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Key content Pregnancy results in various physiological skin changes. As a consequence, some common dermatoses can present more frequently in pregnant women. In addition, there are a number of skin eruptions unique to pregnancy., The aetiology of physiological skin changes in pregnancy is uncertain but is thought to be due to hormonal and physical changes of pregnancy., The four dermatoses of pregnancy are: atopic eruption of pregnancy, pemphigoid gestationis, polymorphic eruption of pregnancy and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy., Learning objectives To understand the physiological skin changes in pregnancy., To identify the skin conditions that require appropriate referral., To be able to take a history, to diagnose the skin eruptions unique to pregnancy, undertake appropriate investigations and first-line management, and understand the criteria for referral to a dermatologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicaprylyl maleate (DCM) has been reported rarely as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis. The objectives of this study were to identify patients from multiple centres with allergy to DCM in cosmetic products confirmed by patch testing and, in addition, to investigate the effect of testing with aged DCM. This is an international multicentre study of 22 patients with 26 reactions to products containing DCM. Patch testing was carried out to ingredients including DCM obtained from the manufacturer. Further testing was carried out with deliberately aged DCM in a sample of patients. 22 patients had clinical and positive patch test reactions at 4 days to a total of 26 cosmetic products containing DCM. 5 patients did not react to DCM prepared by the manufacturer from concurrent factory stock but did have positive reactions to a deliberately aged batch of DCM. DCM is an emerging cosmetic allergen. Testing with aged material yields a greater number of positive results. Co-operation between cosmetics manufacturers and clinicians is important in the identification of new allergens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]