White patches on skin during pregnancy

White Spots on Face: What’s Causing It?

Is this cause for concern?

Skin discolorations are common, especially on the face. Some people develop red acne patches, and others may develop dark age spots. But one particular skin discoloration might have you scratching your head.

You may notice white spots speckled across your cheeks or elsewhere on your face. Sometimes, these spots can cover a large surface area and may even extend to other parts of your body.

A number of conditions can cause white spots to form on your face, and they generally aren’t cause for concern. Here’s a look at the most common causes and how to handle them.

Milia develops when keratin gets trapped under the skin. Keratin is a protein that makes up the outer layer of skin. This causes the formation of tiny white-colored cysts on the skin. This condition most often occurs in children and adults, but it’s also seen in newborn babies.

When white spots are caused by entrapped keratin, it’s called primary milia. However, these tiny white cysts can also form on skin as the result of a burn, sun damage, or poison ivy. Cysts may also develop after a skin resurfacing procedure or after using a topical steroid cream.

Milia can develop on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and around the eyes. Some people also form cysts in their mouths. These bumps usually aren’t painful or itchy, and the condition typically resolves itself without treatment within a few weeks.

If your condition doesn’t improve within a few months, your doctor may prescribe a topical retinoid cream or recommend microdermabrasion or an acid peel to repair damaged skin. Your doctor can also use a special tool to extract the bumps.

Learn more: Baby acne or rash? 5 types and how to treat them »

Pityriasis alba is a type of eczema that causes a flaky, oval patch of discolored white skin to appear. This skin disorder affects about 5 percent of children around the world, primarily between the ages of 3 and 16.

The exact cause of this condition is unknown. It’s usually seen in the setting of atopic dermatitis. It may be connected to sun exposure or a yeast that causes hypopigmentation.

Pityriasis alba often clears on its own within a few months, although discoloration can last up to three years.

If you’re experiencing symptoms, apply moisturizing cream on any dry spots and use an over-the-counter (OTC) topical steroid, such as hydrocortisone, to relieve any itchiness or redness.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder caused by loss of pigmentation. These patches of depigmented skin can form anywhere on the body. This includes your:

• face
• arms
• hands
• legs
• feet
• genitals

These patches may be small in size initially and gradually increase until white areas cover a large percentage of the body. However, widespread white spots don’t occur in all cases.

This condition can develop at any age, although most people don’t show symptoms of the disease until their 20s. Your risk for vitiligo increases if there’s a family history of the disease.

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Your doctor may recommend topical creams, ultraviolet light therapy, or oral medication to help restore skin color and stop the spread of white patches.

Skin grafts are also effective for getting rid of small patches of white skin. To do this, your doctor will remove skin from one part of your body and attach it to another part of your body.

Tinea versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, is a skin disorder caused by an overgrowth of yeast. Yeast is a common type of fungus on the skin, but in some it can cause a rash. Tinea versicolor spots can appear scaly or dry and vary in color.

Some people with this condition develop pink, red, or brown spots, and others develop white spots. If you have lighter skin, white spots may be unnoticeable until your skin tans.

This skin disorder can occur in people of all ages, but it commonly affects people who live in humid climates, as well as people who have oily skin or a compromised immune system.

Because tinea vesicular is caused by an overgrowth of yeast, antifungal medications are the primary line of defense. Talk to your doctor about OTC or prescription antifungal products. This includes shampoos, soaps, and creams. Apply as directed until white spots improve.

Your doctor can also prescribe an oral antifungal medication, such as fluconazole, to stop and prevent the overgrowth of yeast.

White patches typically disappear once the fungus is under control. It can take weeks or months for skin to return to its normal color. Without consistent treatment with topicals, it often recurs.

Learn more: Is it psoriasis or tinea versicolor? »

Tinea versicolor and pregnancy

Your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy, including skin changes. In addition to developing dark spots, stretch marks, and acne, some expecting women develop tinea versicolor. This generally isn’t a cause for concern. Skin color usually returns once hormone levels return to normal.

