Thanks for your help. I have spent dozens of hours reading about skin disorders, since I have no insurance and cannot afford a dermatologist, and would really appreciate a serious suggestion for what I may have. Hopefully, it can be cured.
About 25 years ago I developed a rash on my upper thighs during pregnancy. Afterward, the rash remained, and occasionally itched. Ten years later it spread to the rest of my legs, as well as to the soles of my feet, underarms, abdomen, and ear lobes (much like Flegel's disease). I have tried myriad creams, my daughter (medical doctor) has prescribed cortisone creams; altered diets do not seem to have an effect; I regularly use organic detergents, hypoallergenic creams; nothing seems to help. The only thing that seems to affect it at all is when I feel happy, relaxed, and safe, a rare combination. During these times, the rash will fade, but never goes away completely. Before it spreads, my skin feels prickly, and if I itch it, my skin will welt up. I am generally miserable, and always embarrassed to be seen in public.
Appearance: The rash ranges in size from a small dot to a patch about the size of a coin and covers the entire lower half of my body, back and front. It is very dense on my thighs; less dense on my abdomen, torso, lower legs, feet. It looks like Swimmer's Itch, behaves like Schambergs Disease, has spread like Flegel's disease, but it never goes away. Sometimes it fades, but never completely. The patchy areas are slightly raised and are a deeper reddish/pink. The "new" dots usually appear just below the skin before manifesting itself topically. My skin is generally healthy; it just looks awful.
Medical background: I have had a kidney operation, one C-section, 11 pregnancies (9 live births), a major heart attack; am somewhat overweight, though I have large bones and do not appear excessive; take medication for high blood pressure (5 years now); and am now menopausal. No one in my family has ever had any sort of unusual skin disorder. I also have slight rosacia on my face and use a cream to control that. My blood type is 0 neg, and I am blonde and fair-skinned. I do not tan, but immediately burn, so I always use a sunscreen. Generally, I feel pretty good, and consume mostly veggies/fruits/grains; no dairy products.
Any help you can give me at all, including some key words to increase my search, would be extremely helpful. I will be happy to send a picture of the rash, if you wish. Please help me if you can. Thanks very much for the site, and for your response. I really appreciate it.