A woman’s body undergoes numerous changes during pregnancy. Along with stretch marks, pregnant women may also experience puppp rash. They have a red, pimple-like appearance and may line the stretch marks. However, there are natural remedies for pregnancy puppp rash. They include the application of topical creams, scrubbing, and moisturizing with natural oils. These may reduce the appearance of puppp rash to some extent.

Puppp rash or pruritic urticarial papules and plaques often spread across the chest and legs. They may cause itchiness, hivesⁱ  XA skin condition with red, itchy, raised welts that last more than six weeks and may return over months or years. and appear as swollen red patches. If you are an expectant mother, do not get alarmed by this. They usually resolve in a few days after delivery.

Keep reading this article to know more about this condition in detail, natural remedies to manage and combat it effectively, and other treatment options available.

In This Article

What Is A PUPPP Rash?

PUPPP is the short form for Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy. This itchy rash occurs along with the stretch marks during the later stages of pregnancy. This rash is believed to occur in 1 out of every 150 pregnancies.

A PUPPP rash often starts in the abdomen but can also spread to the legs and chest. It results in the formation of red, hive-like bumps along the creases of your stretch marks. This rash can become larger and swollen. In individuals with a lighter skin tone, such rashes are often found surrounded by a thin, white halo.

In most cases, a PUPPP rash resolves within 15 days of childbirth.

Let’s now find out what factors trigger the formation of these rashes.

Causes And Risk Factors For PUPPP Rash

The exact cause of a PUPPP rash has not yet been found. However, the stretching of the skin during pregnancy is believed to trigger this rash. This rash often surfaces during the third trimester of pregnancy, when the baby begins growing faster, and appears within the stretch marks.

Factors that can increase a woman’s risk of developing a PUPPP rash are:

• Ethnicity – Caucasians may be at a higher risk.
• Pregnancy
• A first pregnancy is more likely to trigger a PUPPP rash.
• Multiple pregnancies
• Weight gain during pregnancy
• Maternal hypertension

The following are some of the most common symptoms associated with a PUPPP rash.

What Are The Symptoms Of A PUPPP Rash?

A PUPPP rash usually occurs in the stretch marks along your belly button before it starts spreading further. It is usually:

• Small
• Pink
• Pimple-like
• Itchy

A PUPPP rash has a strong resemblance to hives. Eventually, there is a chance of this rash forming large, red, and plaque-like areas around your belly.

Blisters may also form on PUPPP rashes at times. These rashes may then spread to the thighs, buttocks, legs, and arms. However, they are observed not to spread higher than the breasts.

If you think you may have developed a severe PUPPP rash during pregnancy, it is best to consult a doctor to rule out other infections.

How Is A PUPPP Rash Diagnosed?

A doctor will diagnose a PUPPP rash by examining your skin and symptoms. Most often, a physical examination of the skin is sufficient to diagnose a PUPPP rash. However, your doctor may order some tests to rule out other infections. They include:

• Complete blood count
• Serum human choriogonadotropinⁱ  XA placental hormone produced during pregnancy, an excess of which can sometimes point to underlying health problems, such as skin cancer. (HCG)
• Liver function test
• Serum cortisolⁱ  XThe primary stress hormone that affects stress levels, sleep cycle, metabolism, and almost every organ and tissue in the body.

A PUPPP rash usually eases and resolves by itself once you deliver your baby. However, the rash may persist for a few extra weeks in some women.

Here are some natural remedies that can assist in managing the symptoms of a PUPPP rash.

Natural Remedies To Treat A PUPPP Rash

1. Oatmeal Bath
2. Cold Compress
3. Chamomile
4. Peppermint
5. Clove Oil
6. Dandelion Root

How To Treat A PUPPP Rash Naturally

1. Oatmeal Bath

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You Will Need

• 1-2 cups of oatmeal
• Water

What You Have To Do

1. Fill your tub with water.
2. Add one to two cups of oatmeal to it.
3. Soak in the bath for 20-30 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Oatmeal possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help in relieving itchiness and inflammation associated with a PUPPP rash (1).

