ABSTRACT
Rashes in pregnancy fall into two categories: those directly related to pregnancy, and those unrelated to the pregnancy. Rashes unrelated to pregnancy, such as eczema, psoriasis, and lichenoid skin disease, are discussed in Itching in pregnancy and Vulval itching. This intensely itchy condition is thought to be associated with the exposure of skin antigens from the stretched abdominal skin of pregnancy. Pemphigoid gestationalis, also known as herpes gestationalis, is much rarer than polymorphic eruption of pregnancy. Characteristically, unlike any other pregnancy-related rash, there are true fluid-filled blisters, as the pathophysiology is immunobullous that is autoantibodies are formed at the basement membrane of the skin, causing fluid-filled dermoepidermal separation. Impetigo herpetiformis looks similar to pustular psoriasis, except it is directly related to the pregnancy. It is the most dangerous of the pregnancy-related rashes and carries a small risk of maternal mortality. Treatment is of the itch and reassurance that the condition is unlikely to recur in subsequent pregnancies.
