Pregnancy Breakouts: Treating Acne During This Delicate Time
The problem of acne is one which can and should be treated. However, there are times that this is not advised such as breakouts during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time that treatment needs to be carefully examined prior to its beginning. Women who are pregnant need and must seek correct and valid information before considering treatment for this skin problem. Pregnancy is a fragile time in women's life. Extra care needs to be taken so as not to harm the growing child in the womb.
This must also be remembered by those who may get pregnant. The following are some medications for pregnancy breakouts that should not be used during pregnancy as they are harmful to the baby:
First is Hormonal therapy which may include estrogen, flutamide, and spirolactone. They are a big no-no. They are harmful and may lead to some problems for both the mother and the child.
The prescription medication Isotretinoin could put a pregnant woman's life at risk as it has the potential to create a severe health hazard to both the mother and the baby in her womb. Women who breastfeed are also at a higher health risk of negative side effects. Any woman who is pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive should speak with their physician about the effects of Isotretinoin and, if they choose to proceed with this treatment, should be closely monitored so any side effects can be detected quickly.
Tetracyclines taken by mouth such as doxycycline, tetracycline and minocycline are not a good option for you. Testing has shown that pregnant women or women who breast-feed their children must also not take these medications as the side effects may threaten their health and the health of the children. The main side effect is discoloration of the teeth and assorted bone disorders.
Last, but not least... avoid topical retinoids such as tazarotene, adapalene and tretinoin. Just like the above-mentioned medications, this could just be another hazard to you and your baby's health. Whether you are pregnant or not, it is not wise to use these medications.
Some treatments are not suitable for everyone. Pregnant women must take special precautions, as some treatments could cause harm to the baby. Wait to treat acne until after the pregnancy. It's possible hormonal changes are worsening your condition, so it's best to just wait until your hormonal balance has stabilized rather than risk hurting your unborn child.
The Acne Help Page is an online knowledgebase covering everything related to acne. Here you can find information on the causes of acne to treatment options for breakouts during pregnancy. Read other's experiences regarding pregnancy breakouts at the acne treatment results page.
Published January 26th, 2008
