Pregnancy: Skin sensitivity and itching when tanning

As mentioned, hormonal changes in pregnancy can cause excess hair growth and increased skin sensitivity and irritation. Pregnant women often experience skin itching as the skin stretches with the pregnancy growth. Pruritus gravidarum (also called PUPS) is an itching that primarily only occurs during pregnancy and is caused by higher production of estrogen and progesterone impacting how the liver expels bile salts. The article further addresses:

• Skin symptoms
• Naturally alleviating skin symptoms

Skin symptoms

Besides dark blotches to the skin that can occur when exposed to UV rays, and PUPs, the skin may also become dry during pregnancy. Mineral oil-based skin care products, soaps and laundry product are thought to aggravate this dryness too.

Using natural products and avoiding UV rays, helps to minimise the skin sensitivity, irritation and dryness. The skin can become scaly with breaks if not moist enough, or without sufficient hydration through water intake, that exposes the body to infection.

Naturally alleviating skin symptoms

A number of natural remedies are recommended to soothe itchy, scaly and irritable skin, that include:

• applying hexane-free castor oil to soften and soothe the skin
• adding unrefined virgin olive oil to the diet
• increasing intake of foods that are rich in vitamins A (fish liver oil, liver, eggs, dairy, and vegetables), vitamin D (saltwater fish, fish liver oil, fortified dairy products, and short, skin-protected amounts of natural sunlight), and linolenic acids (sardines, evening primrose oil, and flax seed oil)
• eating beetroot to cleanse the liver
• consuming in moderation (or with guidance), herbs such as burdock, yellow dock and dandelion to detoxify and regulate liver function
• drinking enough water

Skin conditions during pregnancy can cause irregular sleep patterns with lack of sleep, contribute to higher stress levels, and may be a sign of illness that needs medical attention. Consulting a health care provider and attending maternity appointments is vital for optimum health during pregnancy.

Tanning and Pregnancy:

• Tanning and Pregnancy
• Pregnancy: Hair removal before or after tanning
• Using hair removal creams when pregnant
• Pregnancy: Use of insect repellents when tanning
• Pregnancy: Skin sensitivity and itching when tanning
• Pregnancy and Sunbathing
• Pregnancy: Tanning, Heatstroke and Hyperthermia
• Pregnancy: Tanning and Heat cramps

• Pregnancy and Sunless Tanning
• Pregnancy and Tanning Beds
• Pregnancy and Tanning Pills
• Pregnancy and Fake Tans
• Pregnancy and tanning with Henna
• Sun, UV care and the law