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Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy

Pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy

It’s rare presentation of Atopic Eruptions of Pregnancy (AEP).

It is only mildly pruritic. Contrary to its name, pruritus is not a major feature.

Prevalence: one in 3,000 pregnancies.

Etiology or pathogenesis: Small case series have failed to implicate immunologic dysfunction or elevated androgen levels. On histopathology, an acute sterile folliculitis is evident and direct immunofluorescence stains are negative. 

Diagnosis: is made clinically after excluding other, more common rashes.

Characteristics: Scattered multiple, pruritic, 2- to 4-mm follicle-based papules and pustules initially appear on the abdomen but may spread to the   trunk and extremities and become generalized.

The appearance is similar to that of steroid-induced acne and it may be mistaken for acne or microbial folliculitis.

Onset: It occurs in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.

Resolution: The skin lesions usually resolve spontaneously one to two months following delivery. 

Maternal & fetal effects: The disorder is not associated with any maternal or fetal morbidity, although one small series of patients showed a reduction in fetal birth weight.