Help I can't stop scratching!!!

[Thirdtimer]

I'm being driven insane by a horrible bump rash (35 weeks today) that has appearred. It's red ish and a bit spotty so I'm pretty sure its that harmless one I've read about somewhere else but I'm being totally unreasonable and dramatic about it (which is prefectly acceptable at this stage right?). Night times are the worst - I can't stop brutally attacking it as I think the warmth of my beddy byes makes it worse. I'm losing my mind!!!! MW said don't put anything on it but it's dry and making the skin so tight it stings and I need some advice! Didn't have anything like this first two times so if anyone has any suggestions pleeeeeeease help! PS Haven't been on for ages but was in a group of other people due 10/10 but can't find where they've got to now... any pointers??!!

[KnockedUpMell]

How about a simple moisturiser / E45? I think your dr can also get you a prescription for aqueous cream with menthol in it, and that may be soothing for the skin. Not putting anything on it doesn't sound right.

[Ladyem]

I had this at about the same point in pregnancy and I got some E45 anti-itch cream from the pharmacist. Worked a treat!! MW also recommended putting some milk in with the bath as it can help soothe the itching. Never tried it, but it might be worth a try if it is really getting to you.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Nickoka]

It may be worth mentioning to midwife/doctor. (Dimly at the back of my mind I remember that there is a pregnancy related liver complication that makes you itch).

Very probably is dry stretched skin though. I got terrible eczema on my bum! It got worse when I'd given birth. All those lovely pregnancy synthetic clothes I think.

[DirtyMartini]

I had similar and the only thing that helped was a cream called Doublebase from behind the pharmacy counter in Boots. Is not expensive, does not look terribly impressive, but worked really well and was easy to apply.

[FindingMyMojo]

change your laundry product to non-bio/unperfumed/sensitive if you haven't already. Many of these everyday products are really fantastic skin irritants if you develop sensitive skin, and you have a lot of contact with your sheets/bedclothes through the night.

Hope you find some relief soon.

[Chaotica]

Go to your doctor. You probably have PUPP (!) which is just an itchy pregnancy rash but you might have a more serious condition for which you need a blood test.

FWIW if it is PUPP then you might find nothing gives you relief until the LO turns up. (I had it very badly and was given strong steroidal creams by the dermatologist it was so bad but they didn't work.) You could, with a GP's guidance, have piriton (not the non-drowsy formula) as it might at least help you stop itching and sleep. You could also try aqueous cream (as suggested above), calamine lotion/cream (which I found worked quite well), oats in the bath (tied in an old pair of tights), marigold tea... There is a website set up by a fellow sufferer so it's worth googling.

Your MW should not tell you to use nothing - that is cruel and unusual.

[Thirdtimer]

I'll try them all!! Thanks folks. Already do everything non-bio out of habit for the wee ones... last night was the worst yet - got MW appt tomorrow though and going to demand something... ANYTHING!!!! Can't stand anything touching it and it's gone a bit cold to be bare! Oh, and I'm still at work so would raise a few eyebrows but tempting!

[Booner]

Has your midwife confirmed it's not obstetric cholestasis which is where there is a problem with your liver?
If she says it's not this then is likely to be PUPPP.

I started with it at 19 weeks and was told it would get better when I'd had the baby! I left in tears. 21 weeks of intense itching was not a great outlook.

However, I saw a pregnancy dermatologist who told me PUPPP lasts 6 weeks. First 2 weeks spreading and last 2 weeks getting better. It was exectly like that for me.

He gave me eumovate cream and I went to dermatology where they applied the cream 2-3 times a week and made me a whole outfit out of tubular bandages - you should have seen me! I could rub the rash through the badages without scratching the skin which was good.

A lady has done a blog about PUPPP and lemon juice and seems she got a lot of relief health.wikinut.com/PUPPP-Relief/qrgnzu7w/

You have my total sympathy - I would not wish it on anyone and hope you find some relief soon. I would have definitely given the lemon juice a try when I was pregnant.

Good luck

[CardyMow]

Simple derma cream from boots has worked wonders on this with me. It's pg 4, wish this had been there for the other 3!

[Thirdtimer]

Thanks - not sure about the lemon juice... I can feel that stinging already! MW tomorrow morn so will know more then and she's doing a blood test for that other thing but doesn't seem worried about that... just heading for another night of regular cold flannels and have an emergency anti-hitamine tab by the bed in case I'm not coping... wish me luck

[Beegey]

Deffo not normal Thirdtimer, nor should it be ignored and you suffer! Sounds like Pupps to me also, I had it post partum after dd1 - really flippin hard to cope with, hope you get answers and feel better soon.

[Booner]

The lemon juice is to add to your drinking water not to apply to the rash.

[lou19]

Try asking your GP if they can prescribe Dermol- it's a very good moisturiser and it's antiseptic, too, so prevents the rash from becoming infected when you scratch it. I swear by it :)

[moonstorm]

Hi sorry about the rash. But here are all the October people!

[babblington]

HI - It could well be PUPPPS, I had this for two pregnancies, was induced at 27 weeks for one as it was hell. the next I got it at 17 weeks and was close to seeing if I could terminate (not something I say offhandly) as the itching was so unbareable. Still - DANDELION ROOT capsules - 3 in the morning, 3 in the evening and in a week the itching stopped completely. I cannot recommend this enough, if it is PUPPPS it will just get worse and worse - I was having freezing cold showers every wo hours through the night as it was the only thing to stop the itching. It was the worst thing I have ever had. Please ask any questions!

[babblington]

Also menthol aqueous cream. Get a prescription, that helps.

[Thirdtimer]

Thanks for all the advice folks. Babblington, sounds like you had a terrible time of it... will defo get some dandelion root thingies. Anyway... update so far...
Had MW on Fri... she sent me straight upstairs to GP. He scribbled up prescription for some hydrochortizone (sp?!)cream and I skipped home excited at the thought of something easing the itching a bit. Slapped a bit on. Waited. Itching got worse, and worse, and worse... little red patched turned in to huge lumps and hives - within the hour I was running round the house like a banshee crying hysterically. Skin was alternately itching more than ever or burning like crazy. Sat in cold bath for next hour until it calmed. Got husband to phone maternity ward at hosp - they advised a piriton. Took one, stayed in bath, eventually made it back to sanity and went to bed. That night, for the first time in ages, I didn't itch! But probably because I'd practically passed out after all the trauma! The cream basically burnt off the top layer of my skin in the rashiest areas so to be honest it has gone from some bits - but not what I call a solution. The piriton worked well thouhg, and I've had another since... but I know they're not advised during pregnancy. So now I'm awaiting a phone consultation with the GP tomorrow to advise whether to ever open the tube of cream again (I'm hping he says no), get some more with a far lower dose of active ingredient, or stick to the occasional piriton instead. In the meantime it's back to the cold, wet flannels. I'll keep you posted!!

[SquallyRose]

Hi,

If you have a rash it won't be cholestasis but I have bad cholestasis itching and the best thing for it is aqueous cream which I keep in the fridge, its just heaven and takes all the heat out of the itches :-) E45 would probably do the same too, also put it on in a layer and don't rub it in too much is rubing will add heat making the itching worse
Good luck, sounds horrible