Psoriasis and pregnancy: treatment, possible consequences

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

One of the most important moments in a woman's life is pregnancy. During this period, the body is considered the most sensitive to various influences that provoke the development of diseases. Psoriasis during pregnancy causes a lot of anxiety, as the symptoms are well expressed.

Psoriasis and pregnancy: what are the symptoms?

Psoriasis is a non-communicable disease in which pustular eruptions form. They usually have a different appearance and shape. Psoriasis progresses gradually during pregnancy. Is it dangerous? A lot of women have asked this question.

First, small plaques form on the skin, which consist of a layer of epithelium. Usually they appear regardless of the person's gender and other external factors over the entire surface of the body. Over time, the rash becomes larger, clustering into islands, and may cover a large area of the skin.

The appearance of the formations differs from the normal state of the integument of human tissue. There is a clear deformation and coarsening of the skin. Rashes, in addition, have a peculiar color, which can be white or red. In some parts of the body, papules can be up to 10 mm high.

Due to the disease, the hormonal background may change and there may be a decline in the protective properties of immunity. But an important role in the formation of the disease is occupied by a genetic predisposition, because for the formation and development of psoriasis in a woman's body there must be a special gene. If it is present, there is a high probability of the appearance of this disease, and other provoking factors help it to appear.

Psoriasis is not contagious to other people. It cannot be completely cured, since the genetic factor is not amenable to drug influence. Therefore, one way to deal with the disease is to control the symptoms.

What is the danger of illness during pregnancy?

Some of the girls in the situation, patients with psoriasis or having a predisposition to it, meet a number of features of this disease. The presence of this disease is not a restriction on conception, since it does not affect the child and the fetus at all.

During pregnancy, a woman's body is rebuilt, which affects its functional features. Failure of the hormonal background, interruptions in metabolism, as a rule, are provocateurs of the development of psoriasis. But this situation is rare and only as a last resort. Psoriasis affects pregnancy only if the disease is complicated.

This ailment during pregnancy is dangerous if you run itinitial symptoms. Usually, women in a position, on the contrary, talk about a decrease in the intensity of the manifestation of the disease. The rash decreases and becomes pale, may disappear altogether. New plaques, as a rule, do not happen, and the former ones simply disappear. This situation happens during pregnancy, after childbirth, psoriasis reappears. This course of the disease does not affect the fetus and the woman in any way.

What are the consequences of psoriasis?

Dangerous are considered complications of the disease, manifested in the form of psoriatic arthritis, which cause damage to the joints. Usually such a consequence of psoriasis is observed in the second trimester of pregnancy.

The main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are: pain in the elbow, knee joints, which is uncomfortable. These complications of the disease do not affect the development of the child and affect only the functional abilities of the woman in position.

Does psoriasis affect the fetus during pregnancy?

When psoriatic arthritis starts, the work of the circulatory system subsequently worsens. A similar situation entails a failure in the nutrition of tissues, including the placenta, which is responsible for the nutrition of the fetus. To avoid such outcomes, you need to contact a specialist when the first symptoms of the disease occur and start timely treatment.

The main danger to the fetus during the treatment of a woman in position is the use of illegal drugs during pregnancy.

How does the disease progress after the baby is born?

BIn 50% of cases, within two months after childbirth, psoriasis worsens. Usually, the part of the body that was affected before pregnancy is exacerbated.

Most of the girls, having heard the news about the increase in the symptoms of the disease, are convinced that psoriasis has taken a more complex form, as they have become accustomed to improving their condition during the bearing of the child.

Can psoriasis be passed on to a child?

This type of disease is not dangerous for a child only if it is not in an advanced stage. The presence of a gene that is responsible for the appearance of such an ailment as psoriasis suggests that, most likely, the child will also have it. But the disease usually does not appear immediately. More than 10% of newborns are at risk. And in about 80% of children born, the disease may not manifest at all throughout life.

This characteristic is suitable for those babies whose mother or father is a carrier of this disease. If both parents suffer from this disease, then the likelihood that the child will have psoriasis is more than 55%.

How should I prepare for pregnancy when I'm sick?

As mentioned, psoriasis does not affect the childbearing function of a girl, but it is advisable to plan conception during the onset of remission and carry out treatment before pregnancy occurs. This will minimize possible complications.

A patient who decides to undergo therapy is notified in advance of the duration of treatment. When planning a pregnancy, the girl should be informed about thisdermatologist. The specialist will give advice on the best time to conceive and will tell you what type of treatment will be the safest in her position.

Of course, it is worth planning a pregnancy when there are no rashes on the body or there are very few of them. Treatment should be discussed in advance with a gynecologist and dermatologist.

Can I breastfeed when I'm sick?

Girls with psoriasis during pregnancy or before conception have no contraindications for breastfeeding. It is not allowed only when a woman uses systemic drugs that are used on large areas of the body. All this is due to the fact that drugs are usually absorbed into mother's milk and thus enter the baby's body.

