We treat urticaria in pregnant women without drugs

Urticaria during pregnancy occurs in many women and is an acute allergic reaction with specific symptoms in the form of rashes (mostly blisters) on the skin and mucous membranes. The rash is usually bright pink or red. Acute allergies can be triggered by poor nutrition due to hormonal imbalance and other unfavorable factors that cause allergies. The disease itself is not considered dangerous, but incorrect behavior of the expectant mother during treatment is fraught with disastrous consequences. To avoid mistakes, if you discover urticaria during pregnancy, you must always consult with your doctor.

Causes of rashes in pregnant women

Urticaria in pregnant girls is provoked by anything, even those things that previously did not cause absolutely no reaction. The body during pregnancy is especially vulnerable to any influences, as it is rebuilt and severe hormonal disruptions occur. An allergic skin reaction during pregnancy usually occurs due to:

• excessive production of estrogen in the body during pregnancy (this is the main reason);
• decreased immunity;
• gestosis (severe or late toxicosis);
• stress during pregnancy;
• decrease or increase in air temperature;
• climate change.

Provocateurs of an allergic reaction of the body with characteristic rashes are:

• pollen;
• dust;
• six animals;
• strong aromas;
• household chemicals;
• synthetic clothing;
• dyes;
• cold;
• insect saliva (gets into the wound when bitten);
• cosmetics;
• food products.

Urticaria, regardless of the cause, may appear for the first time during pregnancy or recur if it has already been observed before.

What kind of violation

The appearance of urticaria is a consequence of a decrease in the functioning of the immune system and changes in the hormonal system. The amount of estrogens increases, which can serve as an impetus for the development of diseases.

Pregnancy and urticaria are interrelated concepts, as the body undergoes a reconfiguration of the hormonal system. The body may react differently to such changes.

The rash appears in one place and then can affect other areas of the skin. If an allergy develops in the stomach of pregnant women, it can further affect the hips, buttocks, and legs.

The appearance of a rash on the face during pregnancy brings additional discomfort, as it affects appearance and mood.

Features of the course in different trimesters of pregnancy

As a rule, urticaria during pregnancy is accompanied by:

• swelling of the skin;
• itching;
• irritation;
• nervous irritability.

Red or pink blisters up to 10 cm in diameter and irregularly shaped appear on the skin of different parts of the body. In the severe case, when there are too many rashes, additional general symptoms are observed:

• ailments;
• headache;
• intoxication (nausea, lack of appetite, weakness).

Often, acute intolerance manifests itself in the early stages, in the first trimester, when the most dramatic changes occur in the body of the expectant mother. The rash appears on the stomach during pregnancy in most women and then gradually spreads to other parts of the body: limbs, neck, face. The situation is aggravated by toxicosis, due to which the girl becomes more irritable, and stress increases the symptoms of urticaria.

More dangerous is improper treatment. Uncontrolled use of serious medications (both local and systemic) can result in fetal death and irreparable birth defects.

Therapy for acute allergic urticaria (the appearance of blisters) should be as gentle and safe as possible, since the beginning of pregnancy is considered the most important in the development of the fetus. An allergy that appears in the 1st trimester of pregnancy usually goes away completely or decreases by the 2nd trimester. In the last trimester, allergies may be accompanied by gestosis (late toxicosis). Regardless of the period of manifestation, urticaria cannot be ignored. It can quickly turn into a chronic stage with regular relapses, and then it will occur very often even with the slightest influence of an irritating allergen.

Causes and signs of pathology

In most pregnant women, urticaria is associated with changes in hormonal levels and a decrease in protective functions . As a result, the woman’s body becomes more sensitive to external stimuli. The most common allergens are various cosmetics, household chemicals, dust, pollen, animal hair and medications.

The main signs of urticaria are:

• The appearance of a papular rash.
  It looks like plaques of different sizes raised above the skin (maximum up to 15 cm in diameter). The hives rash is irregular in shape and reddish in color.
• A pregnant woman complains of severe itching.
• The woman feels irritable, which negatively affects the quality of sleep.

