PUPPP

What treatmnet is available for PUPP?

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, or PUPPP, is a rash that pregnant women get. It is the most common rash in pregnant women and usually affects women with their first pregnancy. Most women that have PUPPP in their first pregnancy do not experience it again with other pregnancies.

PUPPP will usually show up around week 35 and most women notice it in stretch marks on their stomach. One major difference in PUPPP and other rashes that pregnant women may develop is that the belly button is not affected. The rash will appear as small, red, spongy areas in the stretch marks. They will grow together to form larger areas on the stomach. The rash will spread to the thighs, arms, breasts and butt. The face is never affected by this rash.

Although the rash can be quite itchy and bothersome, there is no reason to worry about the rash harming mother or baby. The average rash will last around six weeks and it will all go away after delivery. The cause of PUPPP is not fully understood, although researchers believe it may have something to do with the fetal DNA of a male baby.

Doctors will diagnose PUPPP during a prenatal visit based on a physical examination and symptoms you are experiencing. To decrease the severe itchiness of the rash, a steroid cream or ointment can be used. Women that have a severe case may need to take oral steroids. Some women find that an oral antihistamine can help as well.

Comments: PUPPP

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madds - 197 days ago.
I had pupps last year when pregnant with my son. The itch was horrendous. I eventually tried menthol aqueous cream which didn't cure the rash but really eased the itching.

MommyS - 490 days ago.
I had PUPPPs with my first pregnancy but not with my second pregnancy. I feel for every woman who suffers through this. I highly recommend having your Vit D levels tested. I've had continuing skin issues since that first pregnancy and during my second pregnancy discovered a Vit D deficiency. Treatment for the Vit D deficiency (50,000 i.u./week) has cleared up my skin issues and may be the reason I did not suffer with PUPPPs a second time.

i2bmd@yahoo.com - 580 days ago.
I think I found a relieve for PUPPPs. First you use the cortisone cooling relief gel. You can get that over the counter. You can place it all over the area where the rash is then you apply a layer of 'hot six oil' over it. I do it for minimum of 2-3 times a day. YOu can do it as many time as you want. You will feel relieved from the itchiness and get an extra hr of sleep. After a few days, you will see that the rash also improves. You can get the hot six oil at CVS in the african american section. It costs about 6.00. Good luck to whoever that has this. I suffered through it for over 2 weeks and it is tortured. This will help. Or at least try it please. I was desperate enough to try everything that was said on here. Another one that works for a short time is desitin. But the cortisone and hot six oil are way better.

Larry J Nic - 618 days ago.
I got puppps just before giving birth - and instead of going away with the labor - it got worse : ( spreading to most of my body. I have found a remedy though - baby born about two weeks ago and my rash is fading! Here goes: 6 Dandelion capsules per day. 3 in the morn and 3 at night 3 flaxseed oil capsules per day. 2 with dandelion caps and 1 at night. Lemon juice in boiled water. 2 cups a day. 1 early in the morning before food. Drink lots of water. Use selsun blue shampoo - anti-dandruff shampoo - rub in circles directly on the rash in the shower or with a cloth outside shower (just add some water to dilute it though) do this twice a day. Get out into the sun if possible and get some sun onto the rash. Some suggest that the rash needs to be kept moisturised - but I found drying it out has been better. This helped my rash within three days - considerably noticeable change. The doctors were no help and hydrocortizone creams etc, antihistamines did not relieve me like the above. Not too much of a hassle and it does not affect the baby as some chemical solutions or drugs do. All the best and hope you get relief soon.

excited.4.our.first - 670 days ago.
I have got loads of read spots just underneath my belly button and now starting to appear on stretchmarks above my belly button, too. I think it might be PUPPP, but will find out for sure on Monday at my mw appt. Im so glad Im already 39+3 weeks, because I cant imagine how horrible it must be to have this for 6 weeks!!! So far only taking showers helps relieve the itching.

KylinnsMommy - 682 days ago.
Well, my son is now almost 14 months old and my PUPPP is back! I am itchy everywhere, and it spreads more and more every day. It started with an itchy spot on my hip. I am definitely not pregnant. I saw somewhere online that there was a woman that kept getting outbreaks 28 years after her last pregnancy. I had it so bad when I was pregnant with my son, but by the time he was a month old, it was pretty much gone. Due to the severity of my case while I was pregnant, I guess i should not be surprised that it has decided to come back. I also get itchy every month when I get my period, but that is usually pretty mild. This is definitely a recurrence of PUPPP.

