itchy rash

I recently have developed an itchy rash on my abdomen which at first resembled poison ivy.  They started out as small clustered itchy bumps with slight blistering along my waist line.  These red itchy bumps are now spreading one at a time along my legs arms, one on my neck and ear, now resembling small mosquito bites.  I was recently away on business and I thought at first that the rash may have been caused by something from the hotel bed, but after I came home these bumps continued to spread.  Any thoughts on what this could be?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Not posion ivy.  Perhaps a heat rash, or bites, or folliculitis (clogged pores.)  Any of these rashes will go away if left alone.  Try Sarna lotion (OTC) for itch.  If the rash spreads or lasts more than a week, see a doctor.

best.

Dr. Rockoff

[NCGirl]

I have been having the same problem the last couple of days and without further hesitation went to the doctor.  He said hat hives are often hard to determine and he put me on an allergy pill called Zyrtec.  Needless to say, my hives were not as bad in the doctors office as they were when I got home.  Does anyone else have any imput?

[Bushkey]

I have had the same rash for about 2 months - off and on.... I take Zyrtec and they are fine for about 2 days and come back again....  Dr. said they will go as fast as they came... I sure hope so...  Let me know what you find out about them...

[Babs in Chicago]

This sounds similar to my problem, and today I learned that other women in our office have had the same thing. I had this the year before last, and it comes back in exactly the same place.  I went to the emergency room on Saturday night because it started, and I knew it was going to be a bad case.  Doctor prescribed antibiotic and 5 day steroid.  He said he didn't know what it was, but this would clear it up.  He said it was not contagious.  The rash starts as small itchy bumps and looks like poison ivy.  As it progresses they bumps get puss-filled and spread.  It is painful and itchy and will drive you mad.  After talking to another girl in the office today, she said last year was really bad for her.  I don't remember getting it last year, but the year before last was the first time and it was horrible!  The odd thing is that it comes back in exactly the same place.  Emergency room doctor said that I must have very sensitive skin.  It couldn't have been poison ivy/oak.  I hadn't been anywhere near the backyard for 4 days before the first itchy bump popped up.  I did mention to ER Dr strange thing Thursday night that the skin on the top of my thigh hurt when you touched it.  Kind of like when you're really sick and your skin hurts.  Sorry this is so long & windy but I'm hoping someone can help us!

[johnb2277]

This past summer I developed an extremely itchy rash.  At first I thought it was poison ivy.  It started on the back of my arms then spread all over my back and abdomen then to my theighs.  The rash is extremely itchy and looks like long welps all over my body.  It only gets bad at night and sometimes it appears then goes away after about 15 minutes.  I went to the Doctor and he gave me a cycle of steroids which got rid of it.  Then the next day it came back and he gave me a 30 supply of Zyrtec.  The rash didn't come back until 2 days after I finished my Zyrtec.  The doctor has no idea what is causing this rash.  Is there anyone outthere that can shed some light on my situation.  Thank you.

[Gertrude Stein]

I had a stubborn red itchy rash which wouldn't go away, even after using steroid ointment.  An old doctor told me to try rubbing cornflour all over my body.  I did and it cleared up in several days

[horseluvr13]

I started this rash like a week ago, and I put Hydrocordasone cream on it. It takes the itch away for about 2 minutes. So I started putting antiitch ointment on, and it didn't help either. I havn't gone to a doctor.Will it keep getting worse if I don't go see one?