Chronic burning rash going on 2 1/2 months

[Raxet]

I have been plagued for the last ten weeks with a itching rash that shows up mostly after retiring in the evening. After an hour or so asleep, whatever side of the body I lay on, a very itchy rash appears, I rub, I scratch, and after awhile, I end up going back to sleep and wake up with the itch gone, but an intense sunburn like feeling over those areas that I rubbed or scratched. Eventually, most of my upper torso, back, thighs, arms, shoulders and even the neck area became affected.

Up front, I have conclusively ruled out an allergic reaction to anything. I have seasonal spring time allergies, but since giving up milk products years ago, my allergies are very minimal, lasting maybe a couple weeks in the spring and fall respectively. My wife has been using hypoallergenic products to wash our cloths etc for years now. No new changes in diet. etc.

Back in late December 08', I went to an InstaCare here and a physician (Internal Medicine) prescribed a 5 day course of Prednisone 40 mg with Atarax 25 mg. I also took a Zyrtec once a day. These meds never resolved the sunburn like sensation over the affected areas. Never really getting the rash handled. In January of this year, I saw my doctor (Internal Medicine) and he suggested some blood tests checking my vitamin levels. All but one of the tests came back in the normal range.

The one test Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy came back with a level of 8. Apparently the normal range is between 30 - 80?
My doctor didn't think it had anything to do with the rash and gave my a 8 week dose of Vitamin D (Ergocalciferol), 50000 units. To take once a week.

I finally saw my dermatologist last week. He brought in another dermatologist and they scrutinized my multiple rashes. My doctor decided to treat me with a Kenalog shot in the rear, Triamcinolone Acetonide cream applied to all affected areas twice daily. He also took a punch biopsy above my right breast, making sure that no sinister thing was going on. He mentioned that he was concerned that perhaps it could be a very early appearance of CTCL. Didn't tell me what that was. I looked it up.

While these latest efforts are clearing up my symptoms greatly and giving me the ability to sleep at night, every now and then I experience a flare up on one areas of my body. Flare up doesn't last long, however, to my delight the burning sensation is totally gone.

To describe the rash, it almost looks like eczema, but there is no leaking eruptions. Just a slighty patchy raised rash. No hives.

Looking at my skin though you can still see an outline of where the rash was, very faint though. If I miss an application of the Triamcinolone cream, I do notice that intense itch trying to come back in those areas.

The question I have is, after my follow up appointment in a week, and the biopsy is negative (hopefully), what then?
If the same rash starts to re-appear, am I doomed to live with this for a very long time?

[Raxet]

If you read my post, I stated that we have been using everything hypoallergenic. No to the mites as well. My wife would be complaining. We sleep in the same bed. :)

[willy851]

Just a thought. Did you change laundry detergents or start using dryer pads?
You might be allergic to the residue. Also check for bed mites.