BeautyRuby - 746 days ago.
I have found a relief for PUPPP!!! I promise!! After doing much research and calling pharmacies, a treatment plan I have made up works. I am going on 34 weeks and have had these bumps for about 2 weeks and this is what I have found..... 1) Wash thoroughly with Grandpas black tar soap. 2) Generously apply cortizone 10 cream extra strength 3) Lather up with Burts Bees Mama Bee last. My bumps are going away!!!!!! Still spreading some, but itch is controlled!!! Try this and give it a few days... DONT ITCH

oneplusone=three - 798 days ago.
as if pregnancy wasn't tough enough already. diagnosed at 37 weeks. am 38 weeks now. I have a steroid prescription from the Dr. It works for 2-3 hours and then im right back being itchy. Everyday i sit and cry and itch myself until im red and bleeding. I cant sleep anymore or wear clothes most of the time. Im having a girl and she's not coming any time soon so says my midwife. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

jenhundt@hotmail.com - 799 days ago.
I am 18 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child and was just diagnosed with PUPPP. I didn't have it with my first two girls. We'll find out in 2 weeks whether we're having a boy or girl. So far my doctor recommended Mineral Ice. It has that awful menthol smell but the cooling action felt great on the rash. I plan on trying the diaper rash ointment someone recommended as well. Can't hurt, right? I had never heard of this condition until now. 22 more weeks until I hopefully get some relief.

togetherforever1225@yahoo.com - 846 days ago.
My OB has told me that I have PUPPP but I am not sure if I do.. I had a little rash about a month ago and once I started getting a 17P shot it is getting SO much worse and I have 3 little red marks on my hip bone and in the middle it looks whitish.. it's not dry or raised up or anything.. although my other bumps are... does this sound familiar to anyone with PUPPP'S? Also, I'm only 18 weeks pregnant and I've heard it's not very common to obtain PUPPP's until your 3rd trimester so I am about to freak because if I have to go through this until delivery if not after it too... Idk if I can bear it.. I need something done asap! HELP!

CHONA27 - 936 days ago.
I got PUPPP'S at 32 weeks of pregnancy. It started on my stomach where i thought it was an insect bite. Then I Googled my symptoms and saw the images pf PUPPP's and it looks A LOT like what i have on my stomach. I have it all over my arms, hips, butt and thigs. I cant sleep at all at night and trying to work a job at this time is so hard. Esecially since im working with 3-5 year olds. I went to see my OB and she prescribed me Benedryl, AVEENO lotion for dry skin and AVEENO soap to wash my body, Before i went to the doctor my mom told me to use Caladryl which I did it worked for a certain amout of time. But for some reason I get very itchy when I'm laying in bed. I feel I also have it on my feet and it hurts. I read that 70% of Women have boys and i've gone to get a 3D ultrasound and regular ultrsound where i was told i was having a girl now I'm afraid they can be WRONG!!!!! But i hope its a GIRL!!!!!! I'm all registered and ready for her to get here. PLEASE PUPPP'S GO AWAY ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! AND GIRLS I FEEL FOR YOU... PUPPP'S IS NO FUN AT ALL = (

Mrs.Preggers - 937 days ago.
I got Pupp at 28 weeks, first i thought my belly was itchy from it streching, then i noticed small red patches along the strech marks and thought that it was a reaction from bio oil as i started to use it about a week b4. Little did i know that it wasnt the bio oil and everyday those rashes grew more and more, after a week of spreading on my tummy it started to spread across to my thighs, calves, legs, ankles, back, hips, arms and hands. I didnt sleep for weeks. I am 31 weeks now and still have it, but my OB prescribed me some tablets to help the rash and itch settle down. It seems to be drying down but still itchy but a lot less than it was a week ago. I am so worried abt the scars all over my body, it looks disgusting coz i couldnt help but SCRATCH it. I feel for all of u who had to go through PUPPs, its the worst thing EVA!!!

