Mom Discovers She's Allergic to Pregnancy During 2nd Trimester -- What is Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy (PEP)?

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Pregnant for the very first time, Fiona Kerrigan, 25, was already on the final phase of her second trimester when she learned she had a medical condition called Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy (PEP). It meant she was allergic to being pregnant.

Kerrigan, who hails from Port Glaslow in Scotland, suffered redness, breakouts, rashes and tiny bumps or papules on her belly and thighs early on. She thought these were common to pregnancy and quite harmless, so she treated this with lotions and cream, according to Express.

However, as her baby belly grew, the skin problems worsened and developed in the rest of her body. "I had bright red tiger stripes on my belly, and angry red patches all over my body - it was everywhere, all over my arms and legs and even the palms of my hands," she said in the report. She first sought the help of a midwife, who had no idea what was happening to the young mom's body.

Kerrigan eventually consulted with other doctors until one was able to present a proper diagnosis for PEP. "The way the doctor described it to me was that my skin had stretched so far, to the absolute limit - so far that some of the baby's cells had started to mix with my own, causing a reaction," she explained. "Essentially, I was allergic to my pregnancy."

What is Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy (PEP)?

According to the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), PEP usually starts out as a common skin disorder that becomes complicated as the pregnancy progresses into the third trimester. Some mothers may also experience it after the giving birth and it has been previously called as Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP).

What causes PEP?

Its exact causes are unknown, but it has been linked to first pregnancies, twin pregnancies, hypertension and moms carrying boys, per Pregnancy Corner. It's also associated to pregnancy weight gain, per Daily Mail.

What are the symptoms of PEP?

PEP can be easily confused with other type of skin conditions with the rashes, blisters, lesions or eczema. The marks appear in the lower abdomen first, then spreads as the skin stretches. Stretch marks in the early stages of pregnancy could be a good indicator for the skin disease.

What are the risks?

According to The Bump, about one in 200 pregnant women has PEP, but aside from the itchiness and the discomfort, the condition doesn't have any effects on the baby.

What can cure PEP?

Unfortunately, PEP will only subside after the pregnancy but the mother can be treated with similar allergy treatments provided these are pregnancy-safe.

In Kerrigan's case, she was prescribed with steroid ointment and lotion and also used Remescar to treat the marks. She gave birth to a boy in January 2015 and said that despite what happened, "it was all worth it in the end."