Skin conditions while pregnant

peachy0709 · January 2017

Whose dealing with any of the fun rashes/irritations/etc in pregnancy? What are you doing to ease the itch?

STMs+, anyone have them last time?

I have horrible eczema this time around. Last time I had a few flare ups, but they were manageable with normal heavy creams. This time around I'm worried I might have to figure out an Rx, but of course that makes me a worry. Any experiences welcome!

HGRich · January 2017

I've had eczema my whole life and it's flaring up primarily because it's winter. Though my belly is extra itchy of course as it's stretching. Really all I've done is slathered lotion on my entire body every single day, and then we also got a humidifier which has calmed my skin too. I'm sorry you're miserable! Hope it eases up for you!

ETA by lotion I mean mostly natural body butter. Trying to stay away from chemicals and preservatives while prego, like the ones found in a lot of lotions, especially since I'm covering a large surface area. I have some goats milk lotion a friend made from her own goats' milk, and I also use burt's bees body butter and Yes to Carrots lotion.

SnarkasaurusRex · January 2017

I have eczema as well that flares up during the winter and while pregnant...so double whammy this time! The thing that I have found that works the best is the Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Nighttime Balm. It's a very heavy cream and it's done the best to calm the itching and heal my skin. Even though it's for nighttime, I use it in the morning and before I go to bed.

Mine is primarily on my shins, so I also usually put a pair of long socks on to keep the lotion on my skin. I didn't use it this morning, and my legs are killing me...it's taking all of my self control to not scratch!

FWIW, my OB nixed all of my prescription creams last time (with clobetasol). Google tells me that they are likely safe during pregnancy, but I trust my OB so I went with what she said.

ebloom3 · January 2017

While it's under control this pregnancy, the only thing that helped in previous pregnancies (and in life in general, I've had terrible eczema on my hands since middle school) is hydrocortisone cream mixed with lotion (I used oatmeal based lotions, Aquaphor, etc...). My pediatrician recommended it when I was little and it worked better than any Rx. I've read mixed things about hydrocortisone and pregnancy, but I only used a small amount (pea-sized or smaller). It helped with the itching. The lotion soothed it.

Ekzerr · January 2017

I have melasma, right now it's all over my throat and it's spreading and getting darker. It doesn't itch but it's really dry/rough feeling and kind of sensitive to
touch

peachy0709 · January 2017

@SnarkasaurusRex - sounds like we're in the exact same boat. Mine is on my calves. I'll see what my OB says tomorrow at my appointment, but in the meantime I'm going to pick up that cream you recommended! The itch is making me practically sick to my stomach.

ashleym112 · January 2017

I have eczema and as everyone else has said its been flaring up mostly bc of the winter months as usual with pregnancy adding to it. Humidifiers are always good, and definitely unscented lotion is good or gentle ones. I love Aveeno Eczema (and we have baby brand for DS bc he has it as well), and I'm careful about even the body washes I use. I found Dove is gentle enough, even though its scented, and I wash our clothes and Tide Free and Clear (started with DS but I've noticed its helped our all our skin, DH has sensitive skin as well).

doozenberg · January 2017

I also have dermatitis on my hands. I use a steroid cream 3 times a week. I've tapered it down to twice a week but I don't know if I can stop it entirely. I've told my OB and she wasn't concerned. I've also researched steroid creams and they are low risk (plus I only use it sparingly on my hands).

McFarKane · January 2017

@kcasset I had really bad eczema during both of my pregnancies and I've used coconut oil (every morning and night) and a humidifier and it's cleared it up 100% for me both times.

catem07 · January 2017

I highly recommend you get a cream, not a lotion. I use cerave cream (recommended by my derm). It's super $$ compared to lotions, etc., but it's the only thing that has stopped my chronically itchy boobs I've had for years. It comes in a tub.

super_sam03 · January 2017

I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME!!!! Oh, thank little baby J it's a pregnancy thing! I had eczema show up on my inner elbows around Thanksgiving. After a couple weeks, it got worse - itchy, red, blech - so I started using a cortisone cream. It definitely helped but it's still there... just taunting me...

MWoodside · January 2017

I don't have eczema, but DD2 does. Eczema is an autoimmune condition. So if you are willing to try food eliminations that resolves it 100% for her year round.

Dannylion24 · January 2017

My hands and wrists are always horrid - cracking and bleeding- during the winter and pregnancy makes them worse. I use straight Vaseline. Since its oily I'll put it on under gloves before something like a car ride where I won't be washing my hands for a bit and always totally slather it on at night.

pinkshades05 · February 2017

I second using hydrocortisone and Aquaphor. Coconut oil and Aquaphor works really well. My eczema is in a very sensitive area so I've been going crazy trying to get it resolved.

rachelmiller03 · February 2017

@doozenberg
I have dermatitis on my eyelids. It usually pops up during winter, and when I'm stressed, so this pregnancy has been awful. Steroid creams are the only thing that helps, but not only and I out, but super hesitant to use during pregnancy- especially on my eyes. My eyes look horrible most of the time. I'm asked all the time if I'm tired or crying. Yes, I'm tired, but I wouldn't look so bad if it weren't for the awful dermatitis.

