Some women develop severe neurodermatitis during pregnancy, even though they had not been affected before, or only mildly so. The reason for this is hormonal changes in the body, which influence the immune system and promote neurodermatitis during pregnancy. Together with our founder and doctor, Dr. med. Michaela Hagemann, we have summarized the most important information on diagnosis and basic therapy.
1. When does pregnancy dermatosis occur?
2. What are typical symptoms of neurodermatitis?
3. Is neurodermatitis dangerous during pregnancy?
4. Which cream for neurodermatitis in pregnancy?
When does pregnancy dermatosis occur?
Especially if there is a genetic predisposition to atopic diseases, pregnancy can trigger a neurodermatitis flare-up. This change occurs more often than one might think – in fact, it is one of the most common skin changes during pregnancy. In this context, it is referred to as "atopic pregnancy dermatosis" or "pregnancy eczema."
Compared to other conditions, this dermatosis can occur as early as the first or second trimester of pregnancy. Typically, the symptoms subside after birth but can reappear in a subsequent pregnancy.
What are typical symptoms of neurodermatitis?
The signs of neurodermatitis in pregnancy resemble the typical symptoms of conventional neurodermatitis and are characterized particularly by intense itching and the appearance of dry, reddened skin areas. Particularly affected areas include the face, neck, décolletage, elbow creases, and knee bends.
Is neurodermatitis dangerous during pregnancy?
Pregnancy neurodermatitis is generally completely harmless to the health of the unborn child. However, any noticeable skin changes should always be clarified by a doctor. To ensure the optimal health of both mother and child, it is essential to establish a diagnosis early, ensure careful monitoring, and, if necessary, provide adapted medical care.
Which cream for neurodermatitis in pregnancy?
Despite a clear diagnosis, every therapeutic measure during pregnancy requires careful consideration of risk factors. If neurodermatitis occurs during this time, a lipid-replenishing and moisturizing basic therapy is usually recommended, which is considered completely harmless for the unborn child. Even if the condition does not completely disappear, regular basic care can help to slowly restore and stabilize the skin's natural barrier.
When choosing an appropriate basic cream, you should pay particular attention to a clean formula and natural ingredients. Affected areas should then be creamed several times a day if acutely needed. In addition, mild, lipid-replenishing shower and bath oils can be used for washing, bathing or showering. They provide the skin with an extra portion of moisture and prevent additional drying of the skin.
With a careful selection of hypoallergenic ingredients, our entire med series is also suitable for expectant mothers. For daily care, we recommend our mild basic cream and our bath oil for bathing very sensitive skin.
You can also find more tips in our two blog posts on basic care for neurodermatitis and bathing with sensitive skin.
O U R E X P E R T
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, doctor & mother of 3
Sources:
Ambros-Rudolpf, C. M. Schwangerschaftsdermatosen. In: G. Pelzig et al., Braun-Falco's Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie. Springer Reference Medizin (2017). https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-662-49546-9_81-1
Bauer-Delto, A. Haut in anderen Umständen. In: Hebammen Praxis, Volume 2, pages 42-43. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43877-021-0138-y
