Hygeia Public Health 2017, 52(3): 298-303pl

Selected skin lesions as a factor influencing pregnant women´s quality of life - a pilot study

Anna Pietras ^1/, Lucyna Kapka-Skrzypczak ^2/

1/ Studentka kierunku Kosmetologia, Wydział Medyczny, Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki i Zarządzania w Rzeszowie
2/ Katedra Biologii Medycznej i Badań Translacyjnych, Wydział Medyczny, Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki i Zarządzania w Rzeszowie

Summary
Introduction. Pregnancy causes many changes in the hormonal, immune and vascular system in the woman´s body. Often these changes are the cause of many physiological skin changes or diseases known as dermatoses of pregnancy.
Aim. To determine the impact of skin lesions on the pregnant women´s quality of life.
Material and method. The study group comprised 60 women. The study used the diagnostic survey method, and the research tool was the original questionnaire. The results analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 6 using Chi2 (depending on circumstances with Yates correction).
Results. The most frequently reported skin problems occurring in pregnant women were: stretch marks/cellulite (40%), pigmentation changes (30%), itching of different etiology (20%) and folliculitis (10%). The changes reported by the surveyed women made them feel anxiety (60%) and exasperation (25%). As many as 60% of the surveyed women met with a negative reaction of the surrounding society towards their skin lesions during pregnancy. The presence of skin lesions, according to 40% of the surveyed women hindered the implementation of plans/habits in their social/family life.
Conclusion. The research showed that skin changes in pregnancy had a huge impact on the various spheres of life of the surveyed women. Most adverse effects were reported in the area of self-assessment/assessment of others, which in turn influenced the negative changes in interpersonal relationships of the surveyed women. In contrast, proper diet, rest and skin care in conjunction with the proper treatment of skin lesions play a major role in an individual skin care of pregnant women.

Key words:  quality of life, skin lesions, pigmentation changes, pregnancy