Unknown, recurring, red and large area itching rashs

[jj2009]

Hello docs,

Back in May I had some red large area itching rashes randomly showing up on different parts of the body like joints and lower legs. The rashes rise slightly above skin and have lots of small bumps in it. The itching was intense and scratching will make them much worse. Claritin did not help, nor did any lotion or Aloe Vera.  So I went to see to see an Urgent Care doctor, he said the reason probably would never be known but it seemed like some sort of allergy and a 5-day Medrol routine would fix it--It surely did.  

In late August while I was traveling in China’s I realized that I had some very itching rashes on the belly under the belt area (but I did not wear a belt so it could not be metal allergy)—and logically I concluded this probably was due to the heavy sweating and skin-cloth friction under the summer heat. Things got worse and rash appeared in more places like back, legs and necks.  Upon returns to Denver in early September I immediately went to see an Urgent Care doctor again, complaining the rashes as well as dry coughs (no fever, no discharge) that feel like asthma when I tried to speak. Cold air, salty food and trying to speak seem to trigger the cough easily. Again, the diagnosis was some sort of unknown allergy for all these syndromes possibly due to different factors during my China trip.  Unconvinced, I took the Medrol again anyway since it worked last time like a charm.  It sorted of worked until the rashes reappeared a week later and worse, larger and in more areas.  I went back to the same doctor again but this time he suggested me to see an allergy specialist since he could not tell for sure what it was and how to cure it.   The allergy doctor did all kinds of test it all came back negative; he also did biopsy but still could not be sure about the issue. Anyway, he was confident that a 10 day Prednisone routine would fixe since it is more powerful than Medrol.   In the first a couple of days it almost seemed working then more rashes appeared in more places and the itching became more intense.  In some areas the rashes were bigger than the size of a palm, like on my back and inner thighs, leg joints, etc.   At the same time, I also have these unknown itching rashes on the right side of my temple under the hairs—these have been recurring for years, come and go every a few months and were previously diagnosed as Follicitis but Minocycline never cured it, nor did any locations or T-GEL Shampoo.   I am not sure all these are all related or completely separate issues.  The large unknown rashes are getting severer by the day (even thought I am still on Prednisone) and almost any parts of the skin (especially joint areas) feel itching and after a few scratches a large area rash would appear—it will get a bit better if I stopped to scratch it but will never completely go away .   I am getting very distracted by them physically and mentally—no matter what they are it seems they are recurring and the frequency are getting higher.

I posted a picture of the rashes on my lower back--the bandit in the middle was for the biopsy incision.   Can someone help me out here?  Many thanks!

John

[jj2009]

Hi,

I have been taken 10mg Claritin + 25mg Benadryl for 3 days now--they seem to help a little bit (unlike before, there is now no new rashes developed) but not significantly (old rash did not seem to improve or reduce).  Any other possible diagnosis?  

Thanks,

John  

[jj2009]

Hi Dr. Kaur,

Thanks for your advice.

I tried Claritin for a week or so each time during the first two breakouts but it did not work.

Hydrocortisone Valerate 0.2% cream and Calamine & Pramoxine HCI did not work, either.

I have not taken Claritin + Benadryl in combination but I can give it a try.

Many thanks,
John

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be hives. Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours. Apply calamine lotion or some mild steroid cream the next time it appears and also take some Benadryl( causes drowsiness) and Claritin. If the symptoms persist then a dermatologist’s evaluation will be the best as sometimes the medicines may be required for 6 weeks also. If there is no improvement after 6 weeks also, then chronic urticaria,eczema and psoriasis have to be ruled  out.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.