NOT MEDICAL ADVICE – ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING!
When I was pregnant with Lauren, I suffered from Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP). It is a debilitating hormonal rash so itchy you’d think you had sand flies underneath your skin biting their way out. All day and night. You wouldn’t even wish it upon your worst enemies. So I’m going to share a simple PUPPP relief method, for the good of all womankind. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE! [space]
Table of Contents
What Is PUPPP?
PUPPP is uncommon, but not rare, and apparently has a reported rate of 0.5% in single pregnancies. In other words, 1 very unlucky woman out of 200 will get this. So 199 women can thank their lucky stars that I was the chosen one, 天煞孤星. How do you know if it’s PUPPP? It comes during the last trimester and spreads everywhere, excluding the face, palms and soles. That’s right, you’d even get the rash on your armpits and butt crack. Nasty right? For me, it started from my belly stretch marks. The rest is history. I was only 36 weeks and according to the doctor, the only PUPPP cure was to deliver the baby.
I know right, if men could get pregnant, I’m sure there would be a PUPPP cure. Heck, there may even be a vaccine to prevent it from happening. Just take a look at this monstrosity.
PUPPP Rashes and How It Looks
As you can tell, the rash is unlike any other rash. They are like college cheerleaders, forming cliques and all.
Another tell-tale sign that you have PUPPP, if it’s not obvious enough when you are losing your sanity from scratching, is the rash has a halo effect. Yea, nothing beats being mocked by an angelic rash from hell.
So, many women opt to induce birth so they can be freed by the shackles of this PUPPP rash. Others try oatmeal baths and pine tar soaps that make you smell like you were roasting boar at a campfire. Many others just scratched till they bled. It’s so tragic! So how did I manage to get through this without a single scar on my skin?
Hot Water or Hot Air
That’s right, I used hot water. *DISCLAMINER: This worked for me and does not necessarily mean it will work for you. Execution is key. Try at your own risk! AND BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF!
As mentioned, execution is key. Hot water has a wide range and the hot water I’m talking about is like onsen temperature hot water. Almost as hot as you can accept and yet, not scald your skin. For me, I turned down the water outlet to the right temperature and used the shower head to focus on the PUPPP rashes.
I am not sure about the science behind it but in simple layman’s terms, the hot water actually manages to agitate the excessive histamines store (we don’t know why we suddenly produce so much!) all at once, i.e. getting to the root of the itch and it feels as though you scratched the crap out of it but you didn’t! So you are gratified without damaging your skin! And since it takes time for our bodies to build up the histamines store again, before we start itching like mad, it’s time for us to get some sleep! Finally! And this method is good for relief around 8 hours! Only issue is, the rash will look very freaky friday.
Recovery Phase
Oh yeah baby. That’s what I’m talking about. It looks horrendous but the hot water provided me relief of up to 8 hours at a go! In fact, the hot water felt so good, I recall looking forward to it every time! Hahaha! I kept it up for about 1 week or so and by then the rash had pretty much stopped itching and my skin was on its way to recovery. Isn’t that fast?
You have no idea how victorious I felt overcoming something that was told to me, “Sorry no cure”. Take that, b****! Self-censorship there.
Update 7 Feb 2019
I’m now pregnant with my 4th baby and getting rashes again at 22 weeks. The hair dryer works just as well and has less possibility of accidentally scalding yourself. You just have to be extra careful and hold it further away first to get a feel of it. You will feel as if you’re scratching but you’re not. Turn the hair-dryer away once you feel the itch has been “scratched” and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT burn yourself!
The rash was totally gone before Lauren was 1 month old. No scars, no sweat. Thank God! Well, if you are dealing with PUPPP and can’t even sleep, hope this helps. If you’ve had another way to deal with PUPPP, share with us!
***Update: So although Lauren is already 20 months old, the rash still comes back, in small patches like under my belly button. So due to the “strategic location”, I can’t exactly scorch myself anymore. Sigh! Haha, so thankfully I’ve got the Baby Miracle Balm cos it stops the rash and dries it up overnight. Doesn’t have the ooomph factor but works.
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183 Comments
Emily
Hey there!
Wondering why you still got outbreaks when your little one was 20 mos? I thought this went away after delivery..
Currently have it 🙁
Thanks, Em
Jolene Liow
Hi Emily! I have no idea why and my answer is good as anyone’s. It’s hormonal and I guess that’s why.
ProudMomma
Lmy daughter is 3 months and I still have the itches worst rash on my butt like what gross I take bleach baths twice a week.. I tried everything.. yet still wake up with bloody sheets and scarred but cheeks
Jolene Liow
Oh dear.. Hope it goes away soon for both of you! Hugs*
Ez
Life saver! Thank you! Although my rash is really mild it still itched like crazy but using hot water has kept me doing my daily routine and not think about the itch 🙂
Jolene Liow
Hi Ez! Glad it helped! And thanks for coming back to share!
Yve
Another question, do the rash even stop spreading? its been a week and i still see new bumps developing. 🙁
Jolene Liow
Hi Yve, I didn’t have blisters and it would be a bad idea to use them on blisters! The blisters may break and lead to infection. The rash does eventually stop spreading but from my experience, it spread to almost everywhere on my body. It really depends but it will stop.
Yve
Not sure if i overdid it cos i now have maroon patches and the areas are tender and painful. is this normal? maybe i was too ambitious when scorching the rash. now am worried how long the patches will take to heal.
Jolene Liow
Hi Yve, you may have overdid it. That may mean you have scalded your skin. If your skin starts oozing, that means you have definitely scalded your skin. Best to leave it alone. It should not feel tender and painful. Patches will definitely heal as long your skin does not break.
Yve
Am hoping for the best. Will be sure not to go all out on “visible” areas such as the arms. Still glad I found this method! Thanks!
Yve
You reckon bio-oil will help to speed up lightening of the patches?
Jolene Liow
Hi Yve, I wouldn’t know but do it on a patch and see how it goes for a few days. Just in case your skin reacts. And go gentle on your skin!
Yve
Hi… How do you deal with itch and rash on the belly? Dont think we should use hot water treatment there, but its exactly the belly itch which kept me awake. 🙁
Jolene Liow
Hi Yve, I remember doing brief splashes on the belly to take the edge of the itch off. Definitely a nono to use it for more than a 1 or 2 seconds on the belly.
Yve
I tried hot water on my legs and it worked well, coupled with zyrtec which kept belly itch under control. Did u use hot water on rash only or also on blistered areas?
KK
Hi Jolene,
I broke out in pupps this week and couldn’t sleep for two nights at 36 weeks. I tried coconut oil, aloe Vera and calamine lotion but would only get temporary relief. Then I came upon your site and thought it’s worth a try after the 2nd night of no sleep. So glad i tried it. The first spraying in the morning shower relieved me for 6 hours. The 2ns spraying relieved me for 16 hrs and I slept through the night! I couldn’t believe it! After each spraying, I showered in cold water and afterwards, rubbed myself in coconut oil to keep moist. I felt normal again and can look forward to the remainder of my pregnancy again. I feel lucky that I found this answer fairly quickly after getting pupps, especially knowing how horrible pupps is and hearing about how so many women have suffered through this. Every pregnant woman should know about this cure. It truly worked for me too. Thank you so much for sharing Jolene! I am so grateful to you!
Jolene Liow
Hi KK! Pleasure is all mine and thanks for coming back to share your good news! All the best for your delivery!