topic Re: Itchy Body Rash in Wellness

Itchy Body Rash

bosmamaa — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 20:58:32 GMT

Hi, I am wondering if any of you have experienced a rash that has tiny red itchy bite looking marks. I've had this for a couple of months and have been to dermatologist twice. They did biopsy and said it looked like a reaction to medication but I don't take Any at all. They gave me steroids which helped alot but not totally. Now after 2 weeks it is worse again. It did clear up the welts I had though. It is driving me crazy! My derm just doesn't know what it is. Anyone ever experience anything like this?? TIA!!

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Lilysmom — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:05:44 GMT

@bosmamaa, have you changed your laundry detergent or anything like that? I woke up one morning and I was covered head to toes in big red blotches. I later found out they were hives.

I had bought a new washing machine. It was one of the first HE machines. My housekeeper used the HE detergent in the same volume as she used the old detergent. I was one hot mess. Had to redo every bit of laundry. The medication they gave me to get rid of the hives nearly knocked me out. Way to strong. I was trying to finish my thesis so it was awful lol.

I hope you find an answer. It can be miserable I know. Look to new things that might have been introduced to your world ... detergent, food, etc. Good luck! LM

Re: Itchy Body Rash

qualitygal — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:10:18 GMT

If it's like bites, did you travel and stay at any hotels as of late?

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Q4u — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:13:51 GMT

Your doctor didn't do any allergy tests? I think I'd go to my regular doctor and start all over again. Maybe it's allergies (soap/detergents?), something you eat.....It may not be a particular reaction at all but rather a sign of something else going on. When my Sarcoidosis was at its worst, I would get a fine rash on my lower legs. The rash wasn't due to an allergy or reaction to something I ate but rather one of the signs of the Pulmonary Sarcoidosis I developed. I needed a regular doctor and a Pulmonary specialist.

But I'd start all over again with my regular doctor first .... a couple of months with a rash that won't go away is something that needs to be taken care of....

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Moonchilde — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:14:22 GMT

You are allergic to *something* but it might or might not be medication. It could be laundry soap, softener, scent, perfume, even the sizing in a fabric of something you're wearing. You can have a dermatitis from anything that touches your skin, OR an allergy to a medication. A medication allergy rash would be more widespread, a contact rash probably smaller.

Since your doctor did a biopsy, it gave him a fair *idea* of what it might or might not be, but surprisingly often the specific cause of a dermatitis might not ever be known.

Try eliminating possible causes on your own (a doctor would tell you to do this anyway). Stop using things you'veen using, one by one. It could be an item you've used a long time that has a new ingredient - or a medication the pharmacy got from a new source that has a different inert ingredient/filler it didn't have before. That definitely happens. Ask your pharmacist if they have chsnged sources on any of your meds. They won't always be honest, though. I have had a pharmacist lie to me about it.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

bosmamaa — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:17:21 GMT

Thank you Lilysmom, but no new soap or anything else!

Re: Itchy Body Rash

lolakimono — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:19:49 GMT

@bosmamaa

I don't know if you have a latex allergy or not, but I post this information just in case.

There are many foods that cross react with latex, and instead of giving the anaphylaxis type reaction, they show up on your skin. I have had this happen.

Here is a good reference:

http://latexallergyresources.org/sites/default/files/attachments/TB10A%20Latex%20food%20cross-reactivities.pdf

Also, if you have not undergone patch testing, I would strongly recommend it. I have had two sets of these done, and now that I know the triggers I have avoided the contact dermatitis ingredients that plagued me.

I have been tested with the scratch test and bloodwork by the allergist, and have had the patch test by two dermatologists. Everyone found different allergens, so it was good to have a multiperspective approach to finding the allergens.

http://www.smartpractice.com/dermatologyallergy/category_includes/education/images/patch-test-guide.pdf

Re: Itchy Body Rash

bosmamaa — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:24:36 GMT

Thank you all! It is not bed bugs, there is no sign at all and I've seen those awful things before. It is SO frustrating because it can be so many things.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

x Hedge — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:25:22 GMT

@bosmamaa, Had any PET/CATscans recently?

I have semi-annual scans that require both drinking and IV injection of contrast material.

I have a delayed allergic reaction to the contrast material, about 10-14 days.

