My PUPPPs Story: Baby #3

Baby #3 was my worst case of PUPPPs.

At 15 weeks, the first patch of rash started up in the exact same place as before. I knew what was coming. I couldn't believe it had started so early. I was distraught but still mildly hopeful that the dandelion root would kick it before it got bad.

The belly at 15 weeks, just as the rash began.

No luck. 

It spread, and it spread fast. At 17 weeks, I was in tears. I was bloodied from scratching and not sleeping. I could not perform daily tasks like dressing or meal prep without scratching. It was not something self-control could manage. Once again, I could not NOT scratch! It felt like bugs were crawling under my skin! I was puffy and red all over! I couldn't stand it when anyone touched me, especially my children. 

I could not fathom 5 months of it ahead of me. I was already close to losing my mind. 

So, I let go of any resolve I once had to avoid steroids, and I made an emergency appointment at the dermatologists. (See this post for more details on that.) I bet dermatologists don't get many requests for emergency appointments! 

After many curious staff at the office were sufficiently impressed by my predicament, I got my prescription for topical steroids. Triamcinolone was to be my rescue. And it was.

Mine looked a lot like this. This is not a picture of my tub-o-cream, just a very similar one. 

I went through more than one tub. 

After two days of intense introductory treatments designed to super-saturate my skin with the drug, the rash started lessening. I was beginning to feel relief and a touch of sanity returning. I was SO VERY relieved. The thought had crossed my mind that the steroids might not work, and I didn't know what I'd do! So, finding relief was such a relief!

I continued to use the cream daily throughout the pregnancy. My rash never completely disappeared. It was only tamed. However, I could function, and I could sleep, and I was content with that. I hated to be taking a drug that had no conclusive safety record in pregnancy, but I was sure I'd have been put in some kind of mental facility without it. No exaggeration. 

After I gave birth to my 3rd sweet little girl, my rash did worsen for a month before it cleared up. This was a first for me, but the steroid cream did seem to help keep it from reaching an intolerable state. It disappeared completely after that.

Baby Girl #3, tiny bundle of love.

As far as my body was concerned, I noticed very few side effects from the cream. My skin did become very thin feeling where I used the cream the most. It was delicate. It would bleed easier if I scratched too hard. But that was it. 

My baby, on the other hand, was another story. She was SO yeasty. She had yeast in every fold of skin. The worse areas were her underarms, neck folds, and diaper area. Red skin with a cheesy discharge. We tried quite a few different over the counter things, natural treatments, and one prescription. All of these were topical things and ineffective.  That yeast was stubborn! 

As she got older and had fewer skin folds, it got a little better, but it still hung on. When she started eating solid food, I began a special diet for her. I had researched a bunch and decided she needed gut healing. Babies are colonized with whatever bacteria mommy has in her and on her on their way out into the world. Steroids change your body chemistry and make a happy environment for yeast. While I didn't experience any noticeable yeast symptoms, I'm sure I was harboring a ton of yeast at the time of the birth. They made their home on (and in!) my unsuspecting infant. 

Since yeast is usually a problem that is not just skin deep (it loves the digestive tract), I decided we'd try to heal baby's problem from the inside out. We put her on the GAPS diet (GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology/Physiology syndrome). It's a grain-free diet that uses a lot of bone broth and probiotic food. You can find more info on the GAPS diet here and here. Please comment and let me know if you'd like a post with more details on how we did the diet. 

She remained on the diet for roughly 6 months, and her yeasty rash issues finally cleared up! It was not an easy fix, but it was worth doing.

 Happy yeast-free toddler just after her first birthday.

So, that's baby #3's story, from the beginning of the rash to the cure of the side effects from the steroids. It was quite an ordeal. 

With this current pregnancy, I really didn't want a repeat of the steroid experience. And I haven't needed them yet! At nearly 25 weeks along, I've had PUPPPs for 10 weeks now. I think I've finally figured out a routine that works for me, and I look forward to compiling a summary of it in another post with #4's story!

Disclaimer: I am not recommending the particular drug that worked for me. Please talk to your doctor before starting any course of treatment!