Features of psoriasis treatment

It is impossible to completely get rid of this disease, there is only a chance to reduce the symptoms. Treatment of psoriasis during pregnancy should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. It is strictly forbidden to engage in self-medication, as this can harm the child.

Difficulties with psoriasis, as a rule, occur when it has reached a severe form. To avoid such cases, when the first symptoms of the disease appear, an immediate visit to the doctor is required. Usually, a specialist advises planning to conceive during remission.

How to treat psoriasis during pregnancy? Drugs usually have a toxic effect on the body as a whole. Therefore, the use of such drugs during pregnancy is prohibited, as they carrythreat to fetal development. Especially they should not be consumed in the first trimester, because at this time even the smallest toxic load can lead to the formation of various kinds of pathologies in the child. If a woman took such drugs before pregnancy, then as soon as she finds out that she is in a position, the treatment should stop.

What threatens psoriasis? And does pregnancy have a positive effect on the disease? Fortunately, yes, as mentioned, there are more cases when the condition of a woman in a position improves. A small percentage of those who have this disease, on the contrary, worsens. Then resort to medication.

Forbidden drugs during childbearing include ritinoids, immunomodulators, derivatives of vitamins A and D, ointments that contain hormones. It is absolutely impossible to use such drugs without the appointment of a specialist. During pregnancy, psoriasis often worsens the condition of the skin. If the situation worsens, you need to moisturize it. The main difficulty in the treatment of psoriasis during pregnancy is the selection of optimal medications that will have a minimal negative effect on the fetus and provide a good therapeutic effect. Therefore, with a moderate course of the disease and the absence of its growth dynamics, the specialist, as a rule, prescribes only a course of local therapy. It is the use of moisturizing creams, lotions that are not absorbed into the bloodstream and do not overdry the skin. In particular, these are salicylic ointment and vegetable oils.

Why does scalp disease occur?

Psoriasis of the head during pregnancy is a common ailment in women. The causes of the disease can be:

• head injury from scratching;
• constant stress;
• malnutrition, eating a lot of fatty, spicy, spicy and sweet foods;
• alcohol and cigarette abuse;
• genetic predisposition, in the event that one of the parents of a person has psoriasis, then in 50% the disease can manifest itself;
• hormonal and physiological changes, including pregnancy and lactation;
• side effect of antibiotics and vitamins A, B and C.

The first signs of psoriasis include general weakness and loss of strength, depression.

At the initial stage of psoriasis in pregnant women, scales appear that cover the plaques. Papules are round in shape, most often pink in color and located symmetrically on the head.

The size of the plaques at first does not exceed a few millimeters. If psoriasis is not treated, then later they can reach ten centimeters in diameter or more.

Remember, if you suspect this disease, you should immediately consult a specialist. A dermatologist can immediately make a diagnosis without special tests.

Phototherapy is used to treat psoriasis during pregnancy. As a rule, in this case, a 311 nm lamp is used. First, scales are removed from the surface of the head with a special shampoo that does not contain hormones. After irradiation is carried out according to the instructions. The procedure must be repeated after one day.

In addition, folk remedies are also allowed during pregnancy. So, essential oils are especially effective. For example, pine essential oil helps relieve inflammation and stimulates blood circulation, has an analgesic effect. And black pepper oil has a beneficial effect on blood circulation in the body, relieves vascular spasms.

Medications in the form of tablets and syrups are prohibited. The exceptions are complicated situations and only by appointment of a specialist.

What medicines can treat the disease during pregnancy?

The following drugs are indicated for use in psoriasis:

• emollients (creams, emulsions, lotions);
• exfoliators, limited use on small areas of skin;
• cortisone.

You can also do phototherapy and take "Cyclosporine" in severe disease.

Advice for pregnant women suffering from this disease

Girls in position, with psoriasis, must first of all be distracted from thoughts about the disease. Therefore, a woman with this ailment should:

• attend courses for young mothers, where they carefully analyze the current situations and help get rid of many fears;
• spend more time outdoors, walk;
• receive a charge of positive emotions from others, mainly from family members.

What folk remedies can be used during illness?

Due to the fact that most medicines are forbidden for pregnant women, they resort to herbal treatment.

Do-it-yourself ointments for psoriasis during pregnancy are very popular among such remedies. They are made from natural plant ingredients that have a slight negative effect on the woman's body. For decoction, string and chamomile, motherwort and yarrow are used. The creams contain herbal ingredients such as propolis, aloe, garlic, which have an anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effect on the skin.

Usually decoctions are made in a water bath. First, water is boiled, then plants are added, then everything is boiled for some time. The broth must be insisted and filtered. The resulting consistency is used in the form of lotions for rashes and plaques.

In order to prepare an ointment, a base is taken in the form of petroleum jelly or butter. This remedy is melted on fire, then vegetable components are added to it and mixed. The resulting mixture is placed in the refrigerator, and after complete solidification, the healing ointment can be applied.