What Causes Itching On Hands And Legs During Pregnancy?

Posted on Sat, 28 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 28 Jun 2014 Answered on

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : HI Doctor, My name is XXXX I am 24 weeks & 3 days pregnant. I have been facing itching mainly on hands and legs (hardly on my plams and feet soles) since couple of weeks. I though it must be just because of the heat. But the itching has gradually become sever. However there are no rashes on my body. I got my Urine Routine test done to check the bile salt and pigment, but the reports came normal. Yesterday I got my LFT done and SGOT is 13.0, SGPT is 14.0, S.Bilirubin (Total) is 0.44, S. Bilirubin (Direct) is 0.15, S. Bilirubin is (Indirect) is 0.29 & S. Alkaline Phosphatase is 74.0, which is guess my LFT report is normal. But I still have itchiness all over my body. It would start at one spot and after I scratch small bumps appears all over that place and that spot burns and swells up. After sometime it moves to another spot on my body. I did a lot of research and I am in doubt that if I may be suffering from ICP or Pupps or any other kind of allergies in my pregnancy. I take Supracal in the morning and Orofex XT at night. Please advise what course of action or test should I follow to confirm what I am suffering from. I had a miscarriage last year at 8 weeks (reasons unknown) and now I dont want anything to harm this pregnancy. So I want to take all the precautions right away. I am unable to rest properly or go to work. Please also advise me some cream/lotions and soaps that I can use to reduce these itchness.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (58 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Itching common in pregnancy; Advises below

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX

Greetings
Welcome to Healthcare Magic

First of all would like to congratulate you for becoming a Mother.

Now moving on to the problem of itching, would like to inform you that Itching is very common in pregnancy. The causes for itching are:
1. Stretching of skin due to growing fetus, enlargement of breasts and arms etc.
2. Pregnancy related hormones/substances
3. Cholestasis of Pregnancy: rarely seen
4. PUPPP: Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy: rarely seen
5. Pemphigoid Gestationis: rarely seen

Now that Liver Function tests and Urine tests are normal, I do not see any reason to be concerned.

Here are few advise you should follow to ease you from Itching:
1. Twice daily bath with XXXXXXX warm water or cold water
2. Use mild moisturizing soap like Nivea soap for baby
3. Treatment of dandruff with ketoconazole shampoo on scalp weekly once
4. Dip few neem leaves in the bucket water before taking bath everytime
5. after bath apply cetaphil moisturizing lotion all over the body
6. Everyday early morning get exposed to sun for 15 minutes (Vit D deficiency causes itching)
7. Do not take UDLIV since this is precious pregnancy. Instead start with DHA capsules (Morelife) and Becosules Z. This will help growing baby too.

Best of Luck. Do get back to me for additional information anytime.

Best regards,
Dr. Deepak XXXXXXX Kaltari
MBBS, MS, MCH

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (44 hours later)

Hi Doctor XXXXXXX Kaltari,

Thank you for your advise.

I couldn't find the Nivea Baby soap in any shops. Therefore I bought Himalaya Baby Soap.

I still have some itching even after doing what you suggested. However I have decided that I will follow this routine for couple more days and see if the itching stops.

Are there any other remedies that I can try which will take off the itchiness.

Also wanted to know what is DHA capsules (Morelife) and Becosules Z tablets for.

Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
more life is Omega 3 fatty acid

Detailed Answer:
Dear Ms XXXXXXX

More life contains Omega 3 fatty acid which is essential fatty acid. It is required for growth of developing baby and will also help in your skin rejuvenation.
I would also advise you following

1. Take a bowl full of coconut oil. Add the content of Evion capsule (Vitamin E ) by puncturing it and adding in oil. Have a whole body massage with it.
2. Bath: After massage have hot water Bath ( boil neem leaves in water) .

This will go a long way in help reducing itching.

Do take care

Best regards
Dr Deepak

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar