another mysterious rash

[orphan_girl]

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6917/art2799wk.jpg (right leg, today)
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3081/art2775xy.jpg (left leg, today)
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/6324/art2749bb.jpg (left leg, alternate view 1)
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/5710/art2807pj.jpg (left leg alternate view 2)
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6032/art2610tq.jpg (right leg, a few days ago)
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7168/art2685il.jpg (left leg, a few days ago)


I am a twenty year-old female, in good health.  About four or five days ago, I noticed a few red spots near and on the crease where my inner thigh joins my pubic region.  (None of the red spots are, or ever were, on my vulva, or pubic hair region.)  The rash appears to be spreading around my upper inner thighs, and there are now about fifteen to twenty distinct spots.  The spots are slightly raised, most pronouncedly around the perimeter.  The spots are smooth, and remind me of somewhat of painless blisters.  The two oldest spots on my right leg have faded somewhat and are no longer raised, and appear to have developed a thin whitish border.

A few of the spots are small round "dots" about 2 millimeters across.  (One of these small "dots" is off by its self, lower on my leg, between my upper thigh and knee.  There is also a similar-looking pimplish "dot" on my stomach which may be related.)  Most of the spots, however, are larger and inconsistent in shape and size.  The pattern in which they are spreading also seems irregular, though most of the spots are about a centimeter apart from each other.  The spots do occasionally itch, but not severely.

The rash looks somewhat like scabies, but really I have no idea what these pesky spots could be...  Maybe some sort of fungus?  Well, no use speculating; I will leave that for you to decide!  Please let me know if there is something that will help control or eliminate the rash.  Thank you for your time.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

These spots are not blisters, and they do not look anything like scabies.

Possibilities include hives, fungus, or eczema (though these spots aren't typical of any of these.)

Recommendation:  Get some clotrimazole 1% cream (over-the-counter) and apply it twice a day.  Make an appointment for a doctor to see it.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[orphan_girl]

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4298/art2905kw.jpg (left leg, most recent)

The rash seems to be spreading further down my legs.  Today I noticed two faint, reddish "streaks" on my left leg, and about three such lines on my right leg.  I am not completely sure that these are related to the bumps higher up, near my groin, though.  Also, I have a couple of small bumps on my shoulders and one on my stomach, which have been present for several days, closely resembling this one on my leg:

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5745/art2915vv.jpg

As with the streaks, I am not sure that these are related to the red spots described above.

[wif_a_tude]

From the way you described it, it does almost sound like scabies.  If that is the case, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible to treat it.  If you don't it will get worse.  They can do a scraping and look under a microscope to find out if it is scabies.  Along with the rash getting worse, it could also spread to everyone in your household.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

No, it does not sound like scabies.  It does not look like something that will spread to the whole household.  The new pictures look more like an eczema-type eruption.  My advice remains the same: please see a doctor in person.

Thanks.

Dr. Rockoff

[orphan_girl]

You're right, the spots weren't typical of anything you mentioned.  Turns out it's just pityriasis rosea.  

Thanks, anyway.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Most of the time, pityriasis affects the trunk primarily, though I have seen a few cases that were centered in the groin.  Good news--it goes away and doesn't matter.

Dr. Rockoff