Seeking Information About a Rash During Pregnancy

C.,

I completely understand what you are going through. My "PUPPS" rash started in my second trimester. I am sorry to say that nothing cleared the rash completely. I spent a lot of time getting "second" opinions from different dermatologists. I used a prescription topical ointment but don't remember the name of it. It helped a little. I used Benadryl to help me sleep at night because that was when I was the most uncomfortable. During the day I used a prescription allergy med that was safe for pregnancy. I think it was Zyrtec. I used Cetaphil soap and lotion (for sensitive skin) and took lukewarm showers. I wish I had tried yoga/meditation to help me relax. I am not sure if there is a correlation between the two, but I do think I was stressing myself out and the rash was my body's was of coping. The good news is that the rash went away as soon as I delivered a healthy baby girl. I wish you the best of luck.

S.

1 mom found this helpful

Okay I had a rash that was itchy and red with all three of my boys - it varied when I got it but NEVER go away with benedryl or any cortisone cream - It kinda is red with small bumps at first - It at times would look like ring worm, exama, scorisis - and then as it progresses the little bumps actually look like chicken pox vesicles - they pop and regenerate - are very itchy and actually when they popped it felt a little better. It took two dermatologists to determine what it was. With that said its called herpes gestationis - IT IS NOT HERPES some silly person named it that because it looks like chicken pox. It's hard to get diagnosed UNLESS you have a vesicle then they can biopsy it and determine it. So first thing go see a dermatologist. ALSO it is not dangerous or harmful to the baby - its just going to be annoying to you.
If it is this, I feel for you because there is little that they can do for pregnant women who have this - 1 out of 50,000 women get this. I think you have to wait until the 3 trimester and then some dermatolgists and obs will give you steroids which do alleviate it - with my second son I got the steroids the end of October and had hi the end of JAnuary but it so was worth it.
Until then take cold showers, use baby oil in the shower, put cold frozen towels or washclothes on your areas that are driving you nuts. There's really not a lot you can do - if you want to know more tricks I did - you can email me at ____@____.com
Good luck but the first thing is I would head to the dermatologist.

1 mom found this helpful

I would see a dermatologist first, but in the meantime I would switch soaps- I used Johnson's baby soap and make sure you are using lots of hypoallergenic lotion. Your skin will be especially dry due to both pregnancy and cold weather. I also had a weird pregnancy reaction to wool and couldn't wear it. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

C.,

I had that rash...it was the worst! It spread to my thighs and arms and chest as well. I tried everything, I would buy the clear calmone (sp?) lotion and put that on like every hour and that seemed to help for a while then I used the gold bond anti itch something or another, that really didn't work. I did use a lot of baby oil, I would soak in the tub with it and lather it all over and that seemed to help me along with the other stuff. Hope yours gets better!!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi C.,

I had PUPPS with my first pregnancy. It was completely miserable...sorry. I too was given a topical cream/ointment...it didn't work so well. Soaking my feet in an oatmeal bath seemed to work the best.
The rash started on my stomack and spread to my hands, wrist, feet and ankles. I got it about 3-4 wks before delivery and it lasted till a few wks after he was born. They were red dots that itched and were bumpy.
Goood thing is ... I didn't get it again for the other 2 pregnancies.
I hope this helps somewhat. Hopefully, they have something out there now to better remedy this. I had my rash 5yrs ago now.
If you just want to talk about this sometime, let me know.

Take care,
C.
(SAHM of 3 children - 1 boy and 2 girls)

1 mom found this helpful

I had the same thing when I was pregnant. It was from using a different kind of bar soap. I was only allergic to it when I was pregnant. I can't really remember what they gave me for it. Maybe you should try a different kind of soap.

Good luck with with the rest of your pregnancy.

1 mom found this helpful

C., I doubt this is what it is, but consider getting tested for Lyme disease! I just read about how dangerous this disease can be, and I know it often starts with a rash around the belly button... unlikely, I know, but it never hurts to be sure.

1 mom found this helpful

There are several 'pregnancy rashes' that look identical and present almost identical. There are cures for some but not for PUPPPs. The only way to distinquish between PUPPPs and the others is to go to a dermotologist and get it's biopsey'ed. If it is PUPPPs about the only thing you can do is relive the symptons - which is a daily dose of predizone. It's totally safe for you and baby, though. It'll take care of the sympons (itchy rash) but if you miss a day it will come back. It's not common for PUPPPs to start before the 3rd trimester, but it does happen.

1 mom found this helpful

Unfortunately it does sound like you have PUPPP. The cause of this rash is unknown. It usually goes away following delivery and is more common in first time mothers in the third trimester and those pregnant with multiples.

PUPPP has been renamed as PEP (the European name) so if you do some research you may find more info that way.

Here is a link to Wikipedia's page on PUPPP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruritic_Urticarial_Papules_...)

Some comfort measures include oatmeal baths, using a lot of gentle moisturizer, and wearing all cotton clothes to avoid irritation of the skin.

If you are concerned or the rash is driving you crazy, call your doctor and insist to be seen sooner and be taken seriously. It sounds like he blew off your concerns and how uncomfortable you are. After all, you hired him to do a job. He works for you:)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi there
I had a similar occurance around the same time,(14 weeks) and my doctor sent me to a dermatologist. Found out I had developed some kind of allergy (no idea what the allergy was from)...just one of those pregnancy things...anyway, she prescribed zyrtec and using Aveeno soap and it worked like a charm!! Of course, this is only what worked for me, but I was MISERABLE too, so I feel your pain. Hope it helps!

1 mom found this helpful

I agree with some of the other posts. See a dermatologist who can best detect what is really going on. Sit in oatmeal baths for the itching and keep it highly moisturized to prevent dryness. Vitamin E oil is great for skin. Rub all over affected areas, several times a day if necessary. Calamine lotion may help with itchy feeling too.

I have a wonderful skin conditioning oil that I can get for you, or provide more information about. What you put on your skin does go into your bloodstream and eventually into the developing fetus. So, it is wise to find out exactly what you are getting, how it may effect the baby, etc. Ask these questions when you see any doctor. Your comfort is a priority, but your baby's long term health is even more important. Take care of yourself and your growing one!

1 mom found this helpful

I had something like that in my 3rd trimester. The OB said it was PUPPPS and gave me some cream. It did not work :(. Was told that there isn't anything else to do but wait it out. I just treated the symptoms best I could. Once I had my son it was gone!

1 mom found this helpful

OOH, Unfortunately I have no remedies for you, but it sounds like what I had with my first pregnancy. I never found anything that works...so I hope you do. I remember itching so badly I wanted to scratch my skin off, and sometimes almost did. I tried alot of the creams and Aveno oatmeal baths. On the positive side, I do not remember itching at all once I got to the hospital to give birth and it was all done. Good Luck!!

1 mom found this helpful

I didn't have any rash until by 3rd trimester, and I got eczema, and that was horrible, so I feel your pain. I hope it goes away soon for you.

1 mom found this helpful

I had a similar rash. The doctor diagnosed it as PUPPS. What it ended up being is that I became allergic to the stretch mark lotion I was using. I had to change lotions a couple of times because I would become allergic to the next one. As another poster mentioned, it could be your soap. Try switching, or stop using, the products you may be using regularly on the affected area and see if it helps.

In the meantime, I found that using a clear aloe based anti-itch gel (Band-Aid makes one) and using an ice pack helped with the itching.

1 mom found this helpful

Hey! I hear you, I had a crazy rash on my stomach too! I just used calamine lotion on it and the itching was relieved.