A new study suggests that pregnant women can safely use steroid creams only if used in moderation. These ointments doesn't have any relation to the baby's chances of forming a cleft palate, getting born small or too early, or even other negative consequences when they are born.
Dr. Ching-Chi Chi, lead author of the study and also a doctor from hang Gung Hospital in Taiwan, noted that there were previous researches that support the same belief.
Topical creams of the steroid type are usually used to treat eczema, rashes and other skin inflammations, which are normally common in expecting mothers. Although some are prescriptive ointments ranging from low-high potencies, there are also non-prescriptive types like Bactine that have low potencies.
The researchers looked at the data from the U.K, between 1989 and 2006 to calculate the birth defect and delivery complication rates of babies of around 2,700 women who used corticosteroid creams while carrying them compared to 7,200 women who didn't use ointments.
Results of comparisons show that 4.7 percent of the infants of corticosteroid-using mothers were underweight while it was 4.8 percent of the infants of non-corticosteroid users. Only less than one percent from both groups was premature infants.
For stronger ointments, the health risks were not substantially different for those women who used 100-200 gram total of the drug while pregnant. However, for those who used over 300 grams showed seven times the probability of underweight babies.
The negative consequences or side effects of these steroid creams include dysregulation of hormones in the placenta which hamper the babies' absorption of nutrients and high risk of having asthma for the mothers.
The researchers do not suggest expecting moms to refrain from using ointments with steroids but recommends to strictly follow the prescription and instructions given by their doctors to ensure safety.
The study was published in the online journal JAMA Dermatology.
