Eczema Free Forever™ Eczema Free Forever™

Probiotics during pregnancy tied to lower eczema risk for kids … – Reuters


Yahoo7 News
Probiotics during pregnancy tied to lower eczema risk for kids …
Reuters
By Lisa Rapaport(Reuters Health) – Women who take probiotics while they're pregnant and breastfeeding could be less likely to have children with eczema than mothers who don't, a research review suggests. Probiotic use during pregnancy and lactation was
Probiotics during pregnancy tied to lower eczema risk for kidsKDAL

all 2 news articles »

eczema – Google News

How to Soothe Eczema During Pregnancy

Another great post from itchylittleworld.com – Natural remedies for eczema to soothe your itchy little world..

By Laura Dolgy (bio below)

You probably already know that pregnancy can affect a woman’s body in many ways, but did you know that many experience eczema during pregnancy? With an influx of hormones and body changes, it’s not very surprising that eczema can creep up. Although there is some information about pregnancy-induced eczema (also known as atopic eruption in pregnancy, prurigo of pregnancy, pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy and papular dermatoses of pregnancy) we have some tricks up our sleeves for dealing with eczema during pregnancy.

Please keep in mind that although these treatments can relieve eczema, we are in no way medical professionals. If you’re experiencing severe eczema symptoms like fever or an infection, it is best to seek medical advice immediately.

Is Eczema During Pregnancy Common?

Although pregnancy can cause eczema, fluctuations in hormones can also cause a variety of different skin issues, such as:

  • Acne
  • Skin pigmentation changes
  • Dark spots
  • Rashes
  • Skin sensitivity and more

Surprisingly enough, it seems that pregnancy-induced eczema is possibly the most common skin condition that occurs during pregnancy [1]. This type of eczema can also begin during pregnancy without ever experiencing the skin condition before. Although annoying and uncomfortable, this condition does not harm the baby and usually improves after the baby is born.

What Symptoms Can You Expect with Eczema In Pregnancy?

There are two forms of atopic eruption:

  • Eczematous (E-type AEP): This type of eczema is characterized by rough and red patches that usually appear on the face, neck, creases of elbows and on the back of knees
  • Prurigo (P-type AEP): This type of pregnancy eczema appears in several bumps that are widespread on the abdomen, arms and legs [1].

What Treatments Help with Pregnancy Eczema?

Moisturize

If you are suffering from eczema during pregnancy, then the first thing you might want to try is keeping your skin moisturized during your flare-up. This gives skin the opportunity to properly heal by providing moisture to your already dry, sensitive skin. And with a bun in the oven, you want to stick to the most natural of ingredients of course! 

Organic Manuka Honey Skin Soothing Cream

This soothing skin cream is the perfect nourishing natural treatment for pregnant women experiencing eczema. Not only is it gentle, but it contains simple ingredients such as Manuka honey, Manuka oil and Beeswax that keep skin smooth and moisturized. Plus it’s anti-bacterial too, so it’s great for soothing cracked, open skin. 

Grass Fed Tallow Balm

If you’ve never tried grass fed tallow in skin care, then you are definitely missing out. Tallow Balm is extremely nourishing and moisturizing. It also promotes healing and heals scarring on sensitive, allergy prone or eczema skin. Comes in two varieties: Unscented (for very sensitive skin) and Tea Tree & Lavender (added antibacterial properties and a lovely scent). 

Organic Calendula Salve

Calendula is full of vitamins, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, plant compounds and natural enzymes. It contains a selection of natural ingredients such as Calendula flowers, Beeswax, Olive oil and more. Organic Calendula Salve works wonders on dry, cracked or sensitive skin and can also be used on your newborn.

Eczema Clothing

In addition to moisturizing and natural eczema treatments, opting for eczema clothing (in order to not to scratch or infect your eczema) is also a popular choice for those suffering from itchy eczema.

