itching

[sturtzy]

I have what looks like mosquito bites all over my body.  This has been going on for a couple of months.  They itch so bad that I scratch and scratch until it leaves marks.  I put anti itch lostion on it and it helps for about 10 minutes but then it itches again.  I have a friend who said she had something similar and her doctor said it was a fungus, similar to jock itch and that she could have gotten it from the gym.  Have you heard of this and if so what can be done?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Without clinical examination,it is very difficult making a diagnosis,but you symptoms are suggestive of chronic urticaria or hives,atopic dermatitis or eczema, sweat dermatitis or heat rashes or contact dermatitis.

Treatment includes avoidance of the allergen, oral antihistaminics like benadryl or Claritin or zyrtec and topical application of corticosteroids.You may try application of calamine on the affected site. It may work by soothing the skin.Severe cases may need oral steroids. Try keeping cool as urticaria may tend to flare up in warmer conditions. In particular, keep the bedroom cool at night. You should take a comfortably cool bath and wear smooth-textured cotton clothing. Covering the affected area with bandages and dressings can help protect the skin and prevent scratching. You should choose mild soaps without dyes or perfumes and use a mild, unscented laundry detergent when washing clothes, towels and bedding.

Scratching provides only temporary relief and doesn't promote healing of the underlying problem, it is best to avoid scratching if at all possible. If scratching breaks open the skin, bacterial infection can set in.So pls stop scratching and instead put calamine lotion which might help in itching relief.

Hope it helps.take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing and if you have any additional queries.

[Dr_Smita_S]

Hi
It would be difficult to assess without having a look at the lesions. From the description it seems that the cause for itch is a rash which can be eczematous, dermatitis (atopic, contact, and allergic), heat rash, excessive sweating, folliculitis, or psoriasis, infection (tinea) or some medical condition like SLE.

Urticaria, also commonly called hives may be related to allergy, stress (emotional/physical), heat, cold or exercise. You should try moisturizing lotions and some over-the-counter antihistaminics like cetirizine or loratidine. Anti-itch creams such as diphenhydramine (benadryl) may provide relief.

Another condition can be eczema. It includes a variety of persistent skin conditions which cause dryness, redness, skin swelling, itching or bleeding. It usually affects the face, chest and skin creases.
Eczema diagnosis is generally based on the clinical appearance and a few tests like the patch test and blood levels of IgE antibodies and eosinophils and a specific test for eczema is called the Radioallergosorbent Test (RAST).
Skin rashes are diagnosed clinically based on the history and appearance of the rash. You should consult a skin specialist for proper clinical examination, which is necessary to evaluate any skin condition. He may give you medications to treat the underlying cause or antihistaminic for relief from symptoms. In the meanwhile, you should avoid irritants like perfumes and detergents and keep your skin moisturized.
Hope this is helpful
Regards