Common skin conditions during pregnancy are often classified as: hormone-related, preexisting, and pregnancy-specific. Pregnancy-specific skin conditions include pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), prurigo of pregnancy, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, pemphigoid gestationis, impetigo herpetiformis, and pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy. The commonest among these seems to be PUPPP.1

Metallic preparations are an important part of Ayurvedic therapeutics on account of their advantages like smaller doses, and quick action. Zinc is a metal that plays a pivotal role in various biological processes in humans and its deficiency is known to lead to several diseases.2 Yashada bhasma or zinc is a natural mineral used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various skin ailments. It has been shown to inhibit bacterial growth on the skin and inflammation.3 Yashada bhasma is a traditional herbomineral preparation that has an important role in the normal functioning of skin. It affects collagen synthesis and has been described to have antimicrobial properties. It is known to improve the moisture holding capacity of the skin. It is also known to work as a rejuvenator.4 It has also been noted to relieve itching, eruption and burning sensation in eczema.2 Topical zinc therapy is emphasized on account of its role in auto debridement, its anti-infective action, and promotion of epithelialization. Zinc preparation was shown to relieve pruritus in patients with eczema by Rani et al5 in a recent study.

Topical preparation containing yashada bhasma thus seems effective in relieving pruritus.

References

1. Tunzi M, Gray GR. Common Skin Conditions During Pregnancy. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Jan 15;75(2):211-218.
2. Chandran S, Patgiri B, Galib R, Prasanth D. A Review through Therapeutic Attributes of Yashada bhasma. International Journal of Pharmaceutical & Biological Archives 2016;7(5):6-11.
3. Verma SR, Sultana S, Thiyagarajan OS, et al. Yashad bhasma (Zinc calx) and Tankana (Borax) inhibit Propionibacterium acne and suppresses acne induced inflammation in vitro. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2014 Aug;36(4):361-8.
4. Datta HS, Mitra SK, Patwardhan B. Wound Healing Activity of Topical Application Forms Based on Ayurveda. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011; 2011: 134378.
5. Rani M, Kashyap CP, Sankhyan JR. A study on the effect of yashadamrita malhara and yashad bhasma with sikth taila in vicharchika with special reference to eczema. International Ayurvedic Medical Journal 2017;5(9):3398-405.