What is it? How did I get it?

[guiseley]

Hey, just about a week ago I was at my friends house and I started to itch extremely badly. A red rash formed all over my arms and no were else. Excessive itching has been cause by it, i've tried oatmeal baths, lotion, and benadryl. As the days went by, my legs and feet and hands started to itch as well. However, the rash was still on my arms. Help?

[guiseley]

Thank you sooooo much for your post! My mom bought me some different types of anti-itch cream and it has helped some...but yesterday I went to the doctors and they don't know whats wrong with me, but she put me on zyrtec sp? They think that it may be allergies so I take that for a week and then if it doesn't get better I have to go to an allergist. I've been a tad better but the itch kills...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
The symptoms that you had can be due to hives or contact dermatitis. Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.

Pls take some antihistaminics like Benadryl or ClaritinAlso apply calamine lotion on the itchy areas as it helps in soothing the skin.You can also apply a mild steroid cream on the itchy areas.If the symptoms are severe then pls consult a dermatologist and take some oral steroids.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.