The itchy, tiny, bite looking marks are exactly as you describe, going on for months, and the skin in the rashy areas seems to become extremely fragile and scars with the slightest friction.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Katcat1 — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:33:18 GMT

@bosmamaa, That could be a reaction to something you are eating. I would find another Dermatologist too. If it's not going away I am thinking you are allergic to some food, lotion, etc. Even if you were not allergic before you can all of a sudden become allergic. If I eat too many strawberries I break out in hives on my feet of all places or lower legs. I hope you find out what it is that is giving you problems.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Moonchilde — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:34:47 GMT

@x Hedge wrote:
@bosmamaa, Had any PET/CATscans recently?
I have semi-annual scans that require both drinking and IV injection of contrast material.
I have a delayed allergic reaction to the contrast material, about 10-14 days.
The itchy, tiny, bite looking marks are exactly as you describe, going on for months, and the skin in the rashy areas seems to become extremely fragile and scars with the slightest friction.

That would be an iodine/shellfish allergy. It's possible to have this allergy (or others) suddenly appear in mid life when you havn't been allergic before.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Desertdi — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:36:40 GMT

Have you tried lysine and vitimin C supplements? 1,000 mg of each. It helped me with a "mystery" rash similar to what you describe.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

bosmamaa — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:27:25 GMT

Hedge I haven't ever had any scans but that is interesting info.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

x Hedge — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:38:24 GMT

@bosmamaa

Moonchilde wrote:

That would be an iodine/shellfish allergy.

Or not.

I made a point of not drawing that concluson in my earlier post because of the way it's dealt with once contrast material is identified by your medical providers as a possible cause of your rash.

I myself am not allergic to iodine or shelfish.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Mz iMac — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:32:21 GMT

"My derm just doesn't know what it is."

Then it's time to get a 2nd or possible a 3rd opinion.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

BExplorer — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:46:07 GMT

I agree with other posters who suggested that's it's time for some testing to pinpoint the culprit. As someone who has lived off and on with hives several years, I know how miserable that it is. 😕

I just want to throw another thought out there--I don't know if what you have is hives, but they can be caused by stress. Stress was the cause of mine. I hope yours is a simple allergy that you can easily avoid.

As much as I wanted to put on extra lotion to sooth the itching, overmoisturization only exacerbated the itching. It seemed the hives needed to dry out.

I hope you find some relief soon. 😊

Re: Itchy Body Rash

bosmamaa — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:58:23 GMT

BExplorer, thanks for replying. I have been putting Aveeno on alot! I will stop that! I have wondered, my family too, if it could be stress as my dad passed away in August and we've had much stress in our family the last year. I hope your hives stay away permanently!!

Re: Itchy Body Rash

BExplorer — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:24:14 GMT

@bosmamaa Are the welts worse in "fold" areas, such as the insides of elbows, backs of knees, etc? If so, I would definitely stay away from overmoisturization as those are moist areas and that would suggest that moisture does aggravate the welts.

I'm so sorry about the loss of your dad. I have just recently began looking into relaxation techniques, and even started Yoga class last week. I decided life is too short to be stressed and if I get that under control, I can be a better person, mother, etc. I struggled with hives for over ten years, but have been virtually hive-free these last five years. Now when I do get them, it's just a tiny patch that clears right up after my prescription cream dries them out.

Best of lluck to you! 😊

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Moonchilde — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:27:03 GMT

@bosmamaa wrote:
BExplorer, thanks for replying. I have been putting Aveeno on alot! I will stop that! I have wondered, my family too, if it could be stress as my dad passed away in August and we've had much stress in our family the last year. I hope your hives stay away permanently!!

If the rash is hive-like, it certainly *could* be stress/nerves. Ask your doctor about this.

Re: Itchy Body Rash

Moonchilde — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:32:05 GMT

@x Hedge wrote:
@bosmamaa
@Moonchilde wrote:
That would be an iodine/shellfish allergy.
Or not.
I made a point of not drawing that concluson in my earlier post because of the way it's dealt with once contrast material is identified by your medical providers as a possible cause of your rash.
I myself am not allergic to iodine or shelfish.

I am not familiar with radiologic contrast media that *isn't* iodine-containing, nor have I ever signed a release for the use of contrast that did not specifically ask about iodine and-or shellfish allergy up front. That's what they want to know - iodine, and/or shellfish (which naturally contains iodine) allergy.

It's possible to be allergic to other aspects of the contrast, but less likely the reaction would be a rash per se.