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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Some dermatologists regard pruritic folliculitis as a form of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-acne-15491&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;acne&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; that arises during pregnancy. Differential diagnoses include bacterial &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/folliculitis-49395&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;folliculitis&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, pityriasis folliculitis and drug- or chemical-induced acneiform eruptions. First described\u00A0in 1981, it is believed to be more common than previously thought, with the incidence of this disease to be one per 3,000 pregnancies.\u00A0\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What does Pruritic Folliculitis of Pregnancy look like?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The rash consists of several small red bumps that may or may not be filled with pus. These bumps are usually on the shoulders, upper back, arms, chest, and abdomen. The condition looks like acne. However, culture of the bumps does not reveal any bacteria. The rash can be very itchy.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;When does it develop?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy typically develops in the second half of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/pregnancy-week-by-week-4013511&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;pregnancy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. It resolves spontaneously within 2 to 3 weeks after delivery.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What causes Pruritic Folliculitis of Pregnancy?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The cause of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is unknown. Some investigators believe it is caused by hormonal changes. And it doesn&amp;amp;#39;t appear to be caused by abnormalities to the immune system.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;How is it treated?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is typically treated like mild acne. Benzoyl peroxide has been used with some success, but antibiotics are not needed. Oral antihistamines are useful to treat the itching. There are other drugs that may help:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Retinoids and antineoplastic agents.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Among the drugs used in dermatology, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/all-about-isotretinoin-15665&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;isotretinoin&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0\u2014 used to treat acne vulgaris, and antineoplastic agents, such as methotrexate, are two drug types that present a high risk during pregnancy, and are contraindicated in pregnancy. There may be less risk with tretinoin, but risk is still present.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Antipruritic agents.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Antipruritic medications, such as trimeprazine and doxepin, should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/is-hydroxyzine-effective-for-treating-allergies-83106&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Hydroxyzine&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is classified as moderate risk in the first trimester of pregnancy and is associated with a risk of congenital abnormality. Hydroxyzine is also not recommended during lactation.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Antibiotics.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Antibiotics, such as &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/antibiotics-used-to-treat-acne-1068717&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;tetracycline&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and ciprofloxacin, are risky to use \u00A0during pregnancy and lactation, and should therefore be avoided. When antibiotics are necessary during pregnancy, penicillins are considered safer.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Analgesics.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Analgesics, including acetaminophen, are associated with minimal risk to the fetus or infant. However, there are some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as indomethacin, which are associated with problems in infants and, therefore, are not recommended for use in pregnant women.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Topical agents.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Topical corticosteroids during pregnancy are considered to present a low risk to the fetus. The FDA says that using these drugs may pose some risks. On the other hand, other topical agents, such as povidone-iodine and podophyllin, are known to possibly put a fetus at risk and are not recommended for use during pregnancy. &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What are the effects of\u00A0pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy on baby?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There are differing reports about the affect of pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy on the baby. There appears to be an increased risk for premature births and infants who are small for gestational age, as compared with infants from normal pregnancies. Evidence of an increased rate of spontaneous abortions or fetal mortality has not been reported.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Kroumpouzos G.\u00A0Specific Dermatoses of Pregnancy: Advances and Controversies: Pruritic Folliculitis of Pregnancy. Medscape.\u00A0CME Released: 11/24/2010; Accessed March 5, 2016.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Clinician&amp;amp;#39;s Photo Guide to Recognizing and Treating Skin Diseases in Women: Part 2. Pregnancy-Related Dermatoses. Medscape. Accessed March 5, 2016.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Xia\u00A0Y,\u00A0Bray\u00A0DW.\u00A0Pregnancy-related\u00A0pruritic\u00A0rash.\u00A0Am Fam Physician.\u00A02007 Oct 1;76(7):1019-20.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/pruritic-folliculitis-of-pregnancy-1068863>