Bamboo Gloves for Adults

If you happen to be suffering from hand eczema or cannot stop scratching the eczema elsewhere on your body, then you’ll want to check out these Bamboo Gloves for Adults. These gloves are made with biodegradable bamboo and have a nice cooling effect. Plus – they won’t stretch out overtime like ordinary cotton gloves. Wear them overnight with cream underneath for relief in the morning.

Body Bands for Adults

If you’re experiencing targeted eczema either on your elbows, knees, arms or legs, then make sure to check out these WrapESoothe Body Bands for Adults. They work well at keeping skin protected and covered from infection.

Many eczema sufferers also have had success using these bands for wet or dry therapy. To discover more about wet therapy and how it can help relieve your itchy, dry eczema quickly, check out our blog post: Our Eczema Trials: Wet Wrap Therapy. Alternatively, if you’re interested in trying dry wrapping, make sure to take a look at our blog post: Our Eczema Trials: Dry Wrapping.

Phototherapy

Many eczema sufferers who cannot get relief turn to light therapy, also known as phototherapy. In fact, this is the form of treatment recommended to pregnant women by Dr. Peter Lio. The most common type of phototherapy used to treat eczema is narrowband ultraviolet light. Essentially this light acts as natural sunlight that has displayed eczema healing abilities.

This process is generally safe for pregnant women, but sunscreen can be applied to the face to avoid melasma (a condition common in pregnant women that causes brown spots) [3].

Before choosing this treatment, it’s always best to talk to a doctor to decide whether this is the best course of action for treating your eczema.

Manage your Stress

To really help your eczema, it’s important to keep stress to a minimum. In fact studies show that a mother’s stress can harm the fetus’ brain development as early as 17 weeks [2]. It’s also important to remember that stress can increase your chances for an eczema flare-up.

To help reduce your eczema, try adopting a new hobby or start looking into yoga or meditation. Another great idea is getting a pre-natal massage! Just make sure that your therapist checks the massage oil to make sure there are no irritants that can exacerbate your eczema.

Eating Well

If the above is not working for your eczema, then you may want to take a look at what you’re eating instead. If you are not eating well or consuming foods that are actually exacerbating your eczema, then you might want to think about changing your diet, but only do so under a physician’s supervision.

For some great ideas on adopting a new diet to heal your pregnancy eczema, make sure to check out these blog posts:

The Eczema Diet and Your Salicylate Sensitivity

How Eating A Plant Based Diet For Eczema Encourages Healing

How Eczema Helped My Family Move To A Clean Healthy Diet

If you believe certain foods are actually exacerbating your eczema, you’ll want to check out our blog post: Our Eczema Elimination Diet Success (How You Can Do It Too!). Many eczema sufferers have been able to clear their eczema through their diet alone and eliminating foods that trigger their eczema. Just make sure to do any dietary changes along with a physician to be sure you’re not causing harm to your body or your growing baby’s development.

We know that pregnancy cravings can make dietary changes difficult, but healing your eczema from within can be the one step to healing your eczema for good.

Remember though, it’s ESSENTIAL to check with your doctor (especially during pregnancy) whether any dietary changes are appropriate for you and your baby.

Are you pregnant and suffering from eczema? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Bio: Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.

Resources

 

How to Soothe Eczema During Pregnancy appeared first on itchylittleworld.com. Come read more about natural remedies for eczema!

itchylittleworld.com

Eczema could be treated with a pregnancy protein – Medical News Today


Medical News Today
Eczema could be treated with a pregnancy protein
Medical News Today
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic form of eczema, which is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by rashes – particularly on the face, hands, feet, and behind the elbows and knees – and dry, itchy skin. The symptoms of atopic dermatitis can be

eczema – Google News

High Levels Of Hormones During Pregnancy Associated With Higher Risk For HR-Negative Breast Cancer

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;??Eczema / Psoriasis
Article Date: 20 Oct 2012 – 0:00 PST
Current ratings for:
High Levels Of Hormones During Pregnancy Associated With Higher Risk For HR-Negative Breast Cancer
not yet rated5 stars
Increased concentrations of the pregnancy hormones estradiol and progesterone were associated with an increased risk for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, according to the results of a nested case-control study presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.

