Nursing and psoriasis
When a mother chooses to nurse, precautions are needed. Topical medications should not be used on the nipples. Also, there is a slight chance that some drugs will absorb through the skin and get into the mother's milk, especially if large areas of the skin are covered with medications, such as topical steroids, tar, Dovonex, anthralin and Tazorac. Work closely with your doctor to determine what is acceptable topical treatment while nursing.
If a mother has psoriasis on her nipples, it is important to moisturize the nipples with thick emollients or moisturizers. Psoriasis on the nipple will not harm a nursing infant. However, it may cause enough discomfort to the mother to make breast-feeding difficult.
Systemic medications (drugs given orally or by injection) should be avoided when nursing because of the potential for passing the drug's active ingredients to the infant through the breast milk.
Updated December 2004
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