Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy


Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, known in United Kingdom as polymorphic eruption of pregnancy, is a chronic hives-like rash that strikes some women during pregnancy. It presents no long-term risk for either the mother or unborn child despite frequently severe pruritus. PUPPP frequently begins on the abdomen and spreads to the legs, feet, arms, chest, and neck.
Papules and plaques usually first appear on the abdomen and often spread to the legs, chest, underarms, etc. The face is usually also spared and does not seem to become affected.
Skin distension is thought to be a possible trigger for PUPPP as it most commonly affects primigravida, women with large fundal measurements and/or those who are carrying large babies or multiples. The papules and plaques often first appear within stretch marks.
Certain studies reveal that this condition is more frequent in women carrying boys, although no formal research has been conducted. Statistics cite that 70% of PUPPP sufferers deliver boys.
PUPPP occurs in about 1 in every 200 pregnancies.

Cause

The cause of the condition is generally unknown. This skin condition occurs mostly in first pregnancies, in the third trimester and is more likely with multiple pregnancies.
Other than additional associations with hypertension and induction of labour, there are no observed difference in the outcome of the pregnancy for mothers or babies.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Soothing mild cases during pregnancy consists mainly of the application of topical moisturising creams or aqueous/emollient ointments. Class I or II corticosteroid creams and ointments are used in more aggressive cases, and oral corticosteroids can be used to treat very severe cases—although the benefits of a pregnant woman's ingesting high-potency corticosteroids must be weighed carefully against possible risks to the developing fetus or fetuses. Rarely, in unusually persistent and distressing cases, some women have had their labor induced as soon as they are considered to be at term.
Antihistamine tablets may be prescribed to provide relief from the itch, although they are generally considered much less effective than corticosteroid treatments, and may decrease itching through blocking histamine release as well as improving sleep quality.
Pine tar soap/body wash can bring relief as can keeping the skin chilled such as through a cold shower or iced cloths.
In the majority of cases, PUPPP resolves spontaneously within a week of delivery. However, a few women continue to experience symptoms long into the postpartum period.