Mysterious Red dots - Look like bug bites. Please help. [Pictures]

[MFcupcakeicingandeyeliner]

For the past three or four days I've had this little red dots on my arm/shoulder area. The first day I noticed them they were bright red, flat and weren't irritated or itchy. The next day they became slightly raised and itchy.

My dad thought I might have these from Swimming in the river for an extended period of time. Which made some sense at first, since Me, my boyfriend, my dad's girlfriend, and little sister Alyssa all had exposure to the water the previous day, and we all were experiencing the same symptoms.
So for the past three days I've been very careful not to scratch, for fear it would spread, and have been applying lots of Benydrill cream to the red dots.
I've posted my issue on this website before, and I was advised it could be hives. Though they said that no one lesion will last more than 24 hours, and that new ones would appear; However I have noticed that the same three that I first noticed have not moved or disappeared for four days.

  Last night I was relaxing in our hammock with my boyfriend and today he called me complaining about how he got the red dots all over his arms and feet. ( The only body parts that were exposed.)

Upon further inspection of myself I noticed that the red dots had now spread from my shoulder to the whole right side of my back, and on the lower part of my back, both left and right sides.
I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, and IF it were from something in the hammock, I could understand that maybe while adjusting my positioning my shirt on my lower back could have been pushed up? But there was no way my sleeve could have been pushed back all the way to the center of my back.

These red dots are new and so are not yet raised.

My father has also laid in the hammock but has not experienced any of our symptoms.

Please help!
Nor me or my father have money or insurance to pay for even a minute-clinic visit.
Any advice would be much appreciated!!

Pictures:
My lower back - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/KonekoNyanNyan/skinherpes.jpg
My Arm - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/KonekoNyanNyan/skinherpes2.jpg
My back - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/KonekoNyanNyan/skinherpes1.jpg

On my Boyfriend:
His arm - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/KonekoNyanNyan/erg.jpg
Underside of his arm - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/KonekoNyanNyan/erg1.jpg

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

I was not able to see the pictures. But from what you describe there could be several causes of the symptoms you are having.

You would need a clinical examination to rule out the possible causes and come to a definite diagnosis.

It could be eczema, sweat dermatitis, allergic reactions or eczema.

You need to wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites.

Apply calamine lotion at the site of the lesions and see if it helps. You could take some oral antihistamine medications like cetrizine or loratadine. You need to maintain a good personal hygiene .

Anti-itch drugs, often antihistamine, may reduce the itch during a flare up of eczema, and the reduced scratching in turn reduces damage and irritation to the skin.

For mild-moderate eczema a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone or desonide), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

Eczema can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. Moisturizing is one of the most important self-care treatments for sufferers of eczema. Keeping the affected area moistened can promote skin healing and relief of symptoms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eczema

It would be advisable to consult a skin specialist for your symptoms and a proper clinical examination.

get a repeat blood test for the ferritin levels and discuss it with your doctor.

Let us know if you need any other information and post us on how you are doing.

Regards.