Pink, itchy bumps and rash

[W_HAMILTON]

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).

[latinathena]

I chafed my skin on my chest while running a long run.  My sports bra rubbed my skin off.  It left two scrapes that burns when I shower.  The next day it started itching.  I scratched it a little and later it itched more.  I tried really hard not to scratch it but it was so hard.  I put neosporin on it.  Two bumps formed near the scrapes.  The next day there were 4 bumps around the scrapes and the scraped had tons of tiny bumps on them.  I continued to apply the neosporin but a day after that numerous tiny bumps were all around the scrapes and spreading.  I stopped applying the neosporin but today it is worse.  The bumps ar now spread all over my chest and still spreading.  I do not know what to do.  My insurance will not cover a dermatologist.  The itching is very bad and I have tried hard to stop scratching.  Is there anything I can do to stop the spreading?  I am concerned it will spread all over my body.

Thank you!

[jeniferlyn]

My husband & I went on a 7 day cruise to the Mexican Riveria, & I got my faced burnt while @ the beach.When I showered that afternoon, I noticed little bumps on my arms,legs,butt,& neck. They itch really bad so I took some Benadryl.
Now that we're back in WA, I've noticed the tiny ones are almost all scratched off, & new bigger ones are replacing them. I have a couple of them that are so hard on the top, you can't even scratch the tops off! I've wore no foundation, cuz I'm now really tan, but now I'm getting the itchy bumps on my face & neck, & my entire forehead is 1 little bump after another. & some of them hurt when I scratch..like on my back,tummy,& where my thighs go towards my butt.
What the heck do I have & how the hell  do I get rid of it? I'm going crazy! A few on the side of my neck had tiny white heads on them, but nothing comes out. HELP PLEASE!!***@****

[martinuk]

ive had the same for a year now but the last month has been almost unbarable. get same as rest of you have described but also a lot on my hands,between my fingers and on my wrists. wen sqeezed a tiny amont of clear liquid comes out

[W_HAMILTON]

I was the original author of this thread, and I still have problems, so I'm not sure what this is.  On the bright side, I don't develop the itchy spots that I had before.  However, for the past two weeks or so, I've just had generalized itching all over.  It's not severe, and it seems to vary in how bad it is from time to time.  Overall I've been going thru this for two months now, and I still have no idea what is going on, or what I can do to stop it.  This stinks :(

[glide90]

I just thought I would ask to see maybe some one can help me figure out what it is that I have that itchs so bad. It started about 3months ago . Its like little bumps that form and then when I itch I tear them open and now I am covered with them .The itch does not seem to go away and you just cant scratch it enough to get it to quit. It seems to spread quick and it does not always itch but when it does it last for awhile . Some of the bumps I have scratched to the point of them being sore .Can anyone give me a clue to what this may be and how to stop it?

[06291982]

I decided to go back to the doctor once again, because this  rash was getting worse this time the doctor told me that itwas not pityriris and he wasn't sure what it was so he set me up with an appointment with a dermatologist the next day...it is that bad! The Dermatologist  told me that I have psoriasis but that it should not come back I am hoping not but now I have to get light treatment for 4-6 weeks to make this go away... As anyone else found out anything?

[06291982]

I found out what it is for me at least...pityriasis rosea. I will have the rash for up to 3 months, but at least I know that it is basiclly harmless. They don't know what the caue is nor is therre very much treatment besides for the itching but you normally only get it once so hopefully I won't have to worry about this again when it is gone.

[meask]

I've had this rash for about 3 months now.  It's on my inner thigh.  I have like a black spot and aouund it, it's small rashy pumps.  It when it itch thats when it flare up.  I've tried Benadryl and hydrochloride cream, and it works for a little then it comes back.  It all start when I started working out heavy, and lost some weight.  Please can you tell me what I need to do, to get rid of this.

[06291982]

I have the exact same thing, I was on the same medecine for 6 days,when I finshed it, it is  getting worse. I know that I have not been in contact with poison though, I really wish someone could tell me what it is it is all over me everywhere, it doesn't really itch too much though so  think the scabies thing is out.

[Nova10]

I had the same itchy dots and my doctor said it was scabies i had to put this cream medicine on and it cleared up within a week.they said scabies are in crest of the skin but she said thats all it looked liked and from the itching thought it could be and the cream worked.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

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