The problem of treating acne and rosacea in women of reproductive age

Abstract

Often enough, women of reproductive age make medical appointments for problems such as acne and rosacea. Treatment of these diseases in this group of patients has unique features. For example, isotretinoin can only be administered for some indications and in combination with most effective contraceptive methods due to its teratogenicity. Also worth noting is that acne prevalence rates among pregnant women are quite high – up to 43% according to various studies. In fact, symptoms of the disease develop during the second and third trimesters. The choice of therapy for these patients is limited and mainly includes topical drugs. The acne management strategies in women planning pregnancy are similar to that in pregnant women. Foreign studies show the relationship between rosacea and hormonal and reproductive factors. Thus, the disease often develops in premenopause; the risk of developing rosacea is also increased in nulliparous women and women delivering their first and last child at an older age. In our practice, we often prescribe a 1% clindamycin solution as a topical antibiotic. The drug is easy to apply and is not visible on the skin after its use. Absence of drug-induced photosensitivity is a significant advantage of the solution over drugs from other groups, which allows using the drug during periods of high solar activity (in particular, in spring and summer). This is also important for patients with rosacea, as exposure to ultraviolet light is one of the factors known to aggravate the disease. A number of management strategies and treatment algorithm for patients of reproductive age suffering from acne and rosacea that are provided in this work will help physicians to select the optimal and safe treatment with due account for reproductive life plans.