What is HSP and how bad can it be

[ed]

One day (Tuesday)I woke up with about 13 little itchy bumps on my right side of my trunk.  They weren't very large, but by the next day they had accumulated to over 50 on one side and about 20 on the ohter, and also spreading some to my arm.  That day I went to the doctor, and they said they weren't sure what it was, and put me on lotrimin (didn't help).  That night they combined and soon my entire trunk was red with a darker red inside.  It was extremely itchy and I went back in to the hospital.  He said he never seen something like that and put me on medidrol and some anti histamines.  Neither of which worked to stop it from spreading or itching.  By the weekend my entire trunk was extremely red, but my stomach was okay, and it stopped before getting to my back.  Also my feet were a redish purple, and it was on my knees, and calves and in the inside of my elbows.  There were no blistering, or cracking, and when you touched it the color stayed the same.  Finally a doctor said I had a condition called HSP.  I will be going to a specialist this week so he can take a sample of my skin and send it to Mayo.  I was just wondering what this really is, and how does one get something like this.

[Liz]

On my scalp I feel small pimples on sides, top and back of my head. I tried to squeeze one on the back of my head and some clear liquid and a small amount of blood came out.  Any ideas?
I have just been diagnosed with a thyroid mass and have diabetes as well.

[louis]

my daughter has developed a facial rash that is red and blotchy as well as larger bumps on her face that are hard lumps it is also very itchy

[stacey]

I have recently developed a rash on my left forearm.  It started as a little red circular spot and has now spread all down the top of my arm.  It is extremely red and itches constantly.  I asked my doctor about it and he said it was "winter itch."  I'm not buying this since the cream that he prescribed has done nothing but burn and has not relieved any of the redness or itching.  It seems to be getting worse.  The whole area is raised and hot to the touch.  Another thing that is concerning me is that I now have developed three similiar circular bumps on my right forearm. Although, these do not itch, can I expect the same thing from them.
What is this and how on earth can I get rid of it?  I've tried Benadryl, Hydrocortizone and Calamine Lotion.

Help......Thanks

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Ed:

HSP, or Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, is a condition in whivh the small-caliber blood vessels of the skin become inflamed.  Cause is unknown.  Involvement of internal blood vessels must be looked into, as well.  

The first thing you need os for your physician to determine with certainty that you have HSP or something else.  HSP itself 9is self-limiting and annoying rather than serious, and treatment )(oral cortisone etc.) is available, but precise diagnosis is paramount.  You may have to wait a bit until the tests make your situation plain.

Best.  Dr. R