Post-Poison Ivy Reaction

I am incredibly allergic to poison ivy and three weeks ago I came into contact with a large amount of it.  I have finally healed up after swollen and drippy rashes all over my arms and also in splotches on my hands.  All the poison ivy rash has dried up and feels fine.  However, three nights ago I woke up in the early morning with unbearable itchiness all over the palms of both hands, on the palm-side of my fingers, and in between my fingers.  I was able to temporarily relieve the itching by running hot water over my hands for as long as I could stand it.  I thought that perhaps I had re-exposed myself to poison ivy somehow, but I do not believe that to be the case.

I am able to lightly make out a lot of small to medium-sized circular spots underneath my skin.  They sort of remind me of hives only in the way that they are pink around the edges and lighter in the middle.  My hands and fingers are swollen because of this and whenever I make a fist, it hurts and itches.

Does this sound like anything that you know of?  Are there any typical bodily reactions that can happen after having a bad hyper-sensitive reaction to poison ivy?  I look forward to hearing some possibilities.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Since the exposure to poison ivy was three weeks ago, so it is very unlikely that it is contact dermatitis to poison ivy. From the suddenness of symptoms it can be due to allergic reaction, insect bite, scabies bites or dermatitis skin. Diagnosis of scabies is made by scraping the skin and viewing the material under a microscope to see the characteristic mite or eggs.

Hence I suggest you to get scabies ruled out by consulting a dermatologist. Treatment can be planned only after confirming 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 doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.