Almost there but not quite sure

Hi there,

I'm from Malaysia and I am almost sure this is hives but not quite sure. Needed some opinions on the photo i've attached taken below my arm. Went to a doctor and currently he's monitoring my case and about to get a second doctor for a second opinion, before i do that i would like to ask around internet.

I had this for a week or two started off with a few thinking it was just some mosquito bites but a week later few days ago it multiplied and it started to show randomly all over from my armpit, my arm, my back, buttock, legs and thigh. Usually it'll start to itch badly when i'm about to go to bed not so much during the day. It'll start off with a tiny bump but when i scratch it it blew up twice or triple it's size to the like as shown in the photo and the itch is unbearable. If i stop scratching or touching it, it'll go away around 2-3 hours all of it.

Any answers will be much appreciated. Thank you for the help.

*Imageshack link http://bit.ly/ppHjn6

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The typical hives lesions are usually red raised areas with a pale center. They are intensely itchy and they come and go. So, the rash is not typical of hives, although it is itchy and shows variation in occurrence. Another possibility is an infection caused by a mite Sarcoptesscabiei, it burrows in the skin folds of hands and feet and causes intense itching mostly at night. This is also contagious. You may need to discuss this with your doctor who will examine you and may ask for blood tests and if needed may examine the scrapings from the skin to arrive at a diagnosis for appropriate therapy.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Fred2228]

Sorry it took me so long to reply. It turns out not to be hives or scabies although the symptoms are almost identical. The doctor still has not clue what it is. Meeting another skin specialist tomorrow. Let me explain the progress of the bumps in the picture.

The bumps no longer look like those in the picture when it got big. Did a little test myself.. and here it goes..

It started of small like a bug bite and it's very itchy. If i start to scratch it or touch the bumps it'll grow bigger together with the itchiness. Then i'll continue scratching it but by now there will be one or two new bumps surface next to the already grown bump. I then continue with the scratching together with the newly surfaced bumps. After 4-5 minutes the bumps will start to join together and form a patch and if i continue scratching it, it'll start to hurt. Now instead of randomly appear, it seems to reappear at the same place and sometimes new ones will form next to the old ones but they'll never reappear at the same place.

So the doctor prescribe me Horamine (Chlorphenamine) for the itch, Hovid (Prednisolone) for the skin disorder and Diprosone cream to reduce inflammation.

I will update this if there's any other progress.

[Fred2228]

And also i don't know if this may help but at times if i don't think about it, like when i'm busy with work it'll be alright. When i start to scratch, the more i scratch the more will surface. Usually it'll be worse at night.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi,

The rash could be also be due to contact dermatitis, that is exposure to an irritant like a chemical or metal or anything you are allergic to, it can cause rash. Check to see if the rash occurs on contact with some substances. Also, if there is scaling and itchiness it could most probably be due to fungal infections.

Hope you get well soon and do keep us posted.