I have an insanely itchy rash, and also palms/soles itch...

After three trips to the dr., two steroid shots, a prednizone pack, various creams and lotions, and days of scratching, I'm at my wit's end and have no answers and I'm still scratching.  I've been through all the questions....have I changed anything, eaten anything unusual, etc....and the answer is "NO."  I'm losing sleep because of the scratching of a rash and of an itch on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet.   The rash looks like poison ivy, had my face swollen like a giant balloon, and leaves my skin painful and tender.  My arms are still swollen after a  week and a half, with various other patches on my body.  The first two visits to the dr. were urgent care because of the facial swelling.  Today's visit was a family doctor visit.  During that visit, she wasn't sure what was going on, but because I am also having yellow stool (mainly diarrhea), she is making a connection between the rash and gluten intolerance.  She is trying me on the medication "Daspone" for two weeks.  I would like to know if this seems like a reasonable treatment?  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms allergic reaction and hives are important to be ruled out. The most likely triggers for acute urticaria are allergies to pets, horses, latex and foods, such as shellfish and nuts,bee or wasp stings,allergies to medicines,Viral infections etc.

You need to take antihistaminics and steroids for a longer time( maybe 4 weeks) and also take some vitamin C as it helps in hives. Your dermatologist is prescribing Dapsone for the possibility of pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis or lichen planus. If the cause is suspected to be any of these, then Dapsone is going to help. A biopsy skin can also be done to confirm the diagnosis.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing