Rash upon temperature change

[MouseJunkie68]

Hi there.  for the past 2 years, about 3 months after we started bi-monthly chiropractic care, I started getting rashes or hives starting on my legs. It starts out kinda feeling prickly or stingy like I need to scratch it then it turns into a rash, lasts for about 15 minutes and goes away.  I might have several of these each night, it has extended to my arms and buttocks and back (not all at the same time).  The night time when we settle down for the day is when it seems to be prevalent but I can break out during the day like if we are at a theme park and are in and out of the a/c alot.

Any ideas on what this can be?  If I take benadryl it goes away but I don't want to take drugs for it.  thanks.

[MouseJunkie68]

Thank you. Come to think of it if I do carry a grocery bag on my arm or gym bag that is heavy I do get welts where the bag was about a cuople minutes after I put the bag down. It goes away after about 10 minutes if I put coconut oil on it. As for the extended period of walking do you mean excercising? We are training for a 5k in October.  

Thanks for your advice.

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, it needs careful evaluation of history to come to a particular diagnosis and your symptoms are suggestive of allergy. Your symptoms can be suggestive of  Delayed Pressure Urticaria which presents as erythematous swelling of the skin that develops 4 to 6 hours after pressure has been applied to the area.

It can be diagnosed by dermatographometers, if available (almost obsolete). You need to avoid such activities which will trigger the event like  wearing tight clothing (affecting areas of constriction), sitting for prolonged periods of time on a hard surface (affecting the buttocks), an extended period of walking (affecting the soles and feet), or carrying heavy bags of groceries (affecting the palms and hands).

Anti-histaminic and/or Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist (may be added if not controlled by antihistamines) will help to relieve the symptoms. You can go for the long term therapy; side effects will not be matter of concern except for mild sedation and sometimes headache.

Other causes can be contact or irritant dermatitis. Find out if you are allergic to some new garments which you wear in night times, or bed sheets etc. If such is the case, you need to avoid further exposure to it.

[aldunn72023]

Have you been checked for lupus?  I only ask this because I had a patient who seemed to have this same problem.  The rash/hives began on her legs but did gradually appear in other places.  We did a punch biopsy on the rash on her legs, and it came back positive for lupus.  You might want to see your doctor to have an ANA done to check for inflammation.  Im not saying that this is the diagnosis in your situation, it could simply be a heat rash or allergies, but it is best to let a doctor check you over to make sure that this is not something major.