Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Why are my chigger bites recurring and possibly causing a new rash on my arms?

So this all started about 7 months ago when I ended up with literally hundreds of chigger bites on my legs from about my waist to my ankles. Hundreds. They all went through the normal hell and healing phases except for this particular one on the top of my thigh that became a bumpy rash about the size of a dime. The other bites had become faint purple spots beneath the skin. I had been to the doctor for it (and for the other bites when they started weeping) and they gave me an antibiotic ointment. The bump did not respond to the ointment other than not getting worse, so they told me to quit applying it and see if the bump would dry up on its own. It got worse, growing to about the size of a quarter and maybe bigger, with a thick, bumpy texture. Then, several of the healed chigger bites in the vicinity of the main one started itching again and formed into similar patches. Sometime after this more bites further down my legs began resurfacing and new patches developed on my arms. They put me on a very strong oral antibiotic that I couldn't handle very well and didn't seem to do much anyway, so they took me off that and sent me to the dermatologist (I'd been seeing a pediatrician) who gave me another antibiotic ointment and an anti inflammatory cream after testing me for viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. The anti inflammatory cream healed the worst patches within about a week, leaving light brown "scars". However, once I get a few healed, a few more spring up on my legs and arms, leaving me stuck in this cycle for maybe three months. The dermatologist thinks it's eczema, which does make sense, but the stuff on my arms doesn't feel dry or scaly and appears in defined bumps, not really like a rash (like the google images suggest). Furthermore, I've had two cuts on my arm act exactly like the bumps do in terms of healing even though I kept them clean and dressed. While not every chigger bite has resurfaced, every spot that has appeared was previously a bite. I believe papular urticaria is a possibility because I've had issues in the past with bug bites becoming bullae. I just want to know if anyone can think of any other possible condition, please.
0 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Dermatology Community

Top Dermatology Answerers
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions