strange rash

[vandoo]

6 weeks ago I had a severely itchy spot on the back of my thigh.  I didn't think much of it until the next day when I noticed a baseball sized very dark bruise almost perfectly round in the same spot that was itchy.  It continued to itch but not as much and the bruise faded.  Now, periodically the same spot will start to itch fiercely and it gets raised small white spots.  I've never had anything itch this bad.  I originally thought it was a spider bite but now I wonder if it was something else.

[vandoo]

Thank you for your response.  I do not have any other symptoms.  I just checked into Lyme Disease because I am in an area that can have it and deer are always in my back yard.  My rash is definately not a "bulls eye" and I have not noticed any of the other symptoms.  I will try calamine.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

Are there other symptoms present? If there was no trauma to this area previously, this could be an allergic reaction,  irritation, infection or skin conditions such as dermatitis.  Allergic contact dermatitis is an itchy skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to material in contact with the skin. It arises some hours after contact with the responsible material, and settles down over some days providing the skin is no longer in contact with it. Irritant contact dermatitis, on the other hand,  is caused by excessive contact with irritants such as water, soaps, detergents, solvents, acids, alkalis, and friction. Irritant contact dermatitis may affect anyone, providing they have had enough exposure to the irritant. If it persists, have this evaluated further for proper management. Cold compresses, calamine lotion or over-the-counter anti-histamine medications may help.

Take care and keep us posted.