Learn more: The second trimester of pregnancy: Changes in skin, vision, and gums »

If you want to more quickly fade any spots you may be experiencing, talk to your doctor about antifungal treatments that are safe to use during pregnancy.

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, or sun spots, are white spots that form on the skin as a result of long-term UV exposure. The number and size of white spots vary, but they’re generally round, flat, and between 2 and 5 millimeters.

These spots can develop on different parts of the body including your:

• face
• arms
• back
• legs

This condition is more evident in people with fair skin, and your risk for sun spots increases with age. Women often develop spots at an earlier age than men.

Because these white spots are caused by UV exposure, you should use sun protection to prevent sun spots from worsening. This may help prevent new ones from forming.

Different treatments can reduce the appearance of white spots and restore color. Options include topical steroids to reduce skin inflammation and retinoids to stimulate cell growth and hyperpigmentation.

Most white spots on the skin aren’t a major cause for concern. Still, it’s important to see a doctor or dermatologist for a diagnosis, especially if the white spots spread or don’t respond to home treatment after a couple of weeks.

You might shrug off a white spot that doesn’t itch or hurt, but continue to monitor your skin. With early intervention, your doctor can recommend products to possibly restore pigmentation.

Skin conditions during pregnancy: Causes, symptoms and treatment

During pregnancy, the body goes through many physical changes. The skin is also prone to these effects.

Women commonly experience changes in the appearance of the skin during pregnancy, including:

• dark spots on the breasts, nipples and inner thighs
• melasma
• linea nigra
• stretch marks
• acne
• spider veins
• varicose veins

Many of these conditions are normal and occur due to hormonal changes.

In this article, we will examine some of the skin changes that pregnancy can cause.

Hyperpigmentation refers to dark spots or patches on the skin. An increase in naturally occurring melanin causes this.

Typically, hyperpigmentation resolves after delivery, but it might persist for several years.

An example of hyperpigmentation in pregnancy is melasma. Some people refer to this as “the mask of pregnancy.” Brown patches on the face, cheeks, nose, and forehead are the characteristic features of melasma.

Seek consultation with a dermatologist about ways to treat melasma during pregnancy.

Limiting sun exposure between 10 am and 2 pm, using a factor 30 sunscreen or above, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat when outside can all help reduce melasma symptoms.

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) is a condition in which pale red bumps appear on the skin of a pregnant woman, leading to significant itching, burning, or stinging. These bumps vary in size, ranging from very small areas to larger areas that form a plaque.

Most commonly, these lesions occur on the abdomen, legs, arms, breasts or buttocks. PUPPP typically resolves after delivery.

A doctor might prescribe an antihistamine or topical corticosteroid to relieve inflammation and itching, although taking self-care steps can help minimize the symptoms of PUPPP.

These steps include:

• using lukewarm water when washing
• applying cool compresses
• wearing loose or lightweight clothing
• avoiding the use of soap on skin that has PUPPP

Stretch marks are common in women who are pregnant.

Women often develop stretch marks across the abdomen, buttocks, breasts, or thighs during pregnancy. Stretch marks initially have a reddish-purple appearance and fade to silver or white over time.

Although they often fade, stretch marks never completely resolve. The postpartum treatment of stretch marks is frequently ineffective, although a person might consider laser and prescription creams in some instances.

Many attempts to prevent or treat stretch marks are not successful. However, hydrating the skin with moisturizers is a sensible control measure during pregnancy.

The development of skin tags during pregnancy is common. These lesions typically occur on the neck, chest, back, groin, and under the breasts.

Skin tags are generally not dangerous or malignant. If they are in a place in which they are at risk of irritation of bleeding, due to clothing or repetitive motion, a doctor can remove them.

Share on PinterestPregnancy causes hormonal changes that can lead to acne.

Acne may develop or get worse during pregnancy.

Many treatments are available for acne, including prescription and non-prescription medications. Discuss these with a healthcare provider before use.

