Prurigo gestationis is an eruption consisting of

pruritic An itch (also known as pruritus) is a sensation that causes a strong desire or reflex to scratch. Itches have resisted many attempts to be classified as any one type of sensory experience. Itches have many similarities to pain, and while both a ...

, excoriated

papules A papule is a small, well-defined bump in the skin. It may have a rounded, pointed or flat top, and may have a dip. It can appear with a stalk, be thread-like or look warty. It can be soft or firm and its surface may be rough or smooth. Some ...

of the proximal limbs and upper trunk, most often occurring between the 20th and 34th week of

gestation Gestation is the period of development during the carrying of an embryo, and later fetus, inside viviparous animals (the embryo develops within the parent). It is typical for mammals, but also occurs for some non-mammals. Mammals during pregn ...

. The exact etiology is unknown, but it is considered likely to be a flareup of

atopic dermatitis Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is a long-term type of inflammation of the skin. Atopic dermatitis is also often called simply eczema but the same term is also used to refer to dermatitis, the larger group of skin conditi ...

during pregnancy. It is sometimes considered to be a term encompassing Besnier's prurigo gestationis and other conditions. It is sometimes considered a

diagnosis of exclusion A diagnosis of exclusion or by exclusion (''per exclusionem'') is a diagnosis of a medical condition reached by a process of elimination, which may be necessary if presence cannot be established with complete confidence from history, examination o ...

See also

References