Unknown irritation, itching

[VickiJ]

Today is Friday.  Last Monday I noticed my shin itched terribly so I scratched it rather vehemently.  Soon after, I saw that there was a bump on it (like a mosquito bite) and that I had scratched the skin off (and there was fluid on it).  The abrasion scabbed over by the next day, but I noticed that the redness had spread about a centimeter.  It wasn't really circular like I would have expected a mosquito bite, but more splotchy.  By the end of that day, that area had become raised and itchy just like the original area, while the original area had darkened slightly in color and appeared to be on its way toward healing.  Every day since then, I have developed one or two new "bites" on either one of my legs.  I don't know if they are really mosquito bites or not, because I don't know how I keep getting them.  We had some mosquitoes in the house a couple of weeks ago (I saw them and got bitten a couple times) so I suppose it is possible, but does this sound like the normal course of events for insect bite healing?  The original area that I scratched is still red, although most of the "swelling" in it is gone (still itches a bit).  The other "bites" that I didn't scratch to death look just like regular mosquito bites - pink, fairly circular but some with vague perimeters, raised and itchy.  I'm starting to get freaked out.  I am a reasonably healthy 35 year old female, (at least I think I am) except that I suffer from anxiety disorders.  I am allergic to feathers, dust, staph, and mold, but I can't see how that could possibly be related.  Is it possible my down comforter (that I just pulled out of storage) is the culprit?  My husband doesn't have any mysterious bumps and he sleeps in the same bed.  We have a cat, but my husband says he checked her for fleas and she didn't have any.  I don't have any other symptoms to suggest any illness - no fever, no nothing.  I am totally stumped and worried about what is going on.  Could this be something serious?  I appreciate your assistance!  Thank you.

PS - The bumps don't hurt, aren't warm, aren't filled with pus or anything like that, and don't have visible bite marks.

[sunshine2091]

A related discussion, irrition of the vaginal that is not a std was started.

[LunaSunshine]

So i was diagnosed with Lichen Plantus 2 years ago and it has gotten a bit better but not completely, a lot of something i am not fo sure what is on my sccalp it itches and flakes and is nasty i am so sick of it. It has been there for a few years as well! HELP and suddnely the past 2 days i am developing these darn itchy bumps and there is about 8 now on my bottom both cheeks. I have had endometriosis for about 11 years and that is a daily struggle not to mention the Fibromyalgia I am 26 years old with an old person body! I wanna be healed. I do believe the mind and body are connected but even my spiritual endeavors have not helped me, someone please some idea?

[bluebird05]

I think I have the same thing.  Years ago I slept with a girl I met at a club.  About a month later I woke up with these red/pink bumps all over my shins...no where else.  One leg had about 10 and the other 12 to 15.  They itched like crazy.  No pain...just a severe itch...mainly at night.  When I looked back I remember the girl had scars on her shins but I didn't think anything of it....she looked healthy otherwise.  We did use protection and no oral or even heavy kissing.  This is why I didn't think it was an STD.  Anyhow, it itched for about a month and finally healed...and now I have scars on my shins.  About a year went by and other things started to happen during that time....itchy scalp, itch inside ear openings, rash between toes and fingers, itchy bumps on chest, back elbows and knees....basically ithcy all over.  I went to STD clinic and got tested for about 9 STD's, including HSV, all negative.  A couple years went by and I got a girlfriend.  Two months later she gets the same thing on her shins and everything that happened to me happened to her.  We never had oral sex or unprotected vaginal sex.  If it's not an STD......what is it???

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

No change in my assessment.

Dr. Rockoff

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

It's common for one person to have bites and another next to them to not have bites.  Or these could be blocked pores (folliculitis.)  Either way, they aren't serious.  Scratching them, of course, makes them worse, but that's not serious either.  My advice is to use an over-the-counter anti-itch cream like Benadryl or Sarna liberally and often, avoid scratching, and see a doctor if it spreads or doesn't go away, though I think it will.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[VickiJ]

(Groan) I just noticed another small itchy bump at my beltline (I'm wearing sweats).  Maybe heat-related?  I'm just grasping here...

[VickiJ]

Sorry to keep posting notes, but I didn't mention that I have just recently got over a few-day period of being totally puffy (like retaining water), and wanted to mention that in case you think it could be a case of angioedema.  I had been in a period of anorexia, then started to eat a lot, and attributed the puffy hands and feet to eating and retaining water.  Once I got back onto a normal eating schedule, the puffiness went away, and the bumps came soon after.  Thanks.