Health Care

By: Mark

There are a number of concerns a woman has during pregnancy including various pregnancy skincare issues she may encounter. During her pregnancy, she must not only be cautious about what she eats, but she must also avoid certain bad health habits such as drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking. It is important that pregnant women practice a healthy lifestyle, not only to maintain her own health, but also to maintain the health of her unborn baby.

Most pregnant women apply a number of different cosmetics to their skin, hair and nails each day, however they should always take into account the ingredients contained in these products. Some of these commercial products may contain coal tar derivatives, talc, synthetic colors and fragrances, propylene glycol (which is not a problem if it is naturally derived), and the synthetic preservatives methyl and propyl parabens. In addition, some commercial toothpaste may contain toxic ingredients and should be avoided by women during pregnancy.

Most women use cosmetics to not only enhance their appearance, but also to highlight certain features of their face, such as their eyes, lips, and facial skin. Many women use soaps, moisturizers and toners on a daily basis in order to help maintain the integrity of their skin. Additionally, they may also use cosmetics in the form of blushes, mascaras, lipstick and lip gloss.

A particular class of chemicals found in cosmetics is phthalates. These chemicals are often found in nail polish and other skin care products that contain fragrances. Whenever possible, these chemicals (phthalates) should be avoided. Consumers can do this by using only those skin care products that are chemical free and organically derived. Avoiding these chemicals is especially important during pregnancy as there have been claims that they may affect reproduction and possibly damage the heart and lungs. If you use conventional cosmetics, you may wish to have a blood test to determine if you have phthalates in your system. You should also consider switching from conventional cosmetics to mineral cosmetics and organic cosmetics. This simple change will help you avoid the harsh synthetic chemical colorants found in these products.

During pregnancy, women are often faced with unique pregnancy skincare conditions. There are a number of different treatment options available for treating these conditions. One skincare issue that may arise is a condition called Herpes gestationis.

A major symptom of Herpes gestationis is abdominal blisters. When we hear about herpes, we normally associate it with fever blisters found on the lips or genital area. It should be noted that Herpes gestationis is not related to herpes simplex. H. gestationis may develop at the end of pregnancy and will eventually subside after delivery.

As with all skin and health conditions encountered during pregnancy it is important to discuss with your family physician any and all side effects associated with any pharmaceutical or natural medicines that you are taking since some of them may cause harm to your unborn baby. The medications that normally are prescribed for Herpes gestationis are corticosteroids. The side effects associated with these medications include: increased blood pressure and the possibility of hypoadrenalism in the child. It is important to weigh the risks and benefits of this treatment against the skin condition. You should also ask your doctor is there are safer treatment options that you can use. It should be noted that even though this skin affliction does occur during pregnancy, it is a rare condition.

Occasionally, hair loss may occur in women during pregnancy. Fortunately for most women, their hair will grow back naturally. Some doctors may prescribe multivitamin and mineral supplements to help facilitate hair growth. Women should consult with the doctor if their hair does not begin to grow back.

The onset of psoriasis may be noticed by some pregnant woman. Psoriasis is not contagious and will improve for some women and worsen for others during pregnancy. While there are different forms of this skin condition, the most common type is characterized by red patchy skin with white or silver scales. Fortunately, this type of psoriasis is usually located on the parts of the body that can be concealed by clothing; however, it can also appear on the scalp. There are a number of different medications that can be used to treat this condition, but some doctors advise their patients not to use these prescription medications during pregnancy.

It is often because of these dangerous side effects that many people today are taking a more holistic approach to their health care needs. The use of certain natural compounds has been shown to be beneficial in treating psoriasis, and it does this without the harmful side effects that may take place with chemical products and medications.

Aloe Vera is widely known and has been used for centuries as a healing agent for the skin. When applied topically it helps soothe the pain from a burn. This botanical has been tested on patients suffering from psoriasis, and a topical cream was shown to be helpful in treating this skin condition. Other aloe preparations were applied to those patients who suffered from plaque psoriasis, but those compounds did not produce any better results when compared to the treatment administered to the placebo group. It should be noted that there are several species of aloe, and it may be true that certain species of this plant produce more beneficial medicinal properties than other varieties of this plant. In order to evaluate the true effectiveness of this botanical compound, more scientific studies are needed to determine its value in treating psoriasis.

The results of these studies conducted on the aloe vera were published in the Tropical Medicine and International Health Journal.

Many of us like spicy foods and have added cayenne pepper to our foods to give it an extra kick. This spice has been added to topical creams and a study has confirmed its effectiveness in reducing the scaling and red patchy skin encountered by those suffering from psoriasis. Discuss with your family physician if this natural food substance can be added to your pregnancy skin care treatment program to help control or possibly alleviate this skin condition.

The above are only a few of the pregnancy skin care issues that women must face. It is always best to discuss your problems with your gynecologist or family physician and follow their advice. Each and every day, there are more and more pharmaceutical and natural compounds being researched to help treat the various skin care conditions that arise during pregnancy. As we have seen, the use of natural botanical compounds has been shown to be helpful in treating some of these conditions. A qualified holistic physician can prescribe the most appropriate treatment choice for your needs.

Keep in mind that some herbal compounds have drug-like effects, and they may or may not be suited for you during pregnancy. Utilizing the services of a qualified alternative physician can help combine the best of western and complimentary medicine in order to help relieve the discomfort and unsightly appearance of the skin conditions that occur during pregnancy.