postpartum PUPPS anyone?

desdemona39 · May 2011

I have found a new layer of hell. It's called PUPPS.

The rash started on my abdomen about 1 week postpartum and spread to my breasts and behind my knees. I finally got my behind to the dermatologist today, and she said it's PUPPS. I had no idea PUPPS could occur postpartum. Apparently it's pretty rare and usually clears up within about a week pp, but this has been going on for 3+ weeks- lucky me. I thought I was done with all the pregnancy side-effects (except maybe my flabby belly) but no such luck. Doc gave me a steroid cream and I hope it works and quickly!

Anyone else deal with this? (please, oh please say it resolved quickly) Any other suggestions to deal with the itchiness? I might be in need of some soft mitten restraints to stop myself from clawing my skin off...

jenreally · May 2011

I got it after my second. The only thing that made it go away was taking Zyretc for two weeks.

It was hell and I don't wish it on my worst enemy. Don't scratch! Don't take hot showers, wear loose fitting clothing and try pine tar soap. GL!

j&j508 · May 2011

I had it the last three weeks of pregnancy, and then some stuck around after. What worked for me was Claratin (Benedrill did nothing... I had to try a couple antihistamines before I found what worked), hot showers, pine tar soap, arm and hammer cooling lotion and lots of loose cotton clothing. It sucks. Here's to hoping it's over for you soon!!

watermellens · May 2011

I'M SO SORRY!! I have it during the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy and it was hell on earth. I can't imagine having to take care of a newborn at the same time. Hope it clears up soon!

stephcphillips · May 2011

Oh yes...mine was postpartum too!! Mine started at my ankles (where I noticed it first because my belly itched a lot) the morning after I delivered. I went back for a blood pressure check one week after I delivered and the doctor confirmed it as PUPPS.

I was taking Zyrtec and it did nothing. He called me a steroid pack, said it would help by Sunday (this was Friday). It didnt help that fast...didnt really start helping until after I had finished. I have never itched so bad in my life. The itch is gone, but I still have the rash on my lower belly and way up high on my thighs. He said it could take a while before it goes away (the rash). Thankfully I dont itch anymore.

TofuMama7 · May 2011

I had it too, it totally sucks. Nothing completely helped but I used steroid cream and oatmeal baths. I also took claritin and iced my skin to numb it when it was really bad. It does go away eventually. So sorry!

RevJG · May 2011

I had it in a big bad way during my first pregnancy. The only thing that worked was a prednisone blast and zyrtec. It cleared up for the most part after delivery but would flare up when I started my period again. It sucked. It stopped flaring completely after about a year (but was very mild by the end). I feel for you.

scherpha · May 2011

You are right that PUPPP is a layer of hell. I had it during the last 5 weeks of my pregnancy so no steriods for me. What did work was frequent, quick, cool showers using Grandpa's pine tar soap followed by Eucerin (sp?) Anti itch calming cream. Sarna lotion worked to spot treat bad areas in between. GL!

valaj25 · May 2011

I also had it postpartum and had to use a steroid to find any relief at all. It was the worst thing ever, especially after a stressful and long labor and delivery. Since the steroid didn't start working right away for me, there was a baby Aveeno lotion that I used (with a navy blue cap) which was the only thing (besides ice) that calmed the itching for a few minutes. I was terrified that it would return after my second pregnancy, but thank goodness it didn't. I probably would have lost my mind this time around!

Hope it goes away quickly for you....and after reading this post, know that many of us survived the insane itchiness!!!

EriAngel · May 2011

Ugh...I wish doctors would research this more and sympathize with poor new moms who have to suffer through this horrible itch!! I had mine from about 8 months pregnant and in still have it now. I had a severe case where it started on my tummy, then spread to the folds of my legs and arms. My stomach looks like a purple and red roadmap. I went to the dr. 3 days after giving birth and he started me on steroids. The steroids did not help at all!! It then spread to my butt, legs, thighs (including my chub rub area), arms, chest, and neck! I would cry it itched so bad. In fact it was so itchy that I would bleed from itching. It seemed to be worse at night, especially after I nursed Logan. I tried everything but what seemed to help the most wad my routine of getting a cold shower using pine tar soap (smelled like a campfire), using a cold washcloth to cover my body in an oatmeal bath, lathering a&d ointment and then using ice packs directly on my skin. It seemed to go away around 4 weeks after Logan's birth but then it came back around 8 weeks but luckily in a lesser form. I am still itchy but usually just at night (especially if it is humid). It is the absolute worse rash I have ever had to experience and I would wish it on no one!!!!

GirlLeastLikelyTo · May 2011

Hi there,

I'm normally just a lurker on this board - the advice and information found here is incredible. Definitely makes me feel I'm not alone in this...

Anyway, my son is four weeks old today and I developed postpartum PUPPS the day after I delivered via emergency C-section. It started near my belly button, and by the third day after the birth, I was covered from head to toe with the awful rash. It was on my stomach, my thighs, my legs, my feet, my hands and my breasts....I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. It actually took away from the joy of bringing my son home from the hospital. I was in tears every night.

The worst thing is that nothing that my family doctor or my OB prescribed was working. I was so worried that the rash would scar. I had also read on a few message boards of women who had to endure the evil PUPPS for months after delivering their children. I couldn't imagine.

After reading as many message boards as I could, I found out from other sufferers that the only thing that was actually CURING the rash was Dandelion Root. Both my doctors had never heard of this, but I decided to try it anyway. I took it in pill form (six pills, three times daily) and within five days, my rash was pretty much gone. GONE.

I just wanted to spread the word to other women that are suffering from this disgustingly torturous rash. Try the Dandelion Root.

Good luck.....

leschia · July 2014

I developed PUPP at the end of my pregnancy, it was so bad that I couldn't sleep so they induced me at 38 weeks. I am now 6 weeks postpartum and I still have it, I might go insane. I have found some oil from New Zealand that people claim works and I see the dandelion root suggestion but I'm breastfeeding and hesitant to take anything. All I can say is this is excruciating and just when I think it's getting better, it flares up and gets worse.

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