How I Healed My PUPPP (PEP) Rash
For the unlucky pregos that have fallen victim of the PUPPP rash, one let me extend a virtual hug. This rash, one that spontaneously erupts in the third trimester, is especially cruel. As someone who has had chicken pox and is severely allergic to poison oak, let me just say that this one takes the cake as the most annoying and painful rash I’ve had to date.
What it felt like for me:
- Itchiness-wise… very similar to poison oak.
- Pain-wise… a thousand fire ants eating you alive.
How it started:
- For 3 days I had an itch that was centered around my belly button. A nuisance, but bearable.
- I kept itching it (rule #1, don’t itch this thing)… and within a week, it had spread outward through the rest of my abdomen.
What I did that I wish I didn’t do:
- I scratched the damn itch.
- I took temporary solace in scalding hot showers — only to get mere seconds of blissful relief, that was followed by hours of painful stinging for the entire night.
- Calamine lotion… for some reason, this temporary relief would reverse just 30 minutes later when it would then start to dry out my skin and cause even more irritation and pain.
- Sarna anti-itch lotion. This provided relief only in the first 2–3 days when I had a minor PUPPP rash. Once it became a full-blown abdomen-covering rash, the Sarna lotion (because it has menthol in it), made the rash SO much more painful to the point where I had to jump into the shower to wash it off.
What doctors recommended that weren’t really helpful:
- Hydrocortisone cream (2.5%). This made my itch so much worse. In all fairness, topical steroids have always been ineffective for me.
- “Just wait til you deliver… the rash should start to go away following the birth of your son.” — something no one who is in absolute misery wants to hear.
- Colloidal oatmeal lotion. This provided temporary relief but didn’t do much at all.
So here’s what I did:
I looked for resources to help me look at food/beverages that could help. I’m a huge believer in food as medicine… This is the one resource I found online that I found remotely helpful. It taps into Ayurvedic healing… I thought hell, why not. I’m desperate. I didn’t do everything Ally Booth recommended, but I did do the following and noticed that by the end of the day, the rash had a lot less heat to it.
- In the morning, I drank 2 cups hot water with half a lemon squeezed in and a dollup of maple syrup. I drank this before any meal.
- Then for brunch, after a light breakfast, I’d half fresh-squeezed celery & apple juice.
- Throughout the day, I would drink about 3–4 cups of hibiscus tea.
- I also cleaned up my eating (a little). I was consuming obscene amounts of cheese, chocolate, and pastries and I honestly think my liver was getting over-worked with the junk I was putting into my body. I basically reduced the crap to help clean out my liver and maximize the impact of the new beverages I was intaking.
For topical relief, I doubled down on two things:
- 100% raw African shea butter — rubbed this thing all over my stomach and kept it on all day/night for about 2 days straight. It helped slightly with the itching, and by day 2, I noticed the redness of my rash begin to dull.
- Natural old-fashioned oatmeal soap — I used this to clean off the shea butter from the day in the shower (lukewarm showers!) and it was a godsend. It was soooo relieving and after I got out of the shower, I think it really helped the fresh layer of shea butter maximize its impact. The secret is to create a lather using the oatmeal soap in your hands (or with a soft loufa), then you get the suds and gently rub it on your belly using your hands (no abrasive materials, rags, etc).
When did I notice my rash getting better after making these changes? About 2–3 days.
Here’s the timeline of my rash.
Day 1: Noticed my belly button was super itchy (scratch scratch scratch). I use Sarna. Ah, relief.
Days 2–4: Noticed some small red bumps forming. Didn’t think much about it except it was super itchy. It was only about 1 inch in diameter.
Day 5: Full-blown rash extending about 3–4 inches from belly button. I schedule an appointment with my OB.
Day 7: I have my OB appointment. Scattered red bumps extend across my abdomen. It’s hot to the touch. My OB prescribes me with 2.5% hydrocortisone. I pick up my prescription, rub it all over my belly, and keep it on for six hours. My rash feels like it’s getting worse. By hour seven, I’ve hopped into the shower and I’m washing off the hydrocortisone.
Day 8: I run to Walgreens and pick up Colloidal Oatmeal lotion and Calamine lotion. I put the Colloidal Oatmeal lotion, it provides relief for about 30 mins. Then back to the intense itching. I reapply every couple of hours. By the end of the day, I’ve gone through about 1/3 of the entire lotion. In the evening, I apply Calamine lotion. It feels great for about 15 mins… then it dries and it feels like it’s burning a hole into my belly. I jump in the shower, wash it off, and re-apply the Coilloidal Oatmeal lotion.
Days 9–10: I’m miserable. I’m desperate. I’m sleep deprived. I come across Ally Booth’s Ayurvedic videos… Hell, let’s give it a go. I run out and get the supplies I listed above. I drink my teas and juices. I rub the 100% raw African Shea Butter on my belly. Relief isn’t immediate, just slightly milder, but at least it lasts. The shea butter stays on my belly after one application for the majority of the day. I go through lots of shirts due to the grease. In the evening I use the oatmeal soap and sweet baby Jesus it’s very relieving.
— From this point on, I’m solely using the raw African shea butter, oatmeal soap for topicals and I’m incorporating the beverages listed above as part of my daily routine at least until this rash goes away —
Days 11–12: I’m still miserable, just not AS miserable. I don’t want to cry during my sleep and I can at least get in some quality shut eye.
Day 13: I see a dermatologist but all they say is the same thing my OB said. They prescribe me another steroid. I get home, and I notice that my rash all of a sudden looks a little grayer (not as hot and red). Also, the itch is not really there unless I touch my belly or rub into something accidentally. I go on a hike. Life is much better.
Day 14: The heat is gone. It’s visibly there, but my itch is barely there. It’s no longer painful. By the way, today is Day 14 and I’m 40 weeks pregnant and two days overdue.
I still have my PUPPP rash, but now it’s not mentally handicapping me and robbing me of my joy. Anyways, just wanted to share this journey… it seems like there are little to no answers on how to combat PUPPP rashes and it’s a terrible experience, especially when you’re already struggling with the discomforts that come with your third trimester. Anyways, sending love to all the mamas with PUPPP. You got this.