum with pus.
- Burning sensation in the affected area of the skin.
- Swelling (for example, if eczema appeared on the arm during pregnancy, then the entire hand or fingers may swell).
Causes
It is generally accepted that the exact mechanisms of the occurrence of atopic dermatitis are still unknown. However, classical dermatology still identified a number of reasons why eczema can develop during pregnancy (given the unusual state of the body and the changes occurring in it):
- In the first trimester, many women lose their immunity, as the body is forced to work in an enhanced mode, providing resources for both the mother and the growing fetus. As a result, atypical skin reactions develop, for example, eczema during pregnancy.
- Stressful situations, chronic fatigue, physical activity - all these factors contribute to the appearance of dermatological problems even in healthy people. Violation of the nervous system is directly related to the condition of the skin. Psoriasis, dermatitis, seborrhea - all these pathologies often develop precisely due to increased psycho-emotional stress.
- Allergic reactions are another common cause of eczema during pregnancy. Dermatological symptoms can be especially pronounced if a woman has previously suffered from allergic manifestations.
- Women with asthma have a predisposition to eczema.
- In the presence of thyroid diseases, the risk of developing dermatological pathologies increases both during pregnancy and outside it. In this case, you should discuss the treatment of unpleasant symptoms with your endocrinologist.
Which doctor to contact
First you need to tell about the problem to the gynecologist who is pregnant and is aware of the clinical picture of his patient’s health status. The medical record contains the results of blood tests, urine tests. As a rule, this is enough to make an assumption about what exactly could cause the development of a dermatological reaction.
A doctor leading a pregnancy can himself recommend creams and ointments that will help get rid of manifestations of eczema. If he does not have the appropriate qualifications regarding skin pathologies, he will refer the patient to a dermatologist. In some cases, additional studies will have to be done: scraping from the surface of the skin and analysis of the microflora of the mucous membranes. This is necessary in order to exclude infectious causes of the development of skin pathology.
Simple Ways to Get Rid of Eczema During Pregnancy
Before you start using a particular pharmacological remedy for eczema, try to get rid of the problem in one of the following simple ways:
- Change soap and shower gel - this action alone is enough to make the dermatological problems go away.
- Wear items made from natural, breathable fabrics.
- In the apartment, carry out wet cleaning daily, do not allow dust to accumulate.
- Do not swim in the pool (usually there is chlorinated water), as well as in open waters: lakes, rivers, etc.
- Take sick leave or academic leave if the atmosphere at work contributes to increased stress.
Pharmacological preparations
How to treat eczema during pregnancy? The exact answer can only be given by a doctor, based on knowledge of the clinical picture of each patient. Of course, there are general methods, for example, traditional medicine, which will not harm and help alleviate the symptoms. If eczema does not go away and spreads to neighboring areas of the skin, it will be necessary to use medicinal methods of therapy.
Before applying this or that remedy, you need to consult a doctor. Hormonal ointments are the most effective, but their use during pregnancy can cause harm to the fetus, since the ingredients of such drugs penetrate the bloodstream of the woman through the epidermis.
Non-hormonal drugs
The following ointments and creams are safe. They can be used to treat eczema during pregnancy without first consulting a doctor. It should be noted: if a woman has an allergic reaction to some component of an ointment or cream, then it is better to abandon its use. List of drugs:
- Cream "Bepanten" helps to soften tissues, relieves itching, levels peeling and dry skin. The main active ingredient is dexpanthenol. The cream should be smeared with a thin layer on the affected area from three to seven times a day. It has a delicate texture and is quickly absorbed.
- Zinc ointment with eczema during pregnancy relieves irritation, dries wet areas. The drug promotes the formation of a thin protective film on the surface of the affected areas. This prevents the negative impact of external factors. This ointment is effective both with dry and with weeping eczema.
- During pregnancy, you can also use "Elidel." This cream reduces inflammation, it is used if eczema is accompanied by the appearance of pimples and small pimples. To some extent, "Elidel" relieves itching. It should be applied twice a day with a thin layer on the area of the skin affected by eczema.
Hormonal ointment
These funds help after the first application to the skin, and after a few days of use, eczema may not leave a trace. However, before using hormonal ointments, you should definitely consult a doctor, since the treatment of eczema on the hands during pregnancy should not even bear the potential danger to the growing fetus.
- "Lokoid" relieves swelling, itching and burning after the first application. The duration of therapy is no longer than 10 days. It has a mild anesthetic effect, relieves pain. The tool is not recommended to be applied to large areas of the body, since it can penetrate the bloodstream and can cause the development of side effects. The instructions indicate that the period of pregnancy is an indirect contraindication, but dermatologists in rare cases prescribe this ointment to women.
- "Flucinar" in pregnant women is used only from the second trimester. The drug relieves redness, irritation on the skin, swelling, burning. Some women mix the ointment with a baby cream to reduce the concentration of the hormone in the composition. It should be applied twice a day with a thin layer. It is forbidden to use it in the face.
Are alternative methods effective
How to treat eczema on the hands during pregnancy, if for some reason there is no way to use pharmacological agents? Healer’s recipes tested over the years come to the rescue:
- Select a few large grapes of acidic varieties, peel, crush into pulp. Apply to the area of the hands, on top you need to wear disposable gloves. The exposure time is about ten minutes, then rinse off the gruel and apply any moisturizer. You can use this eczema mask on any part of the body, not just on the hands. When applied to the face, it should be borne in mind that grape juice contains acids, so it can provoke redness and burn sensitive skin.
- Trays of herbal infusions are an excellent remedy for eczema on the hands during pregnancy. Mix the dried string and calendula in equal proportions, take two tablespoons. mix, pour boiling water, let cool and insist. To make baths for hands in this infusion. The duration of the procedure is from 10 minutes to half an hour. The procedure relieves itching, the skin regenerates faster. Infusion of calendula has astringent properties and promotes the rapid healing of pustules. For its preparation, 1 tbsp. dry flowers pour 200 boiling water. Allow to cool to a comfortable temperature and apply as directed.
Saline peeling for lesions of the scalp
If eczema during pregnancy has developed the scalp, you should try a simple and cheap method of treatment.
For the procedure, you will need several tablespoons of Extra salt. Wet hair and scalp, then distribute salt over the parting and rub in smooth movements. Soak for about ten minutes, then wash your hair in the usual way using shampoo.
What foods are forbidden to use
In the fight against eczema of any form and severity, nutrition plays a large role. The following products should be discarded:
- Citrus fruit.
- Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries.
- Bright vegetables - tomatoes, carrots, beets, celery (it is permissible to eat potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, onions).
- Dishes and products, which include a large number of spices and food additives.
- Drinks that contain a large number of dyes.
Psychoemotional state and eczema
The influence of nervous disorders on the development of dermatological diseases cannot be underestimated. During pregnancy, due to a hormonal explosion, a woman’s nervous system is particularly vulnerable. If possible, it is necessary to abstract or get rid of the source of irritation. Employers, as a rule, are calm about the fact that a pregnant woman takes a vacation.
The negative psycho-emotional state of the mother can lead not only to the development of dermatitis, but also to the threat of miscarriage. Nature itself contributed to making the woman more relaxed during the bearing of the fetus. Due to the release of estrogen and an increase in progesterone, a woman becomes lazy, she always wants to sleep. You should not go against nature. This can lead to unpleasant consequences. Only the whole complex of measures (treatment, good nutrition, the correct daily routine, positive emotions) will help get rid of eczema.