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Pregnancy Acne : Information and facts in regards to pregnancy, acne, & medications
There are some potent drugs that are used to treat acne in which should not be used by women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant because of potential harm to a fetus. These drugs may be considered for use with adequate birth control precautions, but only under the supervision of a dermatologist and with adequate monitoring of both the drug's effects and any indications of failure in birth control measures that would require a person to stop using the drug. To be safe, a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant should consult her dermatologist regarding safe and effective acne therapy. Consultation with her gynecologist may also be appropriate in regard to birth control precautions or use of hormonal therapy for acne.
Please take note about these acne medications that have potential for harming a fetus include:
- Retinoids - (Vitamin A derivatives, natural and synthetic)
- Isotretinoin - a synthetic, orally-administered systemic retinoid that virtually revolutionized acne therapy due to its effectiveness in treating severe and therapy-resistant acne. A number of side effects are associated with isotretinoin therapy, the most serious being the potential to cause severe birth defects to a developing fetus. The most common side effect of isotretinoin therapy is dryness of the skin and mucous membranes. Other, less common, side effects include nausea and vomiting, bone and joint pain, headache, thinning hair, psychological depression, and changes in blood and enzyme profiles monitored in regular follow-up examinations. Regularly scheduled monitoring for side effects is recommended by the physician. For most persons treated with isotretinoin, side effects are tolerable and not a reason to discontinue therapy before remission is achieved. It is imperative that women of childbearing potential follow the pregnancy prevention program and guidelines. Women planning a pregnancy should discontinue taking isotretinoin and maintain birth-control methods for at least one month before trying to become pregnant. Isotretinoin must not be used when a woman is trying to become pregnant, or is pregnant, or breast feeding.
- Topical retinoids - (tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene) carry warnings against use by women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant during a course of treatment. Their use by pregnancy-age women should be discussed with a dermatologist in order to make decisions regarding precautions to avoid pregnancy while receiving topical retinoid therapy.
- Hormonal therapy using the "female" hormone estrogen or the anti-androgens spironolactone or flutamide is sometimes used in the treatment of acne in females. Be away of these agents because they should not be used while a woman is pregnant.
- Systemic tetracyclines - broad-spectrum antibiotics sometimes used in a low-dose for the long-term treatment of acne, or in high doses for the treatment of very severe acne. Tetracyclines are capable of causing inhibition of bone growth and discoloration of teeth in a fetus and should not be used by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant during a course of treatment.
Even though there are many acne medications which should not be used while pregnant, there is one that is safe for pregnant women as well as young children. This medication is called oral erythromycin, but to be safe still consult your doctor first.
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