I had PUPPP, NOT puppies

Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, easier said as PUPPP, is yet another screwed up thing 1 lucky percent of pregnant women go through. I, of course, was one of the lucky few. On a positive note it was my 4th and LAST pregnancy thankfully otherwise some of these boys wouldn't be here! I figure you know how to use a computer if you're here and you can google all the nasty info/photos you want. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruritic_urticarial_papules_and_plaques_of_pregnancy) I'm here to tell you how I treated it. Mine came with a devastating force. One that brought me to tears more out of embarrassment than pain. (Although pain was a close second.) I would like to say my methods kept it at bay and even cut it short but I don't want it to fail another unfortunate soul and have her heartbroken for it. First I hid out and cried. When that didn't cure it :/ I started using Grandpas Pine Tar Soap (http://www.grandpabrands.com/pinetar1280.html) as recommended from other mom to Be's. Yes,it's as unappealing as it sounds. Well unless the smell of an overflowing ashtray is your thing. It didn't seem to do the trick for me so my husband, not willing to let ANYTHING go to waste, started using it and loved it. Next up was a life saver. Neutrogena body oil...aww! That soothed my skin for at least a few hours leaving my hands to do better things than try to pull my skin off. When the effects of that wore off I moved to slathering myself in Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion. I believe the oatmeal was the savior in that case. I do not like taking medication of any kind while pregnant but at bed time I broke and took 1 benadryl so I could make it through the night in peace, minus the countless runs to the bathroom due to a head, foot, or god knows what poking at my bladder. The rash itself faded away leaving a few moments of itching only leaving behind what I described as a warning to wear sunscreen. The sunburn look stayed until after my sons birth when the rash came back for a day to reveal my normal suntanned skin under it. I feel deeply for anyone who has to deal with this for not only weeks but months. There is relief somehow out there. May you find it.