Itchy, red rash on belly

anne0709 · June 2014

Hi ladies. I am almost 25 weeks along and I recently started getting a bit of a rash on my belly. It seems to flare up worse at night. It itches and turns red and little bumps rise up. Has anyone else had this? I've been using body butter on it about twice each day. One thing I just started doing last week is swimming a lot (because I'm too big now to run anymore) and I wonder if it has to do with sensitivity to the chlorine.

If anyone has this too, do you know how to soothe it?

Thanks in advanace for your thoughts.

jg1011 · June 2014

Sounds like Pups. There is a tar soap that helps a bit. But not much you can really do.

Feel better!

jennashawn2013 · June 2014

It could also be pityriasis rosea. I had that this pregnancy. You should give your doctor a call to rule anything out. Good luck!

bumpuser10199668 · June 2014

I wouldn't jump to PUPPPS. Could just be a heat rash. There's no way to know how to treat it without knowing what it is, so the only person who can really tell you is your doctor. Give them a call in the morning & they may squeeze you in.

mrsdanielleM2010 · June 2014

Call the doctor if you're concerned or uncomfortable

Bella2425 · June 2014

I would guess puppps. Had it postpartum last time and it was hell. Go to the doc to be sure and good luck!! All that helped me was lots of showers and cortisone cream

blue+skies · June 2014

It could be a number of things. I get really rashy too, and the heat aggravates it a lot. Using cocoa butter oil or coconut oil in shower helps (the warmth opens your pores so it absorbs even better) and I have found lotion with lavender seems to help more than regular lotion. I've been using Aveda's stress-free lotion which has lavender in it. Depending on the severity, I'd either call your doc or wait until your next appointment, but definitely ask!

Eta: I've never had an actual diagnosis for my rash (which I've had with both pregnancies). I've just been told it's dry skin and heat rash.

mapchick77 · June 2014

jennashawn2013 said:

It could also be pityriasis rosea. I had that this pregnancy. You should give your doctor a call to rule anything out. Good luck!

I had this, also called the Christmas Tree Rash, with my first pregnancy. It was more larger patches of red on me though, not smaller bumps, and they didn't itch (fortunately). They were on my back, belly and a little on my arms. It went away on it's own after about 3-4 weeks and my OB wasn't concerned.

Emmy916 · June 2014

It could even ecxema so I'd have it checked out to decipher which thing it is.

anne0709 · June 2014

Thanks, ladies!

UPDATE: It was totally a reaction to the chlorine. When I switched from running to swimming, it started a few days later. I noticed that I would smell strong of chlorine for the rest of the day after swimming, even after showering with soap. I googled ways to effectively clean off chlorine from the skin and I found a simple remedy: mix vitamin C powder with filtered water and spray it all over after each swim. The vitamin C neutralizes the chlorine.

So I poured a pack of EnergenC into a 16-oz bottle of water and have used that mixture in a little travel-size spray bottle to spray on my belly (but also all over my body and hair and bathing suit) and it worked! The rash completely went away within 24 hours after I started using the spray and I no longer smell like chlorine after swimming.

baly3225 · July 2014

I just got the same exact thing except on my hands and feet. I've been swimming but the other day I was in the pool the entire day when the chlorine level was higher than usual. I'm planning on trying an Epsom salt bath but will try the vitamin c spray. Do you use it before you go into the pool or just after? And do you shower right after you swim or leave the spray on for awhile? I'm so glad I found this bc trying to sleep w this itchy rash on my hands is miserable!

anne0709 · July 2014

baly3225 said:

I just got the same exact thing except on my hands and feet. I've been swimming but the other day I was in the pool the entire day when the chlorine level was higher than usual. I'm planning on trying an Epsom salt bath but will try the vitamin c spray. Do you use it before you go into the pool or just after? And do you shower right after you swim or leave the spray on for awhile? I'm so glad I found this bc trying to sleep w this itchy rash on my hands is miserable!

I spray it on after getting out of the pool, before showering. I don't leave it on long, maybe a minute, then shower. Try it and let me know if it works. I hope it does!

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