Follicular rashes/blisters on inner thigh

[Stryfe]

Firstly, there seems to be a problem with this forum.  The post buttons seem to be broken, and I had to manually type in URLs to get to the posting page...

Now, the problem.  A few days ago I noticed an itchy spot on my inner thigh, halfway between the inner and forward facing sides, and about eight to ten inches from the crotch.  It had a number of raised lumps, covering the area of a thumbprint or so.  Each bump felt hardish, similar in appearance to an insect bite or nettle weal.

Scratch scratch, of course.  Ahhh, blessed relief.

Weird thing was that each bump seemed to have a minute blister, over a hair follicle.  They burst really easily - literally one fingernail scratch, fairly light, and they popped.  Tiny amount of discharge, but just clear liquid.  With that, no more bumps, and I was much happier.

Same thing, same patch, next day.  Raised lumps, scratch, pop, no lumps and red area.

I thought scratching was a bad idea, and stopped.  The next day the bumps were back, slightly red and scabby at this point.

The next day, today, the bumps have turned darker and far more painful.  A hand-sized area of skin around the rash has turned a faint irritated red, as if sunburnt.  The bumpy area itself itches and aches gently and is painful to the lightest touch - in a bruise, deep-pain, sensitive to the touch type pain as opposed to open-wound type pain.  It does actually feel remarkably like a raised, bumpy, sensitive bruise.

Any ideas, as it's a few days before the doctor's appointment?  Will it go away long before then?  Is it a form of folliculitis?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

It sounds like folliculitis, possibly bacterial.  Most folliculitis doesn't keep throwing up new lesions that fast.  While you're waiting for the doctor I would wash with an antibacterial cleanser (Hibiclens is OTC) and apply an antibiotic like bacitracin or neosporin.  Try Using Sarna lotion (also OTC) for itch relief, to help avoid scratching.  If you get similar bumps anywhere else on your body before your appointment--unlikely--call your doctor about getting an oral antibiotic.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Stryfe]

As a followup, it turned out to be Shingles.

I'm sure you know what that means, but for others: it's a reactivation of the dormant chickenpox virus in someone who's had chickenpox, infecting part of the nervous system.  The doctor said they'd never seen it on the leg before, as it typically appears on face or back.

The blisters and subcutaneous darkening are a big clue, apparently; the 'sunburnt' area around it was just the flesh getting irritated by the level of pain in the area.

No cure, just painkillers and time; fortunately it's starting to lessen up already.

Cheers.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Another relevant point is that shingles (zoster) affects only one side of the body.

Thanks for the follow-up.

Dr. Rockoff

[fearandloathing]

I've had shingles before..... on not just one side of my body, but both lower legs, covering mainly my inner ankles and tops of my feet that literally had blisers upon blisters, with individual sporadic blister bumps on the tops of my thighs and arms. so in fact, it can and did happen on both sides of my body at once. I couldn't walk for 5 weeks. i can't believe my skin actually healed after that ... i thought the black "bruising" would never go away. The doctors were amazed and said i was a case study ... as i was only 30 years old when i got it. the nerves are so sensitive on my inner ankles that when i get stressed, the pain is so bad i get paranoid that i'm getting it again. and it all started with just one little red bump on the top of my foot. i thought it was a bug bite and kept scratching it!

!

[fearandloathing]

I've had shingles before..... on not just one side of my body, but both lower legs, covering mainly my inner ankles and tops of my feet that literally had blisers upon blisters, with individual sporadic blister bumps on the tops of my thighs and arms. so in fact, it can and did happen on both sides of my body at once. I couldn't walk for 5 weeks. i can't believe my skin actually healed after that ... i thought the black "bruising" would never go away. The doctors were amazed and said i was a case study ... as i was only 30 years old when i got it. the nerves are so sensitive on my inner ankles that when i get stressed, the pain is so bad i get paranoid that i'm getting it again. and it all started with just one little red bump on the top of my foot. i thought it was a bug bite and kept scratching it!

!

[tuttitoo]

That sounds exactly like what I have on my inner thigh! Shingles? huh? How about this: this is the third year in a row that it has appeared in that exact same spot. Nowhere else, just that one little spot. Does that sound like what shingles does?
The itching is maddening.

t