With a mild form of urticaria, several pimples are found on the body, which itch and quickly disappear.
In more severe cases, blisters on the skin form on the surface of the abdomen, after which they spread to the limbs, back, face and other parts of the body.

Chronic urticaria is accompanied by severe headache, fatigue, and fever.

Danger to the woman’s body and fetus

Allergenic urticaria, even at a critical stage of life, which is pregnancy, is not particularly dangerous for the woman and the fetus. The effect on the fetus is minimal. The maximum that can happen is transmission to the child at the genetic level, or rather, transmission of a predisposition to it.

Urticaria is a serious danger during pregnancy only when:

1. Its symptoms are severe and generalized (not only the skin is affected, but also the mucous membranes). Urticaria can develop into Quincke's syndrome - swelling of the larynx and face, which leads to asphyxia (suffocation). Such consequences are deadly.
2. The expectant mother ignores hives or self-medicates. The disease will become chronic or severe, and severe allergic reactions can already negatively affect the child.
3. Hypotension is often caused by urticaria. Due to hypotension, blood circulation in the placenta worsens, which disrupts the child’s nutrition and life support.

How to treat a rash during pregnancy?

Since any rash occurs as a result of various diseases, to eliminate it, you need to treat the reason why it occurred. In order to prevent the appearance of an unpleasant rash, it is important to adhere to personal hygiene, eat right, and exclude from the diet those foods that can cause allergic reactions. If you have allergies you need to use antihistamines. They are available in the form of tablets, ointments, drops.

When the rash is infectious, you should not self-medicate, but strictly adhere to the recommendations of a specialist doctor.

Remember: if you notice the problem in time and go to the hospital for help, both you and your baby will not suffer. You can treat rashes at home only with the permission of a doctor and in no other way. Be vigilant about your health and then everything will be fine.

How to relieve hives

If you notice symptoms of urticaria during pregnancy, you should urgently go to an obstetrician-gynecologist and dermatologist, and also be examined to distinguish urticaria from the following pathologies:

• rubella;
• measles;
• chickenpox.

They all have similar symptoms, but varying degrees of danger for the child.

Doctors try to carry out antiallergic treatment of urticaria during pregnancy without medications, especially in the early stages. You can alleviate the course of the disease by following simple rules:

• stop using cosmetics, especially decorative ones;
• handle household chemicals carefully, protecting your hands with gloves;
• wear only natural clothes that are pleasant to the body;
• do not use medications without first consulting a doctor;
• take vitamins and sorbents;
• give up potentially allergenic foods, change your diet and lifestyle.

To cure urticaria, you need to completely eliminate contact with the irritant factor from your life. If it is impossible to determine what exactly caused urticaria during pregnancy, then contact with all the most aggressive allergens is excluded:

• pets;
• flower pollen;
• dust;
• chemistry.

Potentially hazardous foods include pig and chicken meat, citrus fruits, eggplants, tomatoes, seafood, smoked meats, coffee, chocolate, drinks with dyes, and foods with flavor enhancers.

Vitamins PP relieve the symptoms of urticaria if it is triggered by pollen, dust or animals. Sorbents remove toxins, waste and food allergens from the body. The most harmless and gentle sorbents during pregnancy are:

• Enterosgel;
• Activated carbon;
• Polysorb.

The last resort treatment measure during pregnancy will be the use of medications. On the recommendation of doctors, pregnant women can take antihistamines Diazolin and Suprastin.

Taking antihistamines is strictly contraindicated at any stage of pregnancy:

• Diphenhydramine;
• Cetirizine;
• Tavegila;
• Betadine;
• Ketotifen and Pipolfen.

The use of advertised antiallergic drugs (Claritin, Loratadine, Zyrtec) is not prohibited, but is not recommended. They can also be deadly due to increased toxicity to the fetus.

As medications for external use for urticaria, you can use ointments without hormones that have a sedative, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effect:

• Nezulin;
• Bepanten;
• Psilo-gel;
• Fenistil.

Treatment

To avoid unwanted consequences, it is necessary to choose the right treatment for urticaria. To eliminate the symptoms of the disease, Suprastin or Diazolin are prescribed.