KylinnsMommy - 1163 days ago.
PUPPP is the worst! My first symptoms started out very mildly on one tiny spot on the small of my back when I was 8 weeks pregnant back in mid-November. At first I thought it was a bug bite. Over the next two months, that spot very slowly spread and I developed another spot on my lower belly. It itched really bad. I saw my doctor at one of my prenatal appointments in January and he didn't think anything of it. He thought maybe it was folliculitis, and said that if it were pregnancy-related, it would would have been a systemic rash, meaning I would have had it everywhere. By the following month, the rash had exploded to include my legs. By the end of February, the rash on my legs was improving, but I was getting it on my chest at that point. I saw a NP in women's health who didn't think it was PUPPP, then I went to my Primary Care doctor, who took pictures and emailed them to a dermatologist. My PCP then prescibed a moderate steroid cream (Triamcinolone Acetonide), but I literally went through the tube in 2 1/2 days. He then sent a referral for me to be seen by the dermatologist. My appointment with the dermatologist was February 26 when I was 23 1/2 weeks, and he did a skin biopsy in two places (so on top of the rash, I also got to deal with stitches!) and he prescribed Fluocinonide ointment. This seemed to help somewhat, but I knew it was a more potent steroid than the Triamcinolone, and I was not happy that I had to apply it over such a large area of my body, especially because I was still in my 2nd trimester. I would have felt better about it if it had been more towards the end of my pregnancy. Well with that steroid, you can only use it for 2 weeks due to how strong it is, then you have to stop taking it for a week or two to give your skin time to recover from the steroid (meaning: time for the rash to come back with a vengeance!) I stopped using the Fluocinonide on March 12 and my rash once again exploded. I have it on my ankles, thighs, buttocks, lower back, abdomen, upper back/neck, chest, and scalp. I am dying to try Grandpa's Pine Tar soap since I heard it works well, but we don't have it at any stores in our area, so I ordered it online and am waiting for it to arrive. It should be here in 3 days. In the meantime, I am using Aloe with Lidocaine and Cetaphil lotion, and Aveeno body wash with Oatmeal (still haven't got the oatmeal bath stuff yet). My doctor prescribed Sarna mixed with Triamcinolone, so I am going to pick that up this afternoon at the pharmacy. The dermatologist told me to email him in 3 weeks to let him know the status of this misery, and from there we can decide on a course of action if it is still bad. He basically said the only other options are Prednisone or light therapy. I told him I want to avoid more steroids as much as possible and would prefer the light therapy. I am thinking about just getting a 1 month pass to a tanning salon and doing that on my own. At this point, I will take any options I can possibly get (while trying to avoid systemic steroids) but I am terrified of labor now that I am this uncomfortable. Labor is bad enough, but then when you want to scratch all your skin off and can't stand anything touching your skin, it is worse. I feel so bad because I can't hold my daughter to my chest when she cries for me and I can't cuddle with her right now. I can't play with her, and I can't keep up with my duties around the house because movement causes friction from my clothes and makes me want to scream. I just don't know if I can handle this for another 14 weeks!!

nikigrits - 1249 days ago.
I want to share what worked for me. I got PUPPPS at 10 weeks pregnant. Here is the list of things that I tried that did nothing for me: pine tar soap witch hazel oatmeal bath mint tea bath baking soda bath petroleum jelly calomine lotion caladryl dandelion root tea acupuncture olive oil coconut oil every and any lotion benadryl Milk Thistle Chinese herbs - went to an herbalist, have no idea what they were cod liver oil What gave minor relief: Dr. Bronners Mint liquid soap with cold shower followed by Drbronner peppermint lotion Chinese snake oil cream Staying hydrated Loose clothing What worked: My sons Zinc Oxide 40% diaper rash cream. After I had been itching and not sleeping for 10 weeks I was going nuts. I was covered chin to toes. I had been to the ER twice and had blood work done. No answers or help. They told me that my only option left was steroids. Not an option for me since I was pregnant and still nursing my son. The tops of my hands were itching and really dry one night and I was out of lotion so I used my sons diaper rash cream before I went to bed. My hands didnt itch all night long! It was amazing. The rest of my body was still itchy. So I slathered my body with it and it worked for a few hours. That was great! It was the longest break I had from itching since I developed PUPPPS aka hell. I kept reapplying it every couple of hours as needed and I didn't itch. After a few weeks of doing that the rash started to calm down and go away slowly. I am now 26 weeks pregnant and I'm not itching at all. I still have a bit of the rash on my legs but it doesnt itch. Each day my legs clear up more and more. I have to point out that I tried different diaper rash creams with lesser % of zinc and they didnt work at all. I also tried the inactive things in the diaper rash cream just to make sure that they werent what was working. I am positive it was the Zinc. I used the CVS generic diaper rash cream. Its messy and you are pale as a ghost but who cares. You dont itch! Good luck!