Annekatrin Lukanova, M.D., Ph.D., http://www.eczemablog.net/associate professor at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany, and colleagues examined the effects of hormonal exposure during early pregnancy and its possible association with risk for maternal breast cancer.


“Pregnancy influences maternal risk for breast cancer, but the association is complex and the biological mechanisms underlying the associations are unknown,” Lukanova said. “Understanding the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of childbearing on cancer risk can form the basis for primary prevention of breast cancer.”


Lukanova and colleagues used the Northern Sweden Maternity cohort to conduct a nested case-control study of 417 controls and 223 women who had donated blood samples during their first trimester of pregnancy and were later diagnosed with breast cancer. About three quarters of the breast cancer cases were hormone receptor (HR)-positive.


The researchers examined two groups of hormones: The first group included estradiol, estrone and progesterone, the concentrations of which increase substantially with pregnancy progression. The second group included testosterone and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1). During early pregnancy, concentrations of testosterone and IGF-1 are largely similar to prepregnancy concentrations.


“We found that circulating concentrations of IGF-1 and testosterone are directly associated with risk for HR-positive breast cancer, in line with studies in nonpregnant women,” Lukanova said.


Results indicated a heightened risk for HR-negative breast cancer diagnosed before 50 years of age with increased levels of estradiol and progesterone.


Lukanova noted that this study was small, that the hormones were measured during the first trimester of pregnancy only, and that further and larger studies will be necessary to characterize the association of pregnancy hormones with risk for hormone-defined maternal breast cancer.


Abstract:


B75 Pregnancy hormones and maternal risk of hormone receptor-defined breast cancer. Annekatrin Lukanova1, Egle Tolockiene2, Helena Schock1, Kjell Grankvist2, Hans Ake Lakso2, Helja Marja Surcel3, Goran Wadell2, Anne Zelenuich-Jacquotte4, Paolo Toniolo4, Eva Lundin2. 1German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, 2University of Umea, Umea, Sweden, 3National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu, Finland, 4New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.


Introduction: Hormonal exposure during pregnancy is believed to be associated with subsequent maternal risk of breast cancer, but so far limited epidemiological data are available.


Study design: A case-control study (223 cases and 417 controls) was nested within the Northern Sweden Maternity Cohort to explore the associations between pregnancy concentrations of sex steroid hormones and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) with maternal risk of breast cancer by hormone receptor (HR) expression of the tumors. The study included women who had donated a blood sample during the first trimester of their first full-term pregnancy. Most cases had HR-positive disease: 171 (77%) estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), 157 (70%) progesterone receptor-positive (PR+) and 152 (68%) ER+/PR+ tumors. Estradiol, estrone, progesterone and testosterone were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were measured by immunoassays. For each hormone, the difference (residual) between the actual assay value for each subject and the estimated mean determined for the day of gestation when the sample was drawn was computed by local linear regression. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).


Results: For HR-positive tumors, a significant direct association was observed with circulating concentrations of testosterone (e.g. OR for ER+ in the top versus bottom tertile of 1.8 (1.1-3.0), p<0.02) and IGF-I (e.g. OR for ER+ in the top versus bottom tertile of 2.0 (1.2-3.3), p<0.01). For HR-negative disease, risk estimates for a doubling of estrogens, progesterone and SHBG concentrations were above unity, but did not reach statistical significance with the exception of progesterone for PR-negative tumors (OR 2.0 (1.0-3.9), p<0.04). In analyses limited to ER-negative tumors diagnosed up to age 50 (n=38), these associations were stronger, but only of borderline significance. For PR-negative tumors diagnosed up to age 50 (n=49), the associations were significant for estradiol (OR 1.8 (1.0-3.1), p<0.04), progesterone (OR 2.6 (1.1-6.1), p<0.03) and SHBG (OR 1.8 (1.0-3.0), p<0.04). Adjustments for maternal height, weight, smoking, hypertension during pregnancy, child's sex, weight and length had negligible effect on risk estimates. Associations were similar by combined ER/PR tumor status or when limited to cases diagnosed ?10 years after blood donation.


