Physiologic skin changes during pregnancy in hospitalized women at postpartum unit at Shabih Khani Hospital in Kashan/Iran in 2009

Pregnancy affects all organs and systems in the body including skin. Some skin changes are physiologic, whereas others are pathologic such as the dermatoses of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of physiological skin changes during pregnancy in hospitalized women at postpartum unit at Shabih Khani Hospital in Kashan/Iran in 2009. One - hundred and eighty women were evaluated during their post partum periods for evidence of skin changes. Excluding factors were foreign citrizens, multiple pregnancies and gestational age under 20 weeks. Data were collected by using questionnaires before discharge from hospital. The frequencies of various observed changes included: melasma (33.9%), striae (82.3%), edema of eyelid (30%), increased acne severity (26.7%), hirsutism (17.2%) and decreased acne severity (1.7%). Considering the high incidence of skin changes during pregnancy, it is recommended to instruct the mothers on skin care.