Please Help!... tiny, intensely ichy spots that don't appear until after i scratch

[alliecat1984]

It is 3:00 in the morning and I am up desperately searching the web to figure out what is causing my intensely itchy skin.  This started about two weeks ago.  My lower abdomen and thighs began to itch. I thought it was dry skin at first, then notices tiny bumps (about the size of the tip of a ball-point pen) would form after I scratched.  These bumps are very spread out.  I have a couple spots where three or four are close together but not touching.  It has now progressed onto my entire body, excluding face, palms and soles of my feet.  After being scratched for a day or so, the bump turns into a perfectly round little scab.  The itch comes and goes but seems to be the worst when I wake up in the morning.  Also, I think it might be contagious or something because my husband has had a few spots form on his arms and legs, just in a much smaller quantity, but equally itchy.  Also, I thought I would mention that we got a puppy withvery irritated skin.  I was afraid our conditions may be linked.  Just thought I'd throw that out there just incase.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it can be a viral rash, insect or lice bites or scabies bites. It is an infestation of the skin with the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It is characterized by intense itching, usually at night and by small insect-type bites lesions on the skin. Diagnosis of scabies is made by scraping the skin and viewing the material under a microscope to see the characteristic mite or eggs.

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 doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[beachbunn1986]

bedbugs or fleas maybe?