Dermatoses of pregnancy: Nomenclature, misnomers, and myths.
The most recent reclassification of dermatoses of pregnancy includes polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, atopic eruption of pregnancy, and pemphigoid gestationis; intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, strictly not a dermatosis, was included in specific dermatoses of pregnancy for working purposes. Another dermatosis, pustular psoriasis of pregnancy, could be included for similar reasons. The nomenclature of these pregnancy-specific eruptions has been revised several times, generating potential confusion among practitioners. Clouding the picture further are misnomers that have been used to describe dermatoses of pregnancy. In addition, several cutaneous conditions that are associated with, but not specific to, pregnancy, have been misunderstood, which has resulted in certain myths among patients and physicians. In this contribution, we describe how the nomenclature of each dermatosis of pregnancy has evolved to fit the current classification scheme. We then identify several misnomers that have generated confusion within the scheme. Finally, we debunk several myths that have developed around cutaneous conditions outside of this scheme, in both mother and newborn.
Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California.
Melissa
M
Danesh
The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.
Miriam Keltz
MK
Pomeranz
Department of Dermatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Brisbane, Australia.
Erin
E
McMeniman
Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California; Department of Dermatology, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group, Mountain View, California. Electronic address: jemurase@gmail.com.
Jenny E
JE
Murase
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000145:classification; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D006559:Pemphigoid Gestationis / Q000145:classification; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000145:classification*; D011536:Prurigo / Q000145:classification; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000145:classification; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000145:classification*; D057896:Striae Distensae / Q000517:prevention & control; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014581:Urticaria / Q000145:classification