Itching on feet and hands during pregnancy

Dryness, heat, soap, and contact with cleaning products can irritate hands and feet. Eczema may cause itchy, dry, cracked patches, while Hives cause raised welts. Scabies can itch intensely and may affect household contacts. These skin conditions usually have visible changes.

When the palms or soles itch strongly without an obvious rash, tell your pregnancy care team rather than assuming it is ordinary dryness. They may ask about sleep, timing, other symptoms, and check your health with pregnancy-appropriate tests. This symptom pattern is not a diagnosis by itself.

Apply a plain fragrance-free moisturiser several times daily, especially after washing. Wear breathable footwear, avoid hot showers, use lukewarm water, and protect your hands from detergents with suitable gloves. A cool cloth can reduce the urge to scratch.

Do not take an over-the-counter itch medicine or apply a medicated cream without checking with your maternity clinician. Keep a note of whether the itch is worse at night, whether a rash appears, and which areas are affected.

Contact your maternity team promptly for intense itching of the palms or soles, particularly when there is little or no rash, or when it is disturbing sleep. Seek urgent advice if it comes with yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, or reduced fetal movement. Emergency help is needed for breathing trouble or facial swelling.

Ask whether your distribution needs pregnancy-related testing, which skin products are suitable, and how to monitor fetal movement. Mention any rash, medicines, supplements, new detergents, and whether anyone else at home is itchy.