A Clinical Study of Physiological Skin Changes in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Suh, Dae Hun; Ahn, Jong Seong; Youn, Sang Ho; Kwon, Oh Sang; Chung, Jin Ho; Jun, Jong Kwan; Youn, Jai Il

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The skin shows many physiological changes during pregnancy. Although these physiological skin changes do not usually impair the health of the mother or the fetus, some can be cosmetically significant and of importance to the dermatologist.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to determine the incidence and clinical findings of these skin changes during pregnancy.
METHODS
We made a prospective study of 157 women in the third trimester of pregnancy who visited the prenatal care clinic at Seoul National University Hospital from January 1996 to June 1996. Women with pathological pregnaneies were excluded.
RESULTS
The results of the study are summarized as follows. 1. Various skin changes occurred such as pigmentary alteration, vascular changes, striae, abnormalities in hair growth, and nail changes. In all subjects, one or more of these changes were found. 2. The incidence of hyperpigmentation was highest among the skin changes. The incidence of hyperpigmentation of areola and nipple was 100%. Linea nigra were observed in 81.5%. 3. Palmar erythema, suprapubic hirsutism, and abdominal striae were observed in 36.3%, 14.0%, and 40.1 %, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Physiological skin changes during pregnancy were various and observed with high frequency. The incidences of vascular changes, hair and nail changes in Korean pregnant women were reported for the first time.