Itching during the last trimester

Pregnancy can make skin feel tight and dry, particularly across the abdomen, chest and limbs. Heat, sweating, soap and laundry products can add irritation. A visible rash may point toward Atopic Dermatitis, Contact Dermatitis or Hives; scaly plaques may fit Psoriasis. Small itchy bumps can have several causes, so appearance and distribution help a clinician distinguish them.

A late-pregnancy liver condition can cause marked itching without an obvious rash, often involving the palms or soles. The key message is about the symptom pattern: itching itself does not establish a diagnosis, but this pattern warrants prompt contact with maternity care.

Apply a bland fragrance-free emollient after washing and whenever skin feels tight. Choose short lukewarm showers, soft breathable clothes and a cool bedroom. Pat rather than rub, and use a cool compress during an itch flare. Avoid new cosmetics, perfumed products and hot baths. Get professional advice before taking tablets or applying medicated creams while pregnant.

Call your maternity service promptly if itching is intense, spreading, persistent, sleep-disrupting, focused on the palms or soles, or present without a rash. Urgent assessment is needed for yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, severe abdominal pain, bleeding, or reduced fetal movement. Keep a note of affected areas and any skin changes for the appointment.

Ask whether your symptoms call for liver tests, how to protect sleep, and which moisturiser or medicine is appropriate. Tell the clinician about new products, household members who itch, previous eczema or psoriasis, and any change in fetal movement.