MrsBakes · February 2017

My DD has eczema and i have very sensitive skin. I'm lucky that during pregnancy my skin is always good (except for the itchy stretching belly)
as far as eczema goes I've done a lot of research and spoke with DDs dermatologist in great length. There is a lot of misinformation on eczema that's even given out by doctors.
NEVER use lavender as it is one of the biggest eczema irritants.
Avoid showers when you can and do baths, but no longer than 10-15 minutes and make sure water isn't too hot or too cold.
Don't use Aveno or other similar moisturizers even if they say they are for eczema. My DD is a perfect example for that nono.
Some see results with coconut oil but be careful which kind you use. We tried it with DD and it would work for a bit then she'd flare up then it would work again then she's flare up again. So it's iffy..

Instead use VaniCream soap and VaniCream moisturizing cream or lotion. You can get it at Target for a few bucks.
Since we've started using this on DD she hasn't had a flare up, so it's been over 2 years.
I also use the moisturizer and it's wonderful!
We live in MN so winters are long, cold and super dry which is a great time for eczema. With this stuff we've had no issues at all!

Maybe worth a try?

MrsBakes · February 2017

MWoodside said:

I don't have eczema, but DD2 does. Eczema is an autoimmune condition. So if you are willing to try food eliminations that resolves it 100% for her year round.

Please please don't get me wrong. But this is another thing that's so confusing. I went to a few docs and our Chiro who also specializes in nutrition. So many have told us it's food and had us eliminate things such as milk, all sugar, pasta, gluten etc. First off none of it worked for DD.
Then when we spoke to this dermatologist she said that's also a misunderstanding. She said food has nothing to do with eczema. But that some people with food sensitivity are also more likely to have eczema but that those two aren't actually linked.

So i only speak from our experience that change in diet never did anything, but this simple hygiene routine change. And really it was just about changing the cleansing products that are stripped of all chemicals...

There is so much info out there given out by so many professionals and at times it feels like a crap shoot, too LOL

mrsstuessy · February 2017

I'm not sure what it is called, but all the skin on my fingertips is peeling off. Only on my fingertips. The rest of my hands/knuckles are great. It is horribly painful. It happened to me in high school for a few years, but I thought it was just because I was on the swim team and swimming in a pool every day for over an hour. But, now 10 years later it has come back. Weird. Now I am wondering if it is a hormonal thing. Aquifer helps a tiny bit, but mostly just makes it less painful, it doesn't actually stop my skin from peeling off.

What is wrong with me!

SnarkasaurusRex · February 2017

@mrsstuessy My mom gets psoriasis on her fingertips that sounds similar...I think she uses O'Keeffe's Working Hands? She puts it on her hands at night with a pair of cotton gloves.

MWoodside · February 2017

@MrsBakes, did you do an elimination diet? Or just randomly eliminate things piecemeal?

Just to to share our experience, at 5 wks DD2 developed serious eczema. Our pedi wanted me to use a steroid cream and I was like there is no way I'm putting something like that on my newborn, I'm going to try diet first since I'm nursing exclusively. So I did the Autoimmune Protocol. It's a very strict elimination diet where ALL potential allergens are eliminated at once. Literally 4 days after I began her eczema was healed 100%. The pedi was amazed. After 30 days of AIP I began reuntroductions slowly and one thing at a time for 4 days with a new introduction every 2 wks at the most. If a reintroduction failed I waited a full 30 days before the next reintroduction.

she reacted to: dairy, eggs, grains, citrus fruits, nightshade veggies, soy, cacao, corn. I feel like I'm forgetting some. Anyway us was tough for me but it worked. I never would have figured all of that out without doing AIP.

She he has outgrown most of the sensitivities but still has a few. She sees an allergist now bc she is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts (although I could ear those while nursing with no ill effect on her) and he fully agrees eczema is typically food driven since it's an autoimmune condition.

Most derms don't believe that eczema can be food related and recommend things like bleach baths for eczema which is not what I'm personally comfortable with.

mrsstuessy · February 2017

@SnarkasaurusRex ordering some of that hand cream from Amazon right now. Thanks!

Dannylion24 · February 2017

@SnarkasaurusRex I'm ordering it too!

MrsBakes · February 2017

@MWoodside

Sorry, didn't mean to ignore you. I've been trying to respond but the site keeps crashing on me...
We eliminated (worked with the nutritionist/chiro) dairy, gluten, nuts and I think eggs???
She also did specific adjustments on DD that supposedly can help with eczema. Nothing made a difference at all.
I like the derm because she actually doesn't go for those harsh treatments such as bleach baths either. And I would have never gone for it.
I"m not dismissing any theory, I'm just speaking from own experience and research and material I got from the docs.
I too was surprised but per derm as well as what we experienced ourselves, the food didn't seem to make a difference at all. DD eats all that stuff and hasn't had a flare up since we went to see the derm that one time and changed our soap and bath routine...

SnarkasaurusRex · February 2017

@mrsstuessy @Dannylion24 I hope it works for you guys! I've never used it, but my mom swears by it, and her fingers crack to the point of bleeding...so it must be something good!

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