What is this rash spreading on my legs?

[acuransx]

So I have this rash on my legs that has been there for about 5 days now.  Please refer to images:  http://imgur.com/DFDkyl&EV6fx  (there are 2 images, so please be sure to view both).  Basically, the rash covers my right inner  side of the knee and extends a bit down my inner calf and up my inner thigh and on the left leg, there it's more sporatic and doesn't cover as large of an area.  It is extremely itchy and uncomfortable, however, I have refrained from scratching it for the most part (it started off looking like a mosquito bite and I didn't think to refrain from scratching it at the time).  The skin on the rash feels and looks like an orange peel and is very tough and inflamed.  The scab you see is from the jeans I was wearing that would inadvertently pop the blisters forming on the rash, so I stopped wearing jeans the past few days.  It does not seem like it's spreading any more, but the areas that are affected seem to be getting worse over the past few days.  I had thought it was poison ivy as I did go mountain biking  last weekend, but didn't really go in the woods too much, just on dirt paths.  It's possible that I inadvertently hit a poison ivy leaf on my way.  I hope it's some kind of poison plant oil, but I've had poison ivy before and it's not this bad.  

Please help me out and tell me what this is and what I should do with it.  

Thanks so much for your help.  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Such an itchy rash can be contact dermatitis, allergies, fungal infection, heat rash, hives or sweat dermatitis. Avoid using any lotions and creams for the meantime.
Use a mild cleanser with moisturizing properties like Cetaphil. Also use cotton clothes and change the clothes twice if there is any increased sweating. Try keeping the skin free of sweat as far as possible. If the symptoms still persist then you can apply mild steroid like dermacort. For the itching antihistaminics like Benadryl or Claritin can be taken.

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 dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[acuransx]

Please help.