How To Handle Eczema During Pregnancy

How To Handle Eczema During Pregnancy
by Evelyn Lim

When a woman becomes pregnant, many changes come about in the woman’s body including blood pressure changes, hormone changes, and even skin texture changes. However, the changes are not the same for everyone. No one knows why, but some women who have eczema pre-pregnancy find that their eczema flare-ups seem to be worse, while other women find that their eczema goes away entirely for the duration of the pregnancy.

Unfortunately, for myself, I was not one of the lucky few that was eczema free during my pregnancy with my second child. I had to learn ways on how to keep it under control. To prevent flare-ups, it is important that you baby your skin, as well as the rest of your body, when you are pregnant to help keep your skin healthy and free of reactions.

You need to set up a regimen of moisturizing your skin and stay with it. It is important to use an emollient daily. Regular doctor visits are essential so that you can keep your doctor up-to-date on changes in your skin condition, whether good or bad. Alternative treatment methods for your eczema like allergy testing, hypnotherapy, aromatherapy, massage, or chiropractic need to be discussed with your doctor because some treatments are not appropriate for women that are pregnant. Eat as healthy as possible and drink lots of water to keep the impurities flushed out of your body. Try to avoid allergens and irritants as much as possible and make sure that you get enough rest because it helps to keep your immune system in tip-top shape.

Some of the common eczema medications are not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you plan to breastfeed, then antibiotics are not recommended. Other medications like calcineurin inhibitors, which are applied to the skin topically, are also not recommended for women that are pregnant. The effects on a developing fetus have not been established, so it is best to refrain from using these medications all together. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also not use corticosteroids, so steer clear of them. Cyclosporine does not have any completed research on whether it causes birth defects or not so it should not be used if you are pregnant either. Two other medications that you need to steer clear of if you are pregnant include mycophenolate mofetil and interferon gamma. It is best to check with your obstetrician/gynecologist before taking or applying any medication just to be on the safe side.

A darkening of skin during pregnancy, or melasoma, is quite common in pregnant women. It is also described as the “mask of pregnancy” and it is when areas of the skin become darker. This usually happens in areas where there is a scar, freckle, mole, or on the nipples. Women with eczema and women without eczema both suffer from this. This may cause some women to become distressed, especially for those women who have eczema as well.

Some research studies have found that women who nurse their infant for at least six months can decrease the risk of atopic dermatitis from developing. In breast milk, there is an ingredient that decreases the development of the allergic response, unlike cows milk. Cows milk is sometimes a trigger for eczema flare-ups. That is why it is of utmost importance to watch the foods you eat while pregnant and after your bring your precious little bundle home.

About the author:
A sufferer for more than 30 years, read the journey of Evelyn Lim to finding a natural eczema treatment and for beautiful skin here at http://www.eczemaskintreatment.com.