Postpartum Allergy?

Question

I'm eight weeks postpartum and I have terrible itchy hives. Came on at about five weeks PP. Went to the doctor, got cream and was reffered to a dermatologist. After a week went to the dermatologist and got stronger cream. Avoiding oral sterroids and other meds that dry up my milk supply. 
My questions is what's causing it!?  Dermatologist told me to rack my brain to rule out external things. Any ideas? 
Don't want to go down the road of patch tests and a biopsy if possible.

Answer

I’ve had an unexplained rash postpartum after two of my four births (incidentally, both girls).  I’m not sure of the cause. Possibly some sort of hormonal reaction or maybe something to do with the birth (both were births where I was given pitocin, but the rash was weeks after giving birth, so who knows).  I’m trying to recall how long it lasted… maybe a few weeks?  With my first they gave me a prednisone shot, but it didn’t help.  This last time I tried benedryl but it mostly just made me drowsy.

Answer

I had it with my last baby all over my arms for weeks — BREAST MILK CURED IT IN 2 DAYS!!! Please try it I swear by breast milk!!!

Answer

I've got it and I've have a friend who had it covering her hands. It's just another one of those things that can happen postpartum. From all I've read I haven't found an explanation why it happens.
Mine is on my hands and I think I initially triggered it with laundry prewash. That was at 7 weeks and I'm still dealing with it at 11 months. 
The main culprit for me is laurel sulfates, which is found in a lot of handwash and shampoo. The rubber gloves I use when cleaning also irritate it now. By swapping out all the hand/body wash for more natural products and using a cortisone cream its dramatically improved. I've got it down to one finger on one hand and a knuckle on the other.

Postpartum Allergy?

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