red rash and Petechiae

[line]

I am a 69 year old female who 10 days ago woke up with my legs itching, I may have scratched them in my sleep. When I woke in the A M my legs were red, itchy and had these spots that looked like blood. I thought it was from scratching dry skin, which I get very winter.


I went to my G/P and she said I have an allergic rash plus Petechiae, that she feels is coming from the rash. It is starting to fade and I can tell the rash from the Petechiae by the color when I press. The rash is the inside area of the shin and about 3 inches wide but goes from the ankle to the knee. It was very itchy but now has stopped.

My G/P sent me for blood work, have not got the results, cbc, metabolic panel and I think the letters were iGE. I know the platelet count is in there somewhere also.

The only thing that I can think of causing this rash is using a body wash, but I don't understand why the rash would locaized on both legs the same area. I did have cataract surgery, one done on oct 12 th, the other Nov. 2 nd, I was using vgamox but stopped 2 weeks ago, but I am using Madidex, My G/P said it would be doubtful that the rash came from these drops as so little gets into your system.

I did a internet search on Petechiae, even med help has some scarey info. I do have a few Petechiae spots on my stomach and arms but they have been there for years. I suffer from chronic sinus allergies since my
20's and alo get hives on and off. Had testing done several times and allergy shots for years at a time with no help.

If my blood work is in normal range can I stop worrying or should I persue this further? The only meds I take are 5 mgs, lisinopril, 80 mgs, Ecotrin and 15 mgs serax. I also take fish oil and vit d.

Thank You, Line

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Petechiae are pinpoint-sized red dots under the surface of the skin. They are common after skin trauma and viral infections and usually blanch with pressure but they don’t go away completely. Did you have any recent viral infection? But if they persist then please consult a physician and get other causes ruled out which include allergic reaction, autoimmune diseases, thrombocytopenia, ITP or leukemias.

My sincere advice is to get it examined from a dermatologist. 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.

[line]

My rash is gone on the one leg, I see one tiny red spot that will not blanch and two light pink spots, barely noticeable.I had several of the bright red spots and they did not blanch they are gone. The other leg the rash is almost gone, fading in color. I have a few red spots that do not blanch  but there were a lot more that are gone.

My blood work was all fine except for my vit. D level and cholestrol. My thyroid was checked, CBC, metabolic panel and I have no idea what else. The lab tech took 7 tubes of blood from me. She also had a allergic reaction to the same bath soap I did including a yeast infection.

I do have fibromyalgia and as I said chronic nasal allergies and get hives. My skin is very dry, especally my legs so I am wondering if the rash and spots came from scratching in my sleep.

Thank You for your time, Line

[line]

By blanching I am meaning that the the spot does not turn the skin light when I press on the them. The red rash did turn when I pressed, the red spots did not. Even though my leg was red from the rash I could see the bright red spots.

I think I am confused by  blanching