Safe solutions for pregnant women with acne

Bonnie - A recent New York Times article explored the difficulty physicians have in treating acne in pregnant women. Medications such as Accutane and Isotretinoin are forbidden because of miscarriages and severe birth defects. Few creams and ointments are effective and some can be harmful. Most doctors prescribe antibiotics because they believe they are safe. However, antibiotics deplete nutrients, are not always effective for acne, disrupt healthy gut microflora, and contribute to the ongoing issue of bacteria-resistant superbug proliferation.

Any decision must be discussed with your physician, but I have several suggestions to try:

• Zinc Sulfate Solution - applied 2-3 times daily on affected areas can be helpful

• Milk of Magnesia, applied on affected areas before showering (do not wash off face until the end of the shower), appears to help in some cases.

• Photopneumatic therapy, in which the skin is suctioned with a vacuum-like device, bringing the bad stuff to the surface, then beamed with intense pulsed light. The process stuns and deactivates hyperactive oil glands and kills the bacteria they nourish. The process is performed by dermatologists and takes twenty minutes.

• Nicomide (by prescription only) - nicotinamide has been used by dermatologists for years for acne; the PDR says large doses of nicotinamide (form of the B-Vitamin niacin), zinc, or copper should be avoided during pregnancy. However, if you were to take one pill, it is not too much and is also a great source of folic acid