rebs - 1353 days ago.
Take Milk Thistle and Dandelion Root!!! Pupps rash started on my tummy stretchmarks at 35-36 weeks, then spread to thighs, ankles arms I could not sleep and did not want to go anywhere. I asked my midwife what would take it away and she said delivery was only hope. However she said it was okay to try milk thistle and dandelion root, about two weeks after taking it my rash started going away!!! im 39 weeks now and am still taking it even though rash is gone, just in case, i dont want to go through that nightmare again. Goldbond was somewhat of a releif also aveno oatmeal baths (not hot) and cold showers and ice packs. Good Luck to you all!! Its a BOY!

clarissa21 - 1409 days ago.
I used a combination of calamine lotion you know the pink stuff usually used for chicken pox and a aloe product for sunburns and layed out by a fan to help with the itch but the only thing that has cleared it up and made the pain go away is getting a prescription of steroids if you are suffering from this rash get steroids asap! do not wait! do not try to tough it out like I did it will only get worse and spread all over your body!! Mine was as bad as the picture shown! You will have to continue to use the lotion and aloe when you take the medication but you will gradually use less and of it. Ive been taking these steroids for 4 days now and im like 80% cured you will start noticing the medication working on the second day. Tip: Take a cold shower then apply the calamine lotion and then wherever it is still itch apply the aloe and repeat whenever you feel itchy after a while youll have too many layers of it and will have to wash it off and reapply again. Good luck!

fangedangel32 - 1415 days ago.
I had PUPPPS at 27 weeks and I thought I was going to die, some days I did just want to die lol it was horrible. I did find some relief by taking an ice cube and rubbing it all over, it was very cold but it helped for awhile. I had it on my butt and stomach and legs and arms and I would cry all the time and scratch till I bled, I had a pretty severe case. My doctor prescribed Clobetasol cream which didnt work until I rubbed ice on first and used the moisture from the ice to kinda help smear the cream around. Im 36 weeks now and PUPPPS free for the most part. I still get itchy when I get new stretch marks and I get PUPPPS in the new stretch marks but they are much easier to control and my doctor told me to use over the counter Hydrocortisone cream to keep my new outbreaks under control and it works. I am scarred up and my tummy looks horrible but what can you do. Hope this helps any one who gets this horrible rash

reen the bean - 1415 days ago.
I have three children. My son is now almost 16. I had PUPPP from day of conception. Of course, I did not know I was pregnant at first. I had a strange rash, was sent to a dermatologist, started dr supervised tanning (in his office) , steroids, ect. Once I found out I was pregnant, dr took biopsy of sores. He was checking for bug bites to herpes. Diagnosis PUPPP in first trimester, treatment steroids until weight gain soared. End of July birth brought relief from midwest heat(induced at 38 weeks) still have scars on belly and arms. I had PUPPP for 38 weeks!!!! I started with PUPPP sores again at conception with my daughter 15 months later. New dermatologist immediatly diagnosed PUPPP in first trimester. Luckily I only had the rash for the first and second trimester. August birth. Third child, daughter, PUPPP rash began at conception 24 months later. Again diagnosed with PUPPP- first trimester. Only had rash for first trimester. I seemed to break every single rule regarding PUPPP. 3 single pregnancies, boy and girls, all three trimesters.

clarissa21 - 1415 days ago.
Im 29weeks and started expirencing this rash last week! ugh! soooooo uncomfortable!!!!! here is a link I found that was pretty informative! Hope anyone who is going through this is finding some kind of relief especially at bedtime!! http://parentingweekly.com/pregnancy/pregnancy_information/PUPPP_pregnancy_rashes.htm

