ABSTRACT
Pregnancy can affect the largest organ in the body – the skin – in a number of differing and sometimes unpredictable ways. Many of the changes are common and unremarkable, for instance pigmentation of the nipples, areola and external genitalia. The principles of therapeutic treatment are primarily dependent on safety for the expectant mother and the fetus. The cosmetic effect of skin disease on the mother’s self-esteem must also be considered. Eczema and dermatitis are terms that are interchangeable and refer to inflammation of the skin with specific histological features such as oedema of the epidermis (spongiosis), thickening of the epidermis and an inflammatory cell infiltrate within the dermis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, commonly presenting between the ages of 15 and 25 and affecting around 1–2% of the population. The majority of pregnant patients experience a change in their psoriasis during pregnancy and post-partum.
