Insect bites

[alottagreen]

For the last couple weeks, I've been getting continuous insect bites. They are small, reddish bumps on my skin that are mostly appearing on my arms and legs, and they itch like a flea or mosquito bite. They itch for about an hour, and then fade after a day or so. I shower daily and wash my clothing regularly, so I have no idea where this is coming from, and they appear throughout the day.

Shortly after the bites started appearing, I spent a week visiting my boyfriend in another city. Although we slept in the same bed and spent all our time together, neither he nor his roommate experienced any bites.

I haven't seen any bugs around, so I've assumed that the bites might be from tiny mites that I can't see. What might this be, and what can I do to get this to stop?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
This looks like urticaria or hives. The swellings or wheals produced after itching can be pale (of skin color) or red. Urticaria is usually triggered by allergens, such as drugs, foods, insect bites, inhaled substances, in response to sunlight, cold, heat, stress, exercise, or a viral infection. Other common allergens are pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, or cosmetics. Since you experienced an itch, just go over these possibilities in your mind. Something may strike you. In many cases, hives clear up themselves and don’t require diagnosis or treatment. However if they persists you may need to see a specialist called an allergist to determine what is causing the reaction. Itchy localized rash can be due to allergic dermatitis, eczema, contact dermatitis, shingles, psoriasis, fungal infection like or Tinea corporis. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please consult a skin specialist.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[katro1986]

I've heard of a rise in bed bugs everywhere