Related: How To Make An Oatmeal Bath, Its Benefits, And How To Use ItStylecraze TriviaThe first ever documentation of oatmeal used to treat skin issues in Arabia and Egypt dates back close to 2000 BC. It was said to protect and relieve itchy and inflamed skin. However, it was in the 1930s that the first documented scientific studies were done to show oatmeal’s itch-relieving properties.

2. Cold Compress

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You Will Need

An ice pack or cold compress

What You Have To Do

1. Apply a cold compress to the affected area.
2. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes.
3. Remove and repeat as necessary.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

The numbing action of cold compresses can help relieve itchy skin (2). Hence, it may also soothe a PUPPP rash.

3. Chamomile

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You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of chamomile tea
• 1 cup of hot water
• Cotton balls

What You Have To Do

1. Steep a teaspoon of chamomile tea in a cup of hot water for 5-10 minutes.
2. Soak a cotton ball in this mixture and apply it to the affected area.
3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
4. Rinse it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this 1-2 times daily for best results.

Why This Works

Chamomile tea possesses significant anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial in managing the itchiness and swelling associated with a PUPPP rash (3).

Related: 15 Amazing Benefits Of Chamomile Oil For Skin, Health And Hair

4. Peppermint

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You Will Need

• 2-3 drops of peppermint oil
• ½ tablespoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add two to three drops of peppermint oil to half a tablespoon of coconut oil.
2. Mix well and apply it to the affected area.
3. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this once daily until you notice an improvement in your symptoms.

Why This Works

Peppermint oil is effective in relieving the symptoms of itching. It may, hence, also help in alleviating the inflammatory symptoms of a PUPPP rash (4).

Related: 20 Health Benefits Of Peppermint, Nutrition, & Side EffectsStylecraze TriviaPeppermint is a common herb used in Iranian traditional medicine for its cooling effects, among other benefits. It contains menthol, which cools the skin and relieves itching (4).

5. Clove Oil

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You Will Need

• 2-3 drops of clove oil
• ½ tablespoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Add two to three drops of clove oil to half a tablespoon of coconut oil.
2. Mix well and apply it to the affected area.
3. Leave it on for at least 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.
4. You can also leave the mixture on your skin overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this 1-2 times daily for best results.

Why This Works

Clove oil can help relieve itchiness (5). Hence, its topical application may help in reducing the symptoms of a PUPPP rash.

6. Dandelion Root

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You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of dandelion root tea
• 1 cup of water
• Cotton balls

What You Have To Do

1. Add one to two teaspoons of dandelion root tea to a cup of water.
2. Bring it to a boil in a saucepan.
3. Simmer for 5-10 minutes and strain.
4. Wait for the tea to cool down a bit.
5. Soak a cotton ball in the solution and apply it to the affected area.
6. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes and rinse it off.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root exhibits anti-inflammatory activities (6). These activities can help in reducing the inflammation around the affected area.

All these remedies can help in soothing a PUPPP rash and alleviating its symptoms.

You should also follow the tips listed below to prevent the recurrence or worsening of the PUPPP rash.

Related: 11 Benefits Of Dandelions, Nutrition, And Side Effects

Prevention Tips

• Do not scratch the rashes.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Avoid using moisturizers that contain retinol, salicylic acid, or vitamin A as these compounds can aggravate the rash.
• Wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing.
• Moisturize your skin, including the affected area, daily.
• Avoid warm baths.
• Avoid using soap-based cleansers.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure.

Pregnant women may experience PUPPP rash. It is an itchy rash that appears in the stretch marks on the stomach during late pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy and maternal hypertensionⁱ  XA condition of elevated blood pressure diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy or close to delivery in previously healthy women. are the common reasons for this condition. However, there are some effective natural treatments for pregnancy PUPPP rash. Using an oatmeal bath, cold compress, chamomile, peppermint, clove oil, and dandelion root may soothe the itchiness. In addition, staying hydrated, wearing loose-fitting clothes, moisturizing the skin, and avoiding warm baths may keep the PUPPP rash from worsening. But if the rash does not improve even after trying the home remedies, consult your doctor immediately.