PEP

[Podpie]

Is anyone suffering with PEP or has suffered with it before? I haven't been officially diagnosed but reading up on the Internet I have exactly what's described to be PEP (polymorphic eruption of pregnancy).
It started off as an itchy belly, got three tiny spots and now it's erupted into two big lumpy patches of itchy hell either side of my belly button and it's almost unbearable.
I've been moisturising like mad but it doesn't seem to be calming it down, and it can spread to breasts legs and back as well and I'd really like to stop it getting to that point!

Are there any remedies anyone could recommend or should I give in and get myself to the doc? The only reason I haven't been so far is because there's no cure for it except birth so I've just been trying to put up with it for a couple more weeks!

Thanks in advance

 

[MrsS143]

No idea if itll help but if skin isnt broken try vinegar
Itll stink but its wonderful for taking itch out
I use it for itchy sunburn x

 

[i.love]

Oh dear sorry no advice, but this sounds very uncomfortable

 

[Podpie]

This is my poor sore belly this morning. Unfortunately I think I'm scratching in my sleep so not only is it itchy but red and sore too!

My stretch marks weren't too bad until I developed this. Most of the redness is rash!

 

[Jessiecat]

Oh gosh how awful I bet you're pulling your hair out!

I just don't have any answers but wanted to send you hugs and sympathy. I can see you're due in a couple of days so hopefully it will clear up really quickly after birth xx

 

[Podpie]

I'm keeping fingers crossed! Really hoping I don't go too far overdue as this is just another thing to stress over lol.

 

[i.love]

Oh my gosh!!! I presume you spoke to a MW or a Dr? Is there nothing they can do??

 

[Rachyw86]

You poor thing Podpie. Have you tried camomile lotion? It goes on like a lotion and dries .It's really really soothing and cooling, it may help relieve the symptoms for you at least?

Xx

 

[Podpie]

I will get some tomorrow. At this point I'll try anything just to soothe it a bit!

 

[Demaris]

Ahh podpie I don't have any advice but just want to say I feel for you it must drive you crazy xx

 

[Emmajaine]

One thing that I have found that helps my psoriasis is Aveeno cream. It really helps me with the itchy side of psoriasis. I know psoriasis is not the same as PEP, but it might be worth giving it a try? X

 

[SpinSugar]

Oh pod pie.
I had it last pregnancy. It was HELL. After birth it spread all over. I was on oral steroids and almost got admitted. I couldn't even hold my baby.
But I stupidly thought it was a normal pregnancy thing and jyst kept using calamine and eurax.
Which caused huge problems in labour as the metals in calamine block the midwifes doppler so they couldn't find the heartbeat!

I found a cream called balneum plus the most soothing. I'm using it now and aveeno to try and stop it but my bump is do itchy I'm waking up covered in scratch marks
Have you spoken to anyone about it? Xx

 

[SpinSugar]

This was a few days after birth. The rash on my legs was all over - it was like a huge burn

 

[SpinSugar]

The leg rash was after birth lol the bump pic was 39 weeks x

 

[Podpie]

Oh my god you poor thing

I was given a steroid cream a few weeks ago for a rash on my wrist and my mum (nurse) said it would be ok to try using it on the bump too but I haven't been very good at putting it on twice a day. I'm seeing my midwife tomorrow so I've been holding out for that, as it's near impossible to get a doctors appointment anyway.
My bigger patch seems to be spreading and I'm trying so hard not to itch but I swear I'm doing it in my sleep as I always wake up red raw. I'll look for the creams you've suggested, are they available in pharmacies?

Thanks for the tips, I'm really hoping it doesn't get as sever as yours was. Don't know how I would cope.

 

[SpinSugar]

I'm a pharmacist so I've tried just about everything. Balneum plus is very expensive but it's got a high urea content which is why it's do good.
Been using aveeno this time on others advice and it's Ok. Just avoid calamine.
Eurax is anti itching as opposed to moisturising so that's good for night time.
I get my bump out at every opportunity! Anything touching drives me wild. Good luck xxx

 

[queenriccy]

You poor poor thing, I had an itchy tummy but that was just the skin stretching and I was also waking my self up through the night scratching it. My was irritating but I dread to think how you are feeling.
I dont have any advice apart from go and see the gp/midwife who can hopefully give you something to calm the itch

xx

 

[Sunbeam638]

Menthol aqueous cream

Nothing else touched it for me and I had every lotion and potion trying to remedy it. Docs will prescribe it and it was my saviour!xx

 

[Sm1lerno1]

I am now 28+3

I took PEPP at 16 weeks. I couldn't understand why as all info on the net lead to this being common usually only in first time mothers and in the last trimester. I fell in to neither category.

I was pretty bad on my tummy, hands, arms and legs.

Doc prescribed anti histimines as well as steroid cream and then a big can of moisturising cream. The anti histimines were the only thing that helped.
I thought I would have it until this baby was born but it went away of it's own accord approx 3 weeks ago.

I researched it and bought Grampas Tar Soap off Amazon. It didn't make it better but it didn't make it worse either. Just the water from the shower on me was enough to make me claw and itch.

Hope it goes away soon. It really is torture.

 

[Podpie]

Hi all.

Just thought I'd let you know I have it better under control now! I've been using a topical steroid cream called fucidin H and it's really settled it. Still itchy and sore but not to the extreme that it was and it certainly looks less angry. Feeling like I can cope again, it's a lovely feeling lol