English

Abstract

BACKGROUND The present study was conducted to evaluate the incidence, clinical presentation, course and prognosis of physiological changes of pregnancy i.e. to study the incidence of different dermatoses during pregnancy, cutaneous manifestations associated with pregnancy according to trimester and parity of pregnancy, specific dermatoses of pregnancy, the presence of same or other diseases in the past pregnancy, and observe the relative effect of pregnancy on already existing dermatoses or which are basically not related to pregnancy. METHODS A random hospital based descriptive study of 80 patients with pregnancy, who attended skin outpatient department (OPD) in GMERS Medical College, Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India, was done. Detailed history was taken, and each patient was examined thoroughly. General- and systemic-examination were done and whenever necessary, relevant investigations were done. RESULTS A total of 80 patients were included in the study. Of them 39 (48.7 %) were primipara and 41 (51.3 %) were multipara. Skin changes were grouped into physiological changes (all cases), specific dermatoses (17 cases) and other dermatoses (52 cases). Most common physiological changes were related to pigmentation followed by striae gravidarum. Physiological changes were observed in almost all the patients. CONCLUSIONS Pregnant women are prone to suffer from a wide range of dermatological problems apart from the specific dermatoses of pregnancy. Detailed history and awareness of clinical presentation facilitates the confirmation of diagnosis and will direct the most appropriate laboratory evaluation in an effort to minimize maternal and foetal morbidity. KEYWORDS Pregnancy Dermatoses, Specific Dermatoses, Physiological Changes