Anyone had PUPPP while pregnant?

Did you have PUPPP during your pregnancy? If yes, were you carrying a boy or girl?

  • No

    Votes: 38 42.7%

  • Yes and I was carrying a boy

    Votes: 31 34.8%

  • Yes and I was carrying a girl

    Votes: 20 22.5%
  • Total voters
    89
D

DTHY

Registered User
PUPPP = Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy

While I was pregnant with my boy I developed this terribly itchy rash on my belly, then within a couple of weeks, the rash spread to my bottoms, arms and legs, but, luckily, not on my face. For about six weeks (from the 28th-34th weeks), I couldn't get one good night sleep and kept woken up by the itch. My doctor gave me some lotion to put on, but it didn't work. Finally, I found that Calomine lotion worked, but I had to put so much on to make the itch go way that the lotion's cooling effect made me shivered! And miraculously, the rash went away on the 34th week!

From what I've read on the web, they say that the cause of PUPPP is not yet known, but it could be caused by the following:

greater than normal weight gain in the 3rd trimester
the male DNA (most PUPPP patients carry boys)
multiple fetuses

Could anyone who has/had PUPPP share your exerience?
 
I had it too. But mine starts at around 15th weeks, I could wake up at the middle of night by the itch. I went to my dermatologist and he prescibe me shower gel and body lotion to use. He told me, some woman will get better after the 3rd trimester, some just has to bear with it through the pregnancy. I'm the latter one, I never could get back on my noraml lotion and shower gel until I gave birth.
Regarding the sex, that's Chinese belief that women carry a boy have "bad" skin during pregnancy but I had a girl. So I don't know !!!!!
 
Dear Bear Lau,
Thanks for sharing your experience. We are at the moment planning for another pregnancy (2nd). Did you have PUPPP in your first pregnancy or subsequent pregnancy(ies)? I'm just so afraid that it'll happen again...

Did the lotion and shower gel work?
 
I am 14 weeks pregnant and was diagnosed with PUPPP. I am still looking for reliefs to help me sleep at night. This is just so annoying! I am worried that the baby is affected because of my bad moods b/c of this PUPPP. Right now, I am using "Katinko" ointment, it's metyl salicylate, menthol and camphor and it's cooling effect gives me temporary relief but as soon as the cooling effect fades away... the itchiness begins again... it's so awful! Does anybody of you have permanent relief from this? I've heard that Rainier Soapworks from USA works, but I'm here located in Asia and I might have problems ordering the product and it's shipping! Yikes!
 
Dear simplydeelytz,

My heart goes to you, and I hope the itchiness will go away soon. I agree, I've tried a lot of different remedies when I had PUPPP and nothing would give permanent relief. Try calomine lotion. Perhaps you could go to your dematologist for some prescribed lotions/ointments/soap?

I've used Rainier Soapworks' PUPPP relief soap! It works and it would take the itchiness away for a while, but it would not give you permanent relief. You can order it on the web and they do ship to Asia.

Remember PUPPP itself does not affect the fetus, so it's up to you... keep your spirit up and it might go away anytime...remember, mine only lasted a few weeks!

:bighug
 
DTHY,

Thanks so much for all the support! I really need all the support I can get coz PUPPP depresses me so much! I will ask my OB to refer me to a dermatologist that can help me get some Calomine lotion! Thanks again!!! will update about that soon! thanks again!

:thanks
 
DTHY,

Both of them works very good for me.

It was my first pregnancy and my dermatologist told me I will possibly have it if I got pregnant again, he reassure me that it is nothing to be worry since I already know how to due with it.

So I guess we just have to due with it. I'm trying the second one now, will let you the result..:-)
 
DTHY,

Thanks for the information. I will consult my doctor if it's safe for me and the baby and I will surely try Calamine lotion. I just hope that like in your place, it can also be bought here over the counter. I haven't slept last night and I took a day off from work again b/c of lack of sleep but I can't sleep right now b/c of the itchiness again. Whenever I think about how long I will endure this dilemma it just makes me cry and depressed. I feel so awful. I just put some ice pack over my skin just to relieve a lil itchiness that's why I was able to use the computer now. I just hope I can find a remedy that will give me relief longer than what I am using right now.

BTW, does PUPPP really strike mostly in the evening? I just noticed that my skin and the papules are more itchy in the evening than in the morning.