General hygiene practices are important for treating acne. These include:

• washing the face with lukewarm water
• using a mild cleanser twice daily
• keeping hair away from the face
• shampooing daily
• avoiding picking at pimples
• using oil-free cosmetics

During pregnancy, using over-the-counter (OTC) products that contain topical benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, azelaic acid, or glycolic acid is safe.

Not all medications are safe to use during pregnancy, however. Products to avoid during pregnancy include:

• hormonal therapy, due to an increased risk of congenital anomalies
• isotretinoin, a form of vitamin A, also called retinol, that can increase the risk of severe congenital anomalies, cognitive difficulties, life-threatening heart and brain conditions, and other development issues
• oral tetracyclines, a type of antibiotic that enhances the risk of tooth discoloration in an infant, as well as having negative effects on fetal bone growth when a woman takes them during the fourth month of pregnancy
• topical retinoids, a form of vitamin A that is common in both prescription and nonprescription products

Share on PinterestVaricose veins can occur during pregnancy.

Spider veins are small, red veins that most commonly affect the face, neck, and arms.

Hormone changes during pregnancy cause these unsightly skin changes, as well as a higher blood volume.

Varicose veins are painful, enlarged veins that increased weight and uterine pressure can cause during pregnancy. This decreases blood flow to the legs.

Varicose veins can occur on the legs, vulva, vagina, and rectum. These typically resolve after delivery. Point these out to a doctor or midwife during checkups.

To keep the effects of varicose veins to a minimum and relieve symptoms, take the following precautions:

• Limit periods of sitting and standing.
• Uncross the legs when sitting for long periods.
• Elevate your legs when possible.
• Exercise often.
• Use support hose.
• Avoid constipation with exercise and fluids.

Other less common skin conditions during pregnancy include prurigo of pregnancy, pemphigoid gestationis, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

Prurigo of pregnancy

Symptoms of prurigo of pregnancy include tiny, itchy bumps that resemble insect bites. Pregnancy-induced changes to the immune system can trigger prurigo of pregnancy.

It can occur in women throughout pregnancy, with symptoms often getting worse day by day.

This condition can take several months to resolve, with symptoms sometimes extending beyond the delivery date.

Pemphigoid gestationis

Pemphigoid gestationis is an autoimmune disorder that typically occurs during the second or third trimester. In some cases, it might occur in the time immediately following childbirth.

Symptoms of this condition include blisters on the abdomen or other parts of the body. This condition slightly increases the risk of preterm birth or a baby with low birth weight.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a pregnancy-induced liver condition that becomes obvious in the third trimester.

Severe itching might occur without the presence of a rash. The palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or trunk of the body typically itch the most.

Symptoms of ICP generally resolve after birth. However, ICP also increases the risk of preterm labor and fetal death.

Speak with a healthcare provider on experiencing any unusual skin conditions that get worse. Seek advice before starting treatment.

White spots on the body during pregnancy

getting rid of marks on the body

Allergist onlineAllergy in pregnancyBright mark: white spots on the skin during pregnancy

White spots on the skin appear for various reasons. Violation of pigmentation especially worries expectant mothers. They worry not only about their appearance, but also about the health of the child.

Sometimes this problem is caused by an allergic reaction. If there is a genetic predisposition to intolerance to a particular product, pregnancy can become a kind of trigger for the development of the disease. Indeed, during this period, the immune defense weakens.

Table of Table

• restructuring of the body, affecting all its systems. Most women, having learned about their situation, begin to prepare not only for pleasant changes in life. After all, ahead of toxicosis, a change in taste preferences, an increased reaction to strong odors.

  The expectant mother is also worried about such a common problem when carrying a child as the appearance of white spots on the skin. Most often they can be seen on the neck, shoulders, back, shins, forearms, face.

  Feature! Fair-skinned blondes are more likely to develop brown pigment spots, dark-skinned women - white.

  Causes of appearance on the body

  Light spots are lesions that occur due to the loss of melanin and lead to a change in the color of the skin. This process is called depigmentation (hypochromia, achromia). Melanin, which affects human skin color, begins to be produced differently during pregnancy. The reason is hormonal imbalance.

