Most pregnant women feel quite insecure, as they do not know what the normal condition of their skin is and what products they can use safely. During pregnancy, due to the large production of the so-called "Growth factor" that helps our baby to grow, at the same time we see many, new, pigmented changes in our skin. 99% present a completely benign development and for this reason pregnant women often underestimate their existence.

Unfortunately, however, malignant melanoma of the skin will also grow much faster due to the presence of the same growth factors.

Therefore, it is so important to know what are the normal skin developments in pregnancy and which ones should worry us so that you can consult your doctor.

Natural skin changes.

Normal skin changes - that is, those that do not affect the course of pregnancy and occur in almost all expectant mothers during it.

Streaks

They appear in almost 80% of women. Stretch marks are the result of mechanical stretching of the skin, weight gain, hormonal factors and genetic predisposition.

Fresh stretch marks are usually red lines (striae rubrae), larger ones become white (striae albae) and atrophic scars. They appear most often on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and breasts.

Weaker nails

Nails grow faster, become dull, brittle, with longitudinal ridges and peel more easily.

Chloasma or melasma

It usually occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy. The most common discoloration changes appear on the face. Due to the location of chloasma, we can divide it into the following types: central (changes in the forehead, nose, upper lip or chin); zygomatic (cheeks), mandibular (jaw angles).

Many times their first appearance is related to sunbathing and intense exposure to sunlight. Genetic predisposition is also very important. You should use sunscreens with a high filter throughout your pregnancy and protect your skin from UV rays.

Gingivitis

During pregnancy, the oral mucosa becomes fluffier and more vascular than usual, and in many pregnant women, the gums begin to bleed slightly when washing and more often when brushing the teeth.

Hyperpigmentation of the skin

Darkening of the skin and mucous membranes due to increased levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).

Most of the time we see them within a white border. They appear in the areas from the pubic symphysis in the form of a dark line. In addition, the nipples, anogenital area, armpits, groin and inner surfaces of the thighs darken. But everything returns to normal, a few weeks after giving birth.

Vascular venous spiders

The increased concentration of estrogen during pregnancy promotes the formation of vascular changes by dilating blood vessels. We usually notice it on the skin of the face, neck, décolleté or hands.

Varicose veins

Pregnancy is the period when we discover what varicose veins are. They appear more often on the lower extremities and around the anus. It is a result of pressure on the veins, and also under the influence of hormones, the walls of the vessels are often stretched.

Enlargement of pigmented nevi

Some pigmented lesions may enlarge as the skin stretches. This fact does not exempt us from the need to report the lesions to our doctor and if any of them seem "suspicious" to him, to decide on further investigation and histological examination.

Unfortunately, melanoma, the malignant neoplasm of the skin, is one of the most commonly recognized cancers these days. Do not wait until pregnancy or breastfeeding is over. Early diagnosis equals faster recovery.

Palmar erythema

In about 30% of pregnant women, we see redness of the hands, even star-shaped angiomas, the so-called asterisks. The changes usually subside after childbirth.

Hypertrichosis

Increased hair growth usually lasts throughout pregnancy. The hair regrowth phase is prolonged. After giving birth, the regeneration phase changes to the shedding phase, which usually occurs around 3-6 months postpartum and unfortunately can last up to a year. Such hair loss is considered normal and you should not worry about it.

Excessive sweating

The eccrine glands enlarge and become more active, so excessive sweating may occur during pregnancy.