Love*Made*Us - 1459 days ago.
I think I have this condition but not as bad as the picture there... Here is a good article! http://dermatology.about.com/cs/pregnancy/a/puppp.htm

Susanwemsrn - 1465 days ago.
Good Morning! I need help. I am 8 weeks pregnant and broke out in the most aweful hives! The OB send me to my medical doctor, who sent me to the allergist who sent me to the dermatologist who said I might be miscarrying. They put me on high doses of steriods and sent me home for the weekend. I have no other underlying medical conditions that would warrent other diagnosis. I did get swollen on my face, however and my palms. Does this completely dismiss PUPPPS? And can this come on soooo early in pregnancy? I am scheduled for an US tomorrow with the OB...praying for the best. Any offering of help?

Bri - 1485 days ago.
Hey ladies! I just found out yesterday that I'm having my second child. I had PUPPPS so severely last time the doctors at my Seattle hospital had never seen it so bad. I had welts that were popping and blistering. It was awful! I'm a bit worried about it again but I'm trying to be confident that it tends to be only in 1st pregnancies. As for treatment. I had none! Steriod creams, dandilion root, everything didn't do anything for me. Vistrol was a med that actually started to help but we evicted Kekoa before it had it's full effect. As for hot and drying out. That didn't work for me. Cold Cold Cold air felt good.... I was wearing summer dresses in October in Seattle. I loved it. I was also sleeping in cold oatmeal baths and wrapping cold wet towels around my legs to sleep. My husband stopped sleeping with me cause our bed was soaked. It felt so good though. As soon as the towels dried the itching and burning came back. Good Luck to you all with PUPPPs. I feel for you. I know you are miserable. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Birth!! As soon as Kekoa was out I didn't feel anything. No burning or itching. A week later my scabs were coming off. Too bad I'm left with scars that lotions have not been able to fade. Hopefully in time, right?

kelliet - 1486 days ago.
Offering some personal info: I developed Puppp's at the onset of my second trimester (my darling baby girl is now 8-months old). I suffered MISERABLY. I personally found drying the rash out worked best. I also found that daily exposure to sunlight also helped as well. Shortly after birth, I found out that I had a vitamin D deficiency. I have noticed in forums that a lot of women have benefited from tanning beds (which also provide vitamin D) and the use of sunlight.! I also found calimine lotion to help with the intense itch as well. This is just my two-cents, but I did research on Vitamin D deficiencies and found similiar symptoms to that of PUPPP's. Interesting to me, that there seems to be a correlation to relief and healing from the use of tanning beds and sunlight.

nead - 1486 days ago.
hi every1 im pregnant wit my second baby im about 8-9 weeks and i seem to have developed pupps again!! i had pupps with my first baby boy and got it around 30 weeks and it looks and feels the same - in my first pregnancy i used aveeno moisturizer and it cleared the rash up and stopped the itch im goin to use it again ill let ye all know how i get on wit it

ginatm - 1509 days ago.
Hey ladies, I've also got PUPPP, developed it mainly during week 34, but noticed it started out as single red bumps on my belly in week 33. But week 34 with this has been horrible. Oh and guess what, I'm having a girl. I actually went into the ER today because I couldn't stand the itching. Right now it's all over my belly, sides and back--theres soo many tiny itchy bumps everywhere and just touching my skin and feeling all this irritation is horrible. OMG this definitely is the worst thing ever!!!! And every piece of clothing that touches it even irritates my skin. I've tooken benadryl 2 25mg tablets every 6 hours and it still doesn't take away the itch, it makes me more drowsy. I've also applied Calamine lotion and that helps only for a short period and after a while of having the calamine all dried up on my skin it itches again. I feel like Im losing my mind and I feel so helpless!!!! And there's times where it feels like it's burning too. I see my OB on Monday--thank goodness...maybe he can prescribe something or recommend some form of ointment. I'm hesitant about steroid use only because its pregnancy category C which has unknown risks to fetus. So...we'll see. I feel so helpless and itchy and I've got temptation to rub or scratch. But I'll suffer and hold back my temptation---its soooo hard to!!!