Pregnancy dermatoses: a study of patients attending the Antenatal Clinic at two Tertiary Care Centers in south west Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy is associated with many systemic changes mostly linked with hormones. The skin shows many of these changes as dermatoses - directly related to the pregnancy or an exacerbation/amelioration of a prenatal condition. A few of the pregnancy dermatoses can be fatal if unrecognised early. The aim of this study was to document the spectrum of pregnancy dermatoses and effect on quality of life of pregnant women presenting at the antenatal clinics of two tertiary hospitals in South west Nigeria. METHODS: a prospective observational cohort study carried out concurrently at the antenatal clinics of two tertiary hospitals: Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) over seven months. Consecutive patients filled questionnaires and had full dermatology examination by specialists with results documented and analysed with SPSS 21st edition. RESULTS: of 296 patients studied, 175; 59.1% first presented for antenatal clinic in the 3rd trimester. Most common symptom was itching (125; 42.2%) and 85.5% had signs of dermatoses. Atopic eruption of pregnancy (AEP) and pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy were seen in (11; 3.7%) of patients. A background history of atopic dermatitis was significantly associated with AEP. The most common non-specific pregnancy dermatoses were acne vulgaris (129; 43.6%), superficial fungal infections (119; 40.2%) and melasma (55; 18.6%). CONCLUSION: skin conditions are common in pregnancy; fatal pregnancy dermatoses were not seen in this study.