PUPPP Rash - Any information or advice?

[TwistTee]

I gave birth a week ago to my son and within a day developed a PUPPP rash. the midwife diagnosed it and referred me to my GP for cortisoid treatment. the GP had never heard of it but after some research agreed the midwife was probably right and wrote me a priscription for a 1% hydrocortisone cream to use for a week.
I since found out that PUPPP stands for Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy, and that it starts in stretch marks on the tummy but will spread rapidly to areas that had no stretch marks, is unbearably itchy and is mainly seen in women who have boys.
Other than that I'm pretty much in the dark and looking for advice and information from anyone who has had this. Did the cream work and how quickly? I have scratched my skin raw in places so I'd also like any tips you have on dealing with the itchiness.

[cbeebiesatemybrain]

I had it when I was pg and like you the mw and gp didn't know much about it! The only thing that worked for me was coal tar soap, twice a day in the shower with a good scratchy flannel followed by a good smothering of aqueous cream. You can get it for about 80p in the chemist and you need to get a really thick lather and leave it on your skin for a few minutes. It went after about a week of doing that, the hydrocortisone did nothing at all.

You have my sympathy, the itching nearly drove me crazy! Congratulations on your ds

[cbeebiesatemybrain]

Sorry my post wasn't very clear, its the coal tar soap that costs 80p and needs to stay on for a few minutes not the cream

[TuttiFrutti]

Piriton worked for me. I tried aqueous cream and calamine lotion but they did almost nothing.

I only got it in the last few days of a very overdue pregnancy, and I was told the only real cure was delivery, which did work too - as soon as my ds was born, the rash vanished. Obviously that hasn't happened for you though.

It was agony and stopped me sleeping at night, so you have my sympathy!

Interesting that it is more common in mothers of boys. I had a dd 2 years later and the PUPP did not reappear.

[BadDayAtTheOrifice]

Peppermint lotion is good for the itch!

[QTPie]

You can get aqeaus cream with menthol (ask the Pharmacy): that help with the itch. I didn't have what you had, but had some really itchy rash in early pregnancy (which was a complete mystery).

Hope it soothes soon.

[TwistTee]

Thanks ladies, some good tips which I will try.