A pregnant patient is concerned that she is allergic to something because her hands have been red and itchy since becoming pregnant. What should the nurse explain as the cause of the patient's symptoms?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Palmar erythema, or palmar pruritus, occurs in early pregnancy and is probably caused by increased estrogen levels. Constant redness or itching of the palms can make a woman believe she has developed an allergy. This type of itching in early pregnancy is normal and is not caused by an allergy to fetal protein, reduced serum protein, or chorionic gonadotropin hormone secretion.

A Pregnant Patient Is Concerned That She Is Allergic to Something