My tummy started to itch at the beginning of the third trimester and after a few days, I noticed a few red spots. At first, I thought it was a heat rash but within a few days the rash and the itch had spread to the tops of my legs and arms. After a week or so, the rash had spread to my entire body – all over my arms, legs, stomach, chest and back (it left my face alone). The small red spots had now turned in to raised red welts, like hives. I cannot describe how intense the itch became – it was all I could think about and I would scratch uncontrollably. My Doctor wasn’t really able to help because of my pregnancy and just suggested cold showers and applying aqueous cream – but this only relieved the itching for a very short while.
I was soon searching the internet for advice and found that my symptoms matched those of a rare pregnancy condition called PUPPP (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy) – also known as PEP (Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy). Sleepless nights due to the itch were spent on internet chat forums discussing PUPPP and this helped me so much! I was so relieved that I had found other women who were going through the same thing as me. I could relate to what they were going through – scratching until the skin bled and crying a lot of the time because the situation felt so hopeless. My Doctor hadn’t even heard of PUPPP when I mentioned it and so I asked to be referred to a Dermatologist. It was then that I was diagnosed with PUPPP (This was after a blood test had ruled out a more serious pregnancy condition called Obstetric Cholestasis, which can also make you itchy). I was prescribed Piriton tablets and hydrocortisone cream and this improved the rash for a short while but the itch was just as unbearable. Over the next few months, I tried all manner of things to relieve the symptoms – different soaps, creams, non-bio washing powder, ice packs, cold showers and oatmeal baths. The only thing that really helped me was keeping my body as cool as possible. Loose cotton clothing and sitting in front of a cooling fan helped a lot as the cold would numb my skin.
I had read that PUPPP naturally disappears within a few weeks of giving birth but my case needed a bit more help from the Doctor! I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy 4 weeks ago and was put on a course of oral steroids. The rash has now totally gone and the itch has very nearly gone too! If you are currently experiencing this terrible rash and have managed to find this article, I hope this information helps you. Please keep in mind that this is a temporary condition and there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Leanne and baby William
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