Conclusions: In this nested case-control study hormone concentrations during early pregnancy were associated with risk of maternal breast cancer but the associations differed by hormone receptor expression of the tumors. For hormones with placental contribution to circulating concentrations (estrogens and progesterone), there were indications for positive associations with risk of maternal HR-negative breast cancer. For hormones, with similar concentrations during early pregnancy and in the non-pregnant state (testosterone and IGF-I), direct associations with HR-positive breast cancer were observed, in line with most available epidemiological data in non-pregnant women. Larger studies are necessary to characterize the association of pregnancy hormones with risk of hormone-defined maternal breast cancer.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click ‘references’ tab above for source.
Visit our breast cancer section for the latest news on this subject. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

American Association for Cancer Research. “High Levels Of Hormones During Pregnancy Associated With Higher Risk For HR-Negative Breast Cancer.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 20 Oct. 2012. Web.
7 Apr. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.


‘High Levels Of Hormones During Pregnancy Associated With Higher Risk For HR-Negative Breast Cancer

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.


If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.


All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)


Contact Our News Editors


For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:


Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.



View the original article here


Eczema Blog

Quit smoking while pregnancy – No Smoking Day 8 March 2017

March 8th 2017 is national no smoking day and for the estimated 15.8 % of the UK population who regularly light up this is the day you are encouraged to kick the habit.

Parents to be are one particular group who should consider quitting smoking for the sake of their own health and that of their unborn child.

Currently statistics report that just over 10% of babies in the UK are born to mothers who smoke. Whilst this figure is still high, this is a reduction from the previous year of 11% and down from 15% a decade ago.

While this is good news there is no doubt that smoking in pregnancy is harmful to both the mother and the baby; even passive smoking is bad.

Cigarettes contains around 4,000 different chemicals which go into your lungs when you smoke. The types of chemicals found in cigarettes include; Acetone (found in nail polish remover), Ammonia  (a common household cleaner), Cadmium (active component in battery acid), Carbon Monoxide (released in car exhaust fumes), Formaldehyde (embalming fluid) and of course nicotine.

Once they’ve gone into your lungs, the nicotine, poisons and carbon monoxide cross the placenta to the baby. This can cause issues such as:

  • complications during labour
  • increased risk of miscarriage, still-birth and sudden unexpected death in infancy (sometimes referred to as SIDS or cot death)
  • premature birth
  • facial abnormalities at birth such as cleft lip
  • low birth-weight
  • behavioural problems such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
  • performing poorly at school

There is no safe level of smoking. There is no evidence that cutting down is beneficial, and so the only option is to stop smoking completely.

Stopping smoking is hard for most people and you shouldn’t be embarrassed to seek help to quit. If you are thinking of stopping or have recently stopped smoking and are pregnant speak to your midwife who may refer you to a stop smoking adviser. You can also talk to your GP or go to the NHS website – https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree – Support can be offered over the phone, via apps, emails or face to face.

You may be offered Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in the form of patches, chewing gum, mouth sprays etc. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’, it is safe to use NRT in pregnancy. This is because NRT does not contain poisons such as tar and carbon monoxide, but does provide some nicotine to help manage withdrawal cravings once you have stopped smoking.

If your partner smokes then you need to encourage them to quit too as it will increase your chances of giving up too.

Quitting smoking will also save significant amounts of money. A 10 a day habit will save you around £2190  as well as ensuring you provide the best start in life to your baby.

talkhealth Blog