2026, Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part A

Introduction: Various skin manifestations can occur during pregnancy. Some are considered physiological, while others correspond to specific or nonspecific dermatoses. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of dermatoses observed in pregnant and postpartum women in two tertiary centres.

Methods: This six-month cross-sectional and prospective study included consenting pregnant or postpartum women presenting with at least one dermatologic condition at the gynecology-obstetrics departments of CNHU-HKM and CHU-MEL in Cotonou in 2024. Data on dermatological manifestations were analyzed using R Studio software, with a significance level set at 5%.

Results: During the study period, 621 women were included, with a mean age of 29.1±5.5 years. Skin lesions had been present for less than 6 months in 62.32% of the women. They were predominantly located on the head (63.61%), anterior trunk (54.91%), and lower limbs (39.94%). Pregnancy-related dermatoses were mainly represented by atopic eruptions (9.02%), followed by prurigo associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (0.48%) and gestational pemphigoid (0.32%). Among dermatoses exacerbated by pregnancy, telangiectasias (10.79%), acne (8.36%), and striae gravidarum (5.62%) were the most common. Skin bleaching practices in pregnancy were identified in 55.07% of the patients. The main dermatoses induced or exacerbated by skin bleaching included: Purplish striae (43.64%), acne (35.75%), skin atrophy (23.35%), pityriasis versicolor (14.33%), mucocutaneous candidiasis (13.69%), and exogenous ochronosis (9.82%).