Health Wikipedia

Psoriasis is a chronic disease of the immune system that appears on the skin, usually in the form of thick, red, scaly patches. Women who develop psoriasis often worry about becoming pregnant. They ask themselves if the baby will develop normally. Will they be able to breastfed? Will their psoriasis get worse during pregnancy? Are the treatments safe for the baby?

According to medical science, Psoriasis is not necessarily a barrier to pregnancy, nor does it affect a woman’s ability to have children. Women with psoriasis generally progress through pregnancy and give birth just like anyone else. However, expectant mothers who suffer from psoriasis need special precaution in their treatment and should be aware of the hereditary nature of this condition, the effect of hormonal changes and tips for ease in breastfeeding.

Treatment options
Pregnant women with psoriasis need to be aware that some treatments for psoriasis may harm their babies. There are not many drugs available to treat pregnant women as most anti-psoriatic drugs are toxic for the fetus. The appropriate treatment for psoriasis in a woman who is pregnant, or who plans pregnancy, will depend on the extent and severity of the skin condition.

Topical treatment:
Topical treatments are first line treatments for psoriasis in pregnancy as most of systemic drugs are toxic to fetus. However, medications for external use are not free from side effects as they are absorbed by the body. Some should be completely avoided during pregnancy as they are potentially teratogenic (causes birth defect).

Emollients: Soothing and moisturising creams may be used without incurring any risk.

Vitamin A derivatives for local use should be avoided because of their teratogenic effect.

Vitamin D derivatives can be used in small quantities in very specific areas.

Corticosteroids (Cortisone): Dermatologists sometimes prescribe cortico-steroids in small quantities for use on very limited areas. It can increase the risk of stretch marks, so it should not be applied to certain parts of the body such as the breasts, abdomen and hips.

Exfoliants such as urea and Salicylic acid: These treatments can be used if their application is limited to small areas of the skin.

Systemic treatment:
Systemic treatments are often teratogenic. These risks are very high when medication is taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. Consequently, most orally administered medicines are stopped during pregnancy.

Dr Syeda Ishrat Jahan…

The eyes are amazing windows through which we observe the world. It is responsible for majority of all the information our brain receives and usually we rely on our eye-vision more than any other sense. For a strong vision we need antioxidants, nerve supporters, pigment protectors, cell membrane components, vasodilators and cofactors.

Scientists at the Cleveland Clinic judge that antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamin C can reduce vision loss in patients with age-related vision impairment called Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). These vitamins can protect our eyes from vision-altering free radical damage.

Harvard scientists have found that antioxidant ‘zeaxanthin’ can protect our eyes against ARMD by absorbing blue light which is a part of sunlight. This terrible light is capable of damaging our retinas. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamin A, C, E and Beta-carotene. The yellow vegetables are important for daytime vision.

According to some researchers, green tea has 10 times more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. Green tea contains flavonoid antioxidants that fight free radicals and also prevent age related skin problems.

Garlic and onions are rich in sulfur, which is necessary for the production of glutathione, an important antioxidant for the lens of the eye, and the whole body. Small Fishes and fishes rich with Omega 3 (especially DHA or docosahexaenoic acid) are good for eyes. DHA provides structural support to cell membranes, and is recommended for dry eyes, treatment for macular degeneration, and sight preservation.

Spinach and green leafy vegetables are rich in carotenoids, especially lutein and zeaxathin. Lutein, a yellow pigment, protects the macula from sun damage and from blue light.

Eggs are rich in cysteine, sulfur, lecithin, amino acids and lutein. Sulfur-containing compounds protect the lens of the eye from cataract formation. Vitamin B Complex is (especially Vitamin B-12) necessary for nerve function. The retinal receptor cells send all their messages through nerve fibers into the optic nerve, and into the brain. These vitamins keep up nerve and general body activities. One of the most common deficiencies in elderly individuals is B12. According to ‘eye specialists’ vitamin B-12 (under the tongue or sublingually) is recommended everyday for people with optic nerve disease or glaucoma.

These days we must be selective in terms of the foods we eat when the soil is contaminated with pesticides and chemicals. And sometimes modern-day diet cannot provide all the answers. We need to be able to add extra constituents to our dietary in order to restore what may have been lost.

Today, there are lots of people who are organised to take care of our eyes. They are ophthalmologist, optometrist and opticians. It depends what kind of eye care we need.

Ophthalmologist is an expert treating medical diseases of the eye. If you are concerned about your glasses – an optometrist is the right person. They are specialists in glasses, contacts, and primary eye care. An optician is somebody who specialises in fitting glasses to our eyes- making lenses, fitting the frames, adjusting the nose pieces.

In developed countries opticians can also be involved in dispensing contact lenses, but they do not prescribe glasses or contacts, and they do not measure or examine eyes.

Dr Rubaiul Murshed…