  Spots look different:

  • light areas with torn edges;
  • small and prominent;
  • round formations with a mole in the middle;
  • red and white vascular markings.

  Some of them may itch.

  White spots on the legs may be a symptom of poor circulation.

  Allergy can be one of the reasons. Then depigmentation begins due to the influence of irritating substances or food on the female body.

  Prerequisites

  White spots on the skin during pregnancy, like any other symptom, indicate a malfunction of some organ or even an entire body system. A woman will have to be examined to find out the correct diagnosis. Loss of melanin occurs in a number of diseases:

  • albinism;
  • vitiligo;
  • lichen;
  • burns;
  • acne vulgaris;
  • seborrheic eczema;
  • solar fungus;
  • streptoderma.

  Therapy

  Only a qualified doctor can give competent advice on skin treatment. He will tell you how to get rid of complications when white spots appear, and how to prevent them. For help, you can contact one of the following specialists:

  • obstetrician-gynecologist;
  • allergist;
  • dermatologist;
  • immunologist;
  • infectious disease specialist;
  • therapist.

  White spots on the skin that appeared during childbearing can be removed if desired. But before that, you need to get the doctor's opinion. Most doctors advise to refrain from removing stains: some therapeutic methods will not so much help as harm or simply be useless.

  Depigmentation does not color the skin, but it does not have any harmful effects on the health of the woman and the development of the fetus. Often after childbirth, the spots disappear on their own.

  Important! It is advisable to take as few drugs as possible during pregnancy. Although beauty requires sacrifice, in this case it is better to sacrifice beauty for the well-being of the baby.

  If the lightening of some areas of the skin is caused by an infectious disease, then its treatment will be required, which is desirable to take place in the second trimester of pregnancy.

  If it's an allergy, then taking most antihistamines is prohibited. The first step is to exclude the patient from contact with the allergen. An excellent remedy for the disease are ointments and creams with extracts of medicinal plants. Allertec can be taken without fear in the 2nd and 3rd semesters.

  Traditional medicine

  If, due to the lightening of certain areas of the skin - especially on the face - a woman is very nervous, feels discomfort, then you can use one of the folk remedies:

  1. mix 2 tbsp. l. liquid honey with the juice of 1 lemon. Scoop up a little of the resulting mass with a cotton pad and apply to pigmented areas for 20 minutes. After that, rinse with water at room temperature;
  2. wipe white spots with homemade curdled milk;
  3. take 1 tbsp. l. milk and sour cream, combine in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Dip a cotton pad into the mixture and generously lubricate the problem areas with it. Wash off after 30 minutes;
  4. if the cause is allergies, then it is advised to drink decoctions of celandine, succession, nettle, chamomile and calendula.

  Before using any of the listed products, make sure that the mother-to-be does not have an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients. Even if there was no intolerance before, it can occur during pregnancy. But all these measures will not really get rid of the source of the problem.

  It is best to mask the spots during this period with the help of cosmetics, and start treatment after childbirth, if the spots still remain. Then this problem may be solved by cleaning the skin with acid or laser peeling. This will require from 3 to 10 procedures.

  Be sure to get rid of white spots during pregnancy only when the cause of their appearance is an exacerbation of chronic ailments. But even in this case, the fight should be with the disease, and not with one of its symptoms.

  Prevention

  Even before pregnancy, a woman needs to lead a healthy lifestyle: get rid of bad habits, properly cleanse the skin, take vitamins, but do not abuse them. Proper nutrition is also important, as well as regular walks in the fresh air, light exercise.

  Also don't sunbathe too much. It is best to do this in the early morning or late afternoon, after the decline in solar activity. This advice also applies to walks. Harmful to the skin and frequent visits to the solarium.

  A hypoallergenic diet is recommended until the last trimester. That is, highly allergenic foods will have to be removed from the diet: chocolate, citrus fruits, strawberries, nuts, eggs, etc.

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