PUPP itching relief, natural and not so natural combined

michaelao

I started noticing a rash and itching last Friday on my left forearm.  I thought I had got into something in the yard while weeding or picking berries and dealt with it.  On Saturday the itching worsened and I noticed the same rash was showing up on my right forearm, and my belly itched like crazy.  I thought my belly itching was normal and due to my ever expanding midsection.  Sunday morning I was inspecting my belly (since I couldn't see it all at 35 weeks) with a hand mirror and to my shock I had a massive rash on my lower belly and all over my right side!

I freaked out and took to the web to research rashes during pregnancy.  After about an hour of carefully sifting through pics and articles I was almost positive PUPP was what I had.  No creams relieved it.  Although I did do a belly casting with my sisters on Sunday and lathering up with Vaseline worked for about an hour it did not help overall, and it was greasy.  I took back to the internet and searched for message boards that said most people were just prescribed a low-dose steroid cream.  I did not want this, and so looked into herbal itching relief.  This is what I found:

Basil and Mint have compounds, Eugenol and Menthol respectively, that aid in itch relief.  I just so happen to grow both.  If you do not you can buy them both in dried form from your grocers bulk section (hopefully), or fresh from the produce section of your grocer.  I simply took a handful of both Basil and Mint threw them in about  1 1/2 - 2 cups water, brought water to a boil, then turned heat to low and steeped for 15-20 minutes **COVERED**.  Keep covered so you do not lose any of the Eugenol or Menthol.  Take a paper towel and soak up some of the "tea" squeezing any excess.  Place compress over affected area and let sit.  I noticed itch relief within about 10 minutes and after about 30 minutes the itching was essentially gone.  I then put on the over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream.  Heaven i tell you, pure heaven to not itch like that.  I did this 2-3x per day for about 2 days and I have not itched since.  After keeping the tea and leaves in a pot for about a day I strained the leaves squeezing any excess liquid and refrigerated the "tea" in case i need it again.

 I hope that this works as well for everyone else experiencing PUPPs, or any other itching, as it did for me.  **I still have some itching at the end of a day but no worse than I did at any other time during my pregnancy because of stretching skin. 

Serious relief people!  Try it you have nothing to lose.

ajgreez

Try Pine Tar soap, too.  That did WONDERS for me during my 1st pregnancy.  Luckily, I haven't had the dreaded PUPPPS this pregnancy.

michaelao

This may be an odd question, but did you have a boy with your first pregnancy?  When you had PUPPs?

 I've read a few article references of a study that 70% of women in that particular study had boys.  However, I've not been able to find anyone that can site the study source.  My husband and I have opted to not know the gender of our baby.  A positive surprise in our life!  I was just curious  

 Thanks.