Leg rash

[Anonymous]

I'm 33 weeks pregnant and my skin has been bad throughout a lot of my pregnancy, but recently I've been getting a weird rash on my legs. Sometimes its just itchy, but last night it was burning and quite painful. My OB recommended Aquaphor (an over-the-counter cream) but that made it worse. I finally put some bacitracin on it and it felt a little better.

It goes from my knees to my thighs and has started to spread below the knee as well. I would blame heat rash, except that its 30 degrees outside! Also, if I was wearing a skirt, maybe i could blame friction on my thighs, but it happens in pants and on parts of my legs that dont touch anything else. Anyone have a similar experience and have a any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Do you use a moisturizer? If you do, which kind?

During my second pregnancy I developed rash similar to what you describe. I finally realized that it was lotion - I was using Lubriderm. Which I've been using for awhile. I quit using it and rash went away. Switch to some other moisturizer, give it a week and see if it helps.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I was using a moisturizer to treat my dry skin, but the rash happens when I am not using anything. Moisturizer irritates it more so I had to stop using it.

[Anonymous]

I've had something like that since month 1. It has come and gone on my stomach, legs, arms, and chest (it's always somewhere - the rash just disappears and shows up in a new place every week or two). Various doctors (OBs, dermatologist) have told me it could be pg hormones, heat rash, etc. Steroid cream helps it to fade, but I worry about using that too often. It is INCREDIBLY itchy, so I'm with OP in hoping someone knows what it really is.

[Anonymous]

Not to freak you out, but if your skin is red and it hurts to touch, you should be checked for blood clot. Not the most uncommon thing during pregnancy. Again, I really hope I do not scare you, but I would make my doc see me. Clots cause redness and pain.

[Anonymous]

Do a google search on "PUPP." It is a pregnancy-related skin rash. From what I've read, it's just annoying, not dangerous to the baby. However, there are some instances where the rash can indicate that your liver cannot keep up with the waste both you and your baby are producing. Your OB may require some bloodwork to confirm. Definitely let your OB diagnose. I just came down with a rash on my arms, legs, and belly last Thursday. I'm going in to see my OB today. I'm around week 36. Apparently the rash commonly appears in 2nd or 3rd trimester, but can appear earlier.