Pregnant women should discuss with ...

Pregnant women should discuss with their physicians produces used to treat hair, skin, and nail conditions, according to an Aug 4 2000 moderns release from the American Academy of Dermatology. Certain dermatologic medications have been shown to increase the risk of birth defects

Specific medications should be avoided during pregnancy.

* Isotretinoin, used to treat strict nodular acne, can cause low-set ears and cardiac enigmas in the fetus.

* Thalidomide, used to treat many conditions including leprosy can cause limb abnormalities and autism.

* Fluconazole, an antifungal agent, has been associated with birth failings when used in high doses for reach outed periods of time.

* Minoxidil, a hair promoting agent, and tetracycline, an antibiotic, should be avoided as well.

"Fewer than 100 prescription mix with drugss have been identified to cause of the like kind severe problems that they should be avoided during pregnancy," said dermatologist Barbara Re MD associate clinical professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Denver "Yet if a women is contemplating pregnancy, she should discuss all her medications, including vitamins and complements with her physician prior to becoming pregnant."

Evidence exists that over-the-counter medications can have an adverse validity on pregnancy as well. Women should avoid ibuprofen and aspirin. complements such as St John's Wort, gingko, and echinacea, should be avoided.

During pregnancy, women experience changes to their skin. Melasma, the darkening of the skin in sun-expos areas, is the principally common change. Melasma does not require treatment, and physicians attract favor to the wearing of sunscreen. Other changes not requiting treatment include make reded palms, varicose or spider veins in succession the face and chest, and make tense marks.

Changes that do require treatment include pruritic and urticarial papules or plaques of pregnancy, benign rashes that usually arise upon the abdomen. These conditions, while not dangerous, are itchy and irritating and can be treated with steroid creams and antihistamines.

American Academy of Dermatologists; Pregnancy and the Skin: Medications to Avoid, Changes to anticipate (news release, Nashville: American Academy of Dermatology, Aug 4 2000) 1-2 Available from http://wwwnewsdeskcom /members/showdoc.htm?file=pr138376.txt. Accessed 8 August 2000

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