Frederikke Seeberg

Background: Pregnancy induces physiological changes that often impact skin health, leading to both the onset and exacerbation of dermatological conditions. Despite potential implications for maternal well‐being and foetal outcomes, evidence‐based treatment and skincare guidance during pregnancy remain limited. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of dermatological diseases, treatment patterns and changes in disease activity during pregnancy, with particular focus on whether physician counselling influences continuation of treatment. We also explored concerns about product safety and sources of information. Methods: A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based study was conducted among pregnant women attending routine ultrasound examinations at Aarhus University Hospital from October 2024 to January 2025. The questionnaire addressed demographics, dermatological conditions and treatment, skincare practices, concerns and informational sources. Results: A total of 273 pregnant women responded. One third (33.7%) reported having an active dermatological condition within 1 year prior to pregnancy confirmation; most prevalent were atopic dermatitis (11%), acne (9.2%) and hand eczema (7.3%). More than half of the women (56%) experienced symptom worsening during pregnancy, yet only 24% consulted a healthcare professional. Following pregnancy confirmation, 57.6% discontinued treatment—81.1% without consulting a healthcare professional. Physician consultation was significantly associated with continued treatment (RR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.55−4.44, p = 0.0005) and identified as protective against treatment discontinuation (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03−0.40, p = 0.001). Concerns about product safety were common (16.9% for emollients; 35.9% for prescription medication). The majority relied on online sources (50.2%) for information, while 13.9% received professional guidance. Conclusions: There are substantial gaps in dermatological care and skincare guidance during pregnancy. Many women experienced worsening of their dermatological diseases during pregnancy, and many discontinued their treatment without professional input. These findings emphasize the need for evidence‐based information and patient‐centred communication to support informed decision‐making and to improve maternal and foetal health outcomes.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing skin condition that significantly affects children and their families. Treatment ranges from topical to systemic therapies, but evidence on long‐term recurrence following different treatment strategies in paediatric AD remains limited. Objectives: To explore recurrence rates in paediatric patients with AD after topical versus systemic treatment in a specialised AD clinic. Methods: This retrospective observational study included children (0–12 years) diagnosed with AD and treated at a tertiary university hospital in Denmark between 2019 and 2023. Patients were grouped based on treatment: systemic (with topical) versus topical only. Re‐referral to the department served as a proxy for recurrence. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to estimate time to re‐referral. Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for baseline disease severity (mild, moderate and severe). Results: A total of 166 patients were included. Around 50% of discharged patients were re‐referred within 30 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis suggested a trend towards longer remission in those treated with systemic therapy compared to topical treatment alone. In Cox regression, receiving only topical treatment showed a non‐significant trend towards higher risk of re‐referral (HR = 5.5, 95% CI: 0.73–41.8), while higher baseline disease severity was significantly associated with increased risk of re‐referral (HR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.2–4.5). Conclusions: Systemic therapy may be associated with longer remission periods in paediatric AD, particularly in patients with more severe disease. While some findings were not statistically conclusive, the results indicate a trend that underlines the importance of individualised treatment strategies balancing efficacy and long‐term disease control.