ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out the frequency and pattern of physiological skin changes in pregnant women
Methods: This descriptive study evaluated 200 consecutive pregnant females presenting to Dermatology Outpatient Department of Nawaz Social Security Hospital, Lahore over a period of one year
Results: Total of twenty-three cutaneous manifestations were studied including striae gravidarum, hyperpigmentation, hair, nail and vascular changes. Majority of pregnant females complained of striae gravidarum [stretch marks] affecting 71.5 percent of study population closely followed by pigmentation i.e. linea nigra [64.5 percent] and melasma [63.5 percent]. The most common vascular change noticed was palmar erythema [43.5 percent] and nail changes included leukonychia [15 percent], while diffuse hair loss [11.5 percent] was the most frequently found hair change
Conclusion: The appreciation of common physiological skin changes during pregnancy will assist in better patient care during antenatal period