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Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 1998 June;133(3):187-97

Copyright © 1998 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Compulsory contraception in dermatology: when and which

Pelfini C., Regazzini R.

Ospedale Sant’Anna - Como, Unità Operativa di Dermatologia

Dermatologic use of powerful drugs which may exert a teratogenic effect makes imperative to prescribe the best possible contraception. At present, the choice of a contraception method must hold in due consideration the recent acquisitions that involve different criteria such as efficacy, good clinical and metabolic tolerability, side effects, interaction with other outstanding therapy and effect of the underlying disorder. Accordingly, the different forms of contraception available and their different indication in young patients affected by psoriasis or severe acne, undergoing teratogenic treatment, are discussed. Some of the maternal side effects and teratogenic risk of drugs more frequently used by dermatologists, with particular regard to retinoids, are reviewed. In conclusion, according to the more recent literature, it is underlined that to select the form of contraception to be used and to monitor its effectiveness are necessarily routine tasks for dermatologists when they prescribe a drug in pregnancy.