Skin help!!

[omgdavid]

Okay, so this problem has been going on for about a month now. It started in my groin area, They looked like mosquito bites, red raised bumps on the skin. They were itchy too, so at first i thought they were bug bites. They were on they head and shaft of my penis, as well as the area around my genitals. I went to 2 different doctors to figure out what it was. The first one told me it could be sexually transmitted and had me take blood work and a urine sample. They tested this and there was absolutely nothing wrong. I don't have genital warts or anything of the sort. I'm 100% clean. Since then the inchiness has spread to other parts of my body, thighs, and torso, as well as my back side. In these areas it looks red and irratated, more like a rash, with some tiny little red bumps too. Its in key areas and not ALL over my body though. The second doctor then suggested that it might be either allergies, (which to my knowledge i haven't had any thus far) But she said its not very probable because it doesn't look hive-ish and if it was allergy related it would have gone away by now. The second suggestion was that it could be a bacterial or viral infection. She has since, without knowing for sure, prescribed me some medication (Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream, And Cephalexin 500mg caps) I've been using these for 3 days so far and i see no real improvement, which i know isn't a lot of time, but she only prescribed me with a week supply of both. Anything else i think it could be is either stress related or a fungus. I'm wondering if anyone could help me identify this or if anyone thinks i should go to a dermatologist and get their opinion. Although my doctor has to refer me to one, although when i asked she denied me saying that she doesn't want to go there yet. I really want to get this taken care of ASAP. The itching is driving me nuts.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms and the sites, scabies should be ruled out. It is characterized by intense itching, usually at night and by small insect-type bites lesions on the skin. Diagnosis of scabies is made by scraping the skin and viewing the material under a microscope to see the characteristic mite or eggs.

Otherwise a biopsy skin can be done. Please take a second opinion from a dermatologist if the symptoms persist.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[maatson]

I am sure your doctors are right since you have been examined. However, in practice one does see contacts developing the infection after 2 to 6 weeks which is the incubation period.Sometimes the response to treatment is taken as evidence that the diagnosis was scabies.
Since you have the itching for a month and contacts have been examined and found negative it could be something else.

[omgdavid]

Its not scabies, the doctors told me it didn't look like scabies, my family hasn't contracted anything from me either. Its just me.

[maatson]

Scabies is the clinical impression and should eminently respond to external application of permethin 5% creme.
Do consult your doctor. Do treat your family or contacts too.