One of the 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 large amount of anxiety, as her symptoms are pronounced.
Psoriasis and pregnancy: what are the symptoms?
Psoriasis is a non-infectious disease in which pustular rashes form. They usually have a different appearance and shape. Psoriasis progresses gradually during pregnancy. Is it dangerous? This question was asked by many women.
Initially, small plaques form on the skin, which consist of a layer of epithelium. Usually they appear regardless of a person’s gender and other external factors throughout the surface of the body. Over a period of time, the rash becomes larger, uniting into islets, and can occupy a large part 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 have a height of up to 10 mm.
Due to the disease, the hormonal background can change and a decline in the protective properties of the immune system is observed. But an important role in the formation of the disease is played by a genetic predisposition, because for the formation and development of psoriasis in the body of a woman there must be a special gene. If it exists, 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 can not be completely cured, since the genetic factor is not amenable to drug influence. Therefore, one way to combat the disease is to control the symptoms.
What is the danger during pregnancy?
Some of the girls in the position, patients with psoriasis or having a predisposition to it, meet a number of features of this disease. The presence of this ailment is not a limitation to conception, since it does not affect the child and the fetus at all.
During pregnancy, the woman’s body is rebuilt, which affects its functional features. Malfunction 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 in case of complication of the disease.
This ailment during pregnancy is dangerous if you start its initial symptoms. Usually, women in position, on the contrary, talk about a decrease in the intensity of the manifestation of the disease. The rash decreases and becomes pale, it can generally disappear. As a rule, there are no new plaques, and the previous ones simply disappear. This situation occurs during pregnancy, after childbirth psoriasis reappears. This course of the disease does not affect the fetus and woman.
What could be the consequences of psoriasis?
Complications of the disease, manifested in the form of psoriatic arthritis, which cause joint damage, are considered dangerous. Typically, this 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 inconvenient. 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, then the circulatory system deteriorates. A similar situation entails a power failure of the tissues, among which the placenta, which is responsible for the nutrition of the fetus. In order to avoid such kind of outcomes, it is necessary to consult a specialist and start timely treatment when the first symptoms of the disease occur.
The main danger to the fetus during the period of treatment of a woman in position is the use of prohibited drugs during pregnancy.
How does the disease occur after the birth of a baby?
In 50% of cases, within two months after giving birth, psoriasis worsens. Usually exacerbated is the part of the body that was affected before pregnancy.
Most of the girls, having heard the news about the intensification of the symptoms of the disease, are convinced that psoriasis has taken a more complex form, since during the gestation of the child they are used to improving their condition.
Can psoriasis be transmitted to a child?
This type of disease is not dangerous for the child only if he 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 appear at all throughout life.
This characteristic is suitable for those babies in whom either the mother or father are carriers of this disease. If both parents suffer from this disease, then the likelihood that the child will have psoriasis is more than 55%.
How to prepare for pregnancy during illness?
As stated, psoriasis does not affect the childbearing function of the girl, but it is advisable to plan the conception during the onset of remission and conduct treatment before pregnancy. This will minimize potential complications.
A patient who has decided to undergo a course of therapy is notified in advance of the duration of treatment. When planning a pregnancy, a girl should inform a dermatologist about this. The specialist will give advice on the best time for conception and tell you which 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 agreed in advance with a gynecologist and a dermatologist.
Can I breastfeed for illness?
Girls suffering from psoriasis during pregnancy or before the conception of a child do not have contraindications for breastfeeding a child. 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 the mother’s milk and thus enter the baby’s body.
Features of the treatment of psoriasis
It is impossible to completely get rid of this ailment, there is a chance only to reduce the symptoms. Treatment of psoriasis during pregnancy should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. Self-medication is strictly forbidden, as this can harm the child.
Difficulties with psoriasis, as a rule, arise when he has reached a severe form. To avoid such cases, when the first symptoms of the disease appear, immediate medical attention is required. Usually, a specialist advises planning a conception 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 pose a threat to the development of the fetus. Especially they can not be used 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 before pregnancy a woman took such drugs, then as soon as she finds out that in position, the treatment should stop.
What threatens psoriasis? And does pregnancy positively affect the disease? Fortunately, yes, as mentioned, there are more cases when a woman’s condition improves. A small percentage are those who have this ailment, on the contrary, exacerbated. Then resort to medicines.
Forbidden medicines during childbearing include ritinoids, immunomodulators, derivatives of vitamins A and D, ointments that contain hormones. It is strictly forbidden to use such drugs without prescribing a specialist. During pregnancy, psoriasis often worsens the condition of the skin. If the situation worsens, moisten it. The main difficulty in treating 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 dynamics of its growth, a 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 blood and do not dry the skin. In particular, it is salicylic ointment and vegetable oils.
Why does the disease occur in the scalp?
Psoriasis of the head during pregnancy is a frequently observed ailment in women. The causes of the disease may be:
- head injuries when combing;
- constant stress;
- improper nutrition, eating large amounts of fatty, spicy, spicy and sweet foods;
- alcohol and cigarette abuse;
- genetic predisposition, in the event that one of the person’s parents has psoriasis, then in 50% of the disease can manifest itself;
- hormonal and physiological changes, including pregnancy, and the period of breastfeeding;
- side effect of antibiotics and vitamins A, B and C.
The first signs of psoriasis include general weakness and loss of strength, a depressed state.
At the initial stage of psoriasis, pregnant women develop scales covering the plaques. Papules of a rounded shape are most often pink in color and are located symmetrically on the head.
The size of the plaques initially does not exceed a few millimeters. If psoriasis is not treated, then subsequently they can reach ten centimeters in diameter and more.
Remember, if you suspect this disease, you must urgently consult a specialist. A dermatologist can immediately make a diagnosis without special tests.
Phototherapy is used to treat psoriasis during pregnancy. Typically, a 311 nm lamp is used in this case. First, flakes are removed from the surface of the head with a special hormone-free shampoo. After conducting irradiation according to the instructions. The procedure must be repeated after one day.
In addition, during pregnancy, folk remedies are also allowed. 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 the blood circulation in the body, relieves spasms of blood vessels.
Medicines in the form of tablets and syrups are prohibited for use. The exception is complicated situations and only as directed by a specialist.
What medications can treat the disease during pregnancy?
The following drugs are indicated for use in psoriasis:
- emollients (creams, emulsions, lotions);
- exfoliating products, their use is allowed only in limited quantities on small areas of the skin;
- cortisone.
You can also conduct phototherapy and take "Cyclosporine" in severe cases of the disease.
Tips for pregnant women suffering from this disease
Girls in a position suffering from psoriasis, it is necessary first to distract from thoughts about the disease. Therefore, a woman with this ailment should:
- attend courses of young mothers, where they carefully analyze the current situation and help to relieve many fears;
- spend more time outdoors, walk;
- receive a charge of positive emotions from others, mainly from members of your family.
What folk remedies can be used during an illness?
Due to the fact that most drugs are forbidden to be used by women in position, they resort to treatment with herbs.
Do-it-yourself ointments for psoriasis during pregnancy are very popular among such remedies. They are made from natural plant components that have a slight negative effect on the woman’s body. For the decoction, a string and chamomile, motherwort and yarrow are used. In creams, there are herbal ingredients such as propolis, aloe, garlic, which have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects on the skin.
Usually decoctions are done in a water bath. First, water is boiled, then plants are added, then for some time everything is boiled. 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 the ointment, the base is taken in the form of petroleum jelly or butter. This product is melted on fire, after which plant components are added to it and mixed. The resulting mixture is placed in the refrigerator, and after complete solidification, a healing ointment can be used.