This is the information I found in Current Obstetric & Gynecologic Diagnosis & Treatment, hope it helps: "Pruritic Urticaria Papules & Plaques of Pregnancy (puppp) This is a rare syndrome of red, pruritic papules principally on the abdomen and thighs without excoriations. The lesions usually occur late in pregnancy and disappear within two weeks after delivery. In many, a marked halo surrounds the small papules and plaques. Focal lesions are rare, and they are never on the face or distal extremities. There are no abnormal hCG levels and immunoflorescence reveals no immunoglobulin complement. Symptomatic treatment and occasionally corticosteroid therapy are curative in resistant cases. Herpes Gestationis This uncommon (2-3:10,000 gestations) eruption appears in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. It features erythematous plaques with vesicles that soon form bullae in the periphery of the lesion. Because it is a blistering eruption, it has a herpetiform appearance, but the vesicles are not clustered and are more peripheral. Lesions usually begin on the trunk and spread to the entire body, including the distal extremities. Lesions on mucous membranes are uncommon. ..the course is characterized by exacerbations and remissions during pregnancy. While significant exacerbations can occur postpartum, the condition usually abates by the sixth week. Although its cause is not known, it is suspected to be related to hormone levels, since progestins can produce exacerbations. The course of herpes gestationis in subsequent pregnancies is not predictable. Corticosteroids are the treatment of choice. Darlene Breed RN BSN IBCLC