Pregnancy and the skin: hormonal reflection or clinical warning?

#Pregnancy #Hormones #Dermatology #Obstetrics  


Pregnancy induces a cascade of profound hormonal, immunological, and mechanical changes, the effects of which are widely reflected in the skin. These physiological modifications, though often anticipated, can present with striking clinical features. The increase in estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone levels significantly affects pigmentation, vascularization, and dermal structure. Additionally, the immune alterations induced by pregnancy modulate the skin’s inflammatory response, sometimes exacerbating pre-existing dermatoses or triggering new ones.