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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Pink, itchy bumps and rash
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
Pink, itchy bumps and rash
by W_HAMILTON, Sep 30, 2005 12:00AM
About two weeks ago, I got what I thought was a mosquito bite -- nothing major. I noticed it itched more than normal, and it was pretty large and became "open" at some point from all the scratching. The next day, I had gone outside and done some running, so I possibly could have come into contact with some vines (none I noticed to be poison ivy). Since I didn't think anything of it at the time, it's possible I could have gotten something poisonous like that into my bite, I'm not sure. But I developed some itchy bumps and welts, mainly on my legs. A couple of days later, I began to itch all over, and looked around, and noticed smaller, red bumps that were popping up in random places all over my body. I went to see the doctor, and he gave me a cortisone shot, and put me on prednisone.
During that time, I seemed pretty much to stabilize; it didn't seem to help clear up anything, but I didn't get much worse either.
After a week, I went to see another doctor since I was still having the problem, and he said it looked like contact dermatitis (possibly from getting into something outside), and gave me Clobetasol and Zyrtec, saying it should start to improve any day now.
Unfortunately, it hasn't. In fact, this is the first time it seems to be getting worse (I'm finishing my prednisone dosage now, so he thought maybe that was partly the reason). I've developed a pinkish rash on my upper shoulder, and I still have smaller areas (more like bumps) popping up all over. The initial spots I noticed (lower leg and on the side on my knee) actually seem to be getting larger now, not smaller.
I'm wondering if you could tell me what could be causing this. Because of it, I have generalized itching, but nothing completely unbearable (it's more just a constant nuisance). My skin also has become somewhat inflamed and irriated, I guess from everything else that is going on. Other than that, I don't believe I have any other symptoms to note. I would just give it time to heal itself, but the fact that it seems to be getting worse and not better (after two weeks) makes me worry a little bit, because apparently nothing I'm doing seems to help.
Could you possibly give me some conditions of what this could be, and when I should expect for it to resolve itself? I haven't changed anything recently (soaps, detergent, new clothes, etc), so I haven't been able to pinpoint anything that I could be allergic to.
Is it possible I came into contact with some poison ivy, and it somehow got into my blood stream? I just can't figure out what this is, and therefore don't know what to do to stop it from spreading, or to help cure it.
The main rash spots on my leg are pink and slightly raised, and look to have a small white border around them (I assume from being raised). The one on my shoulder is less raised, and more splotched-looking. Outside of those main areas, I have small pink spots and bumps that pop up pretty much anywhere (neck,arms,chest,etc).
During that time, I seemed pretty much to stabilize; it didn't seem to help clear up anything, but I didn't get much worse either.
After a week, I went to see another doctor since I was still having the problem, and he said it looked like contact dermatitis (possibly from getting into something outside), and gave me Clobetasol and Zyrtec, saying it should start to improve any day now.
Unfortunately, it hasn't. In fact, this is the first time it seems to be getting worse (I'm finishing my prednisone dosage now, so he thought maybe that was partly the reason). I've developed a pinkish rash on my upper shoulder, and I still have smaller areas (more like bumps) popping up all over. The initial spots I noticed (lower leg and on the side on my knee) actually seem to be getting larger now, not smaller.
I'm wondering if you could tell me what could be causing this. Because of it, I have generalized itching, but nothing completely unbearable (it's more just a constant nuisance). My skin also has become somewhat inflamed and irriated, I guess from everything else that is going on. Other than that, I don't believe I have any other symptoms to note. I would just give it time to heal itself, but the fact that it seems to be getting worse and not better (after two weeks) makes me worry a little bit, because apparently nothing I'm doing seems to help.
Could you possibly give me some conditions of what this could be, and when I should expect for it to resolve itself? I haven't changed anything recently (soaps, detergent, new clothes, etc), so I haven't been able to pinpoint anything that I could be allergic to.
Is it possible I came into contact with some poison ivy, and it somehow got into my blood stream? I just can't figure out what this is, and therefore don't know what to do to stop it from spreading, or to help cure it.
The main rash spots on my leg are pink and slightly raised, and look to have a small white border around them (I assume from being raised). The one on my shoulder is less raised, and more splotched-looking. Outside of those main areas, I have small pink spots and bumps that pop up pretty much anywhere (neck,arms,chest,etc).
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Sep 30, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 30, 2005 12:00AM
Poison ivy doesn't get into the bloodstream. It does stimulate the immune response, so people can get spots over time in other places for a couple of weeks. It's possible that you just weren't on prednisone long enough, so that the poison ivy
"rebounded" when you lowered the dose; if that's the case, all you need is a few more days of prednisone.
That's my best guess, but it can't be more than that. I think the doctors who have seen you are in the best position to diagnose you. If they can't, you should seek another opinion--a dermatologist, perhaps, if you haven't seen one.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
"rebounded" when you lowered the dose; if that's the case, all you need is a few more days of prednisone.
That's my best guess, but it can't be more than that. I think the doctors who have seen you are in the best position to diagnose you. If they can't, you should seek another opinion--a dermatologist, perhaps, if you haven't seen one.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Thank you!