What are pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy?
They are intensely itchy rashes that happen only when you're pregnant. The rash:
Usually appears during the last 2 to 3 weeks of being pregnant
Consists of red, irregularly shaped, and slightly raised patches, sometimes with tiny blisters in the center
Appears on your belly and then spreads to your thighs, bottom, and sometimes arms
Usually goes away shortly after delivery
Is common in first pregnancies—the rash usually doesn’t come back in future pregnancies
You may have hundreds of itchy patches. Often the skin around the patches is pale.
What causes these rashes?
No one knows what causes these rashes. Doctors may even have trouble making a definite diagnosis.
How do doctors treat these rashes?
Doctors will have you put a corticosteroid cream on your rash. Rarely, if your rash is severe, you may take a corticosteroid pill, such as prednisone.