Bear Lau,

What does both worked for you? The Rainier Soapworks PUPPP relief and the Calamine lotion? If you tried Rainier's soap and cream for PUPPP does it really works? I am planning to order and try it soon, if Calamine doesn't work for me. I heard from my OB and some other ladies who had PUPPP that most likely you will not have PUPPP on your subsequent pregnancies. Normally it occurs during and only in your first pregnancy but of course there are some/few who experience PUPPP even in their subsequent pregnancies but I heard it's rare. Around 1% possibility, I think. I just hope you will never go through this again, this is such a tiresome and depressing experience. Good luck!
 
simplydeelytz: I think Calamine lotion gave a longer relief (~2 hrs) than the PUPPP soap. The PUPPP soap gives a slight cooling sensation when you are using it and you'll feel refreshed and crisped after. Also remember to take cool/warm showers instead of hot showers. The hot water would just escalate the itchiness.

I think the itchiness is worse during the night because when you are out and about during the day, your mind is mostly off from thinking about it. At night, you tend to feel it more because you are relaxed and more focused on yourself...

Bear Lau: I hope it doesn't happen again! We are planning for No. 2 as well! :o)
 
DTHY,

Both the lotion and the soap my dermatologist gave me works. Never tried Calamine lotion.

I also hope it won't happen to me again. Good luck to all of us.
 
using stretchmark creams whilst having rashes on belly

I have rashes on my belly and thighs and when I went to see the dermatologists, he said it may have been caused by the stretchmark creams I have been using (for only a week) and discouraged me from further using it. Anyone heard the same or can give any advice?
 
Hi Query,
My dermatologist also asked me how long did I used the stretchmark cream when I first went to see him, but after I told him that I had been using it for more than 10 weeks, he then think its quite impossible.
Since he also asked this question, may be that can be a cause. How long you have been using the cream ?
 
Dear Query,

How far along are you? Have you stopped using the cream? Still have the rash? I hope it's only an allergy and not PUPPP...
 
Itchy Cream

I had a very severe form of that itchiness during the last trimester of my last pregnancy, and have tried everything and nothing worked. In the end, I had to deliver my baby a bit earlier.

Girls, can you tell me which stretch cream you used which you suspected is the culprit? I used Mothercare ones during my last preganancy and will avoid using that brand this time round.

On the flip side. Which brand is good?
 
Although the cause of PUPPP is still a unknown, I don't think it's the cream that caused it. I had been using Jurlique's Hops Lotion w/ carrier oil since I was 3 months pregnant with my boy and the rash didn't appear until I was 7 months along and it lasted for 6 weeks.

I didn't get any stretch marks. From what I have read, it's genetics. My mom didn't have them either. But then since the weather has been so dry lately, there is no harm in moisturizing the stretched skin. If you are really sensitive, try olive oil.
 
Scratchy

I wasn't scratchy until the third trimester as well. Used Mothercare cream since beginning of the pregnancy....I think it's possible that it's the cream.
 
I remember the skin on my belly was really itchy in my 3rd trimester, and which drove me nuts! I searched the internet for remedies and in the end I changed the brand of the stretch-mark cream (I changed to Chicco which is less greasy) and after putting on the cream, I'd put corn starch on my belly. This usually relieves the itchiness for a few hours, and I would then have to wipe my tummy with damp cloth or tissue and then re-apply the cream and corn-starch again. I just use a talc-powder case (I bought a pigeon-brand case from mannings) and take it to work or put it by my bed at nite in case my belly starts to itch (if it itches too much at nite I just put more powder on without re-applying cream or wiping belly). I don't know whether it is the corn starch absorbing the sweat or what but it seems to have worked for me. so give it a try.
 
Last edited:
Just a quick F/U for my ealier posting regarding this topic. I'm now 24 weeks pregnant with a boy and touch wood, I still have no problem with my skin.
 
this is my 3rd pregnancy and i'm already 38 wks. i developed PUPP (or what i suspect it is) coz at my consultation last week, i didn't have it yet! this long weekend is driving me nuts as i also searched long and far on the net for any remedies but it seems like different things work for different people, just like no 2 pregnancies are the same. (i didn't have it the previous 2 pregnancies for if i did, i would definitely have chosen to have a single child only!!)

i'm itchy day and night, can't sleep, can't wait for my ob checkup tomorrow and hopefully i'll pop soon! (natural delivery)
 
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