The drugs Zyrtec, Claritin and Loratadine are not prohibited for use, but it is advisable to take them only in case of urgent need. Treatment is carried out starting from the 2nd trimester. The use of antihistamines in the 1st trimester provokes pathologies of fetal development.

Drugs such as Betadine, Diphenhydramine, Ketotifen and Cetirizine are strictly prohibited for use during pregnancy. Their active ingredients are able to penetrate the placenta, causing disruption of the functioning of vital organs in the fetus. To reduce itching and eliminate rashes on the body, zinc ointment is used. When using the drug locally, there is no effect on the child.

To protect yourself and your baby as much as possible during treatment for urticaria, you should adhere to the following rules:

1. It is necessary to limit contact with the irritant as much as possible.
2. If you experience itching, it is recommended to wear clothes made from natural materials.
3. While carrying a child, you should avoid aggressive household chemicals.
4. Vitamin complexes must be taken even at the stage of pregnancy planning. This will strengthen the body's immune defense.
5. It is advisable to refrain from close contact with animals. Wool particles often act as an allergy trigger.
6. Giving up bad habits, protecting yourself from stressful situations and regular walks will help you survive allergy treatment with minimal losses.
7. It is recommended to regularly carry out wet cleaning of the premises. This will reduce the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction to dust.
8. The diet of a young mother should be hypoallergenic. It is advisable to avoid drinking coffee, chocolate, exotic fruits and foods high in dyes and preservatives.

Important! Carrying out treatment without the consent of the doctor monitoring the pregnancy is strictly prohibited.

Therapy of chronic forms of the disease

This type of urticaria will have to be treated constantly during numerous relapses, which will certainly occur during pregnancy and after it. Treatment of urticaria in pregnant women, if it occurs in a chronic form, is best done with folk remedies. The following recipes are the safest for a expectant mother in labor:

1. Decoctions of sage, chamomile, string, celandine, calendula, nettle. You can add them to bathing water, rinse your body with them after a bath, or wipe your skin instead of lotion. Decoctions should not be hot or cold; it is advisable to prepare a fresh decoction before each use.
2. Garlic ointment effectively relieves itching and irritation. The garlic is crushed, poured with boiling water and boiled in a water bath until the mass thickens. Then you need to grind the ointment again and rub it on problem areas before going to bed.
3. Cucumber cream - fresh cucumber is chopped, sour cream and finely chopped parsley are added to it. The ointment should be applied to inflammation and washed off after 20-25 minutes.
4. Peppermint decoction - 50 g of plant per 0.5 liter of boiling water. The decoction is taken orally, 50 ml three times a day. It calms the nerves and relieves the symptoms of hives.

Before using folk remedies, it is also advisable to consult a doctor. Only he can tell how to treat an allergic disease in each individual case.

Diagnosis of urticaria

No experienced and professional doctor will begin treatment until the diagnosis is confirmed or made. Symptoms alone are not enough for this.

So, you will definitely need to take a blood test for a thorough examination. In particular, the presence and content of antibodies to allergens and the amount of immunoglobulin (it is also responsible for allergic reactions) will be determined. Skin cells will be studied to identify aggressive and allergenic components. You will also need to take urine and stool tests (to identify parasites).

And only after the diagnosis has been confirmed can treatment begin.

Preventive actions

Urticaria is difficult to treat due to the prohibition of powerful drugs during pregnancy and takes a long time to go away, so after treatment it is important to prevent its recurrence. For prevention it is recommended:

• eliminate contact with allergens from your life;
• do not use cosmetics (decorative and skincare) too often;
• lead an active, healthy lifestyle;
• take vitamins and strengthen the immune system (not only during pregnancy, but also after it);
• refuse toxic household chemicals;
• protect skin from the sun in summer;
• avoid stress and infections;
• monitor your diet.

If the pregnant woman follows all these recommendations, the urticaria will quickly disappear and will never bother you again. The main thing is not to self-treat if urticaria appears during pregnancy. You must always remember that not only her health, but also the health of the child depends on the behavior of the expectant mother.