If you suffer from rashes or itchy skin during pregnancy, don't brush it off as just a temporary phase. It can be more serious than it looks. The experts from Dermatology Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) share.

Skin problems during pregnancy

Just like any other person, you can suffer from common skin conditions such as psoriasis or scabies when you're pregnant. However, certain skin conditions, or dermatoses, can occur specifically in pregnant women. The causes are unclear but thought to be related to changes in hormones and the immune system occurring during pregnancy. In rare cases, your unborn baby may be at risk of abnormalities, distress, premature birth or even death, if your dermatoses are not treated in a timely manner.

Dr Mark Koh, Head and Consultant, Dermatology Service, KK Women's & Children's Hospital (KKH), a member of the SingHealth group, discusses three main groups of pregnancy-related skin conditions.

Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy

Also known as pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP) is not an uncommon skin condition of pregnancy. In 2013, approximately 15 new cases of PEP were diagnosed by the Dermatology Service at KKH.

PEP is not associated with harm to the unborn baby.

Click here to read about who is at risk, and how to treat PEP.

Contributed by:
HealthXchange​