Itchy, Tiny Bumps All Over

[Blupaisleywv]

I was going through the same thing. Started with what looked like a small bug bite on my shin. It quickly turned to a large itchy rash of small bumps that I had scratched raw. Within a few weeks I noticed another small "bite" on my wrist,... within a week it too turned into the same rash. Now these little itchy papules are popping up all over. The original rash on my shin now has that orange peel texture, is raised, red, and itches like nobody's business!! I scoured the internet hopeful for some answer. It isn't scabies, it's not a contact dermatitis. I was starting to freak out with no health insurance and a quickly spreading itchy funk.
When it popped up on my fingers, I realized what it was. When I was younger I was really prone to athlete's foot, and would get these itchy papules on my feet and sometimes my fingers. Usually this went away with a topical anti-fungal ointment. I started treating my rash with an OTC fungal medication and so far it is helping, but with the large area I have to cover, I was going through a tube every other day. EXPENSIVE! So I got a prescription of Diflucan (flucanazole) and have taken it for two days and already I'm seeing a difference,.... no new eruptions and the old ones are fading. I'm still using the topical ointment as well,... I figure a one-two punch couldn't hurt.
I've had issues with my immune system for years, and have become quite accustomed to curing my own illnesses. However, this being said, I do not recommend that everyone take this approach. If you DO have insurance, go see a doctor! But it doesn't hurt to do your own research as well. I hope this helps.

[Unregistered]

In Response to findmethecause, I have almost identical symptoms and experience.. My rash started as a bumpy patch on the back of both upper arms. Then the next dayit had spread to both of my inner calfs. Next day the itching began! Each day a new part of my body was covered and itching! The bumps looked more like welps or hives with a white halo. After a week of misery, went to Dr. and he did not know so referred me to a Dermatologist 4 days later. I tried benadryl and hydrocortizone cream 1% which did not help at first, then was prescribed hyperoxzine which just made me drowsy. Retried the benadryl but took 2 tabs at a time every 3 to 4 hours along with the hydrocortizone cream. The dermatologist just said my skin looked very dry and of course the rash did'nt look as bad as just the day before. By this time 10 days into it, it had spread in and around my ears, down my neck, around my jawline, down both arms front and back, and down both of my legs. My torso had been spared until the second week, which the rash concentrated on my chest, back stomach and started creeping down towards my buttock area. Thankfully, my groin area has been spared to date. The dermat. prescribed Zyrtec, doxepin, and Triamcinolone .1% ointment. The ointment made my skin burn and the itching worse. The zyrtec after the 3rd day was ineffective, so I went back to the Benadryl ad hydrocortizone cream. Frustrated, I went to an Acupuncturist who is currently treating me for excessive Heat and Wind issues, along with an herbal concoction. I stopped taking my Ortho Tri Cylen because the Semisythetic Estrogen is known for reacting to UVA rays and causing rash. The itching worsened the next two days, but then I broke into a sweat and all of a sudden felt NORMAL! Like the rash just left my body. This lasted for about 24 hours only to return but much less severe than before. Now I have the orange peel look on my entire body except my hands, feet, groin and face. My face does have very mild red rash, similar to the neck pics you posted. It has been a month, and I am still itching, but it comes and goes in waves. Heat and clothes, or just touching my skin aggravates it. After extensive research online, I think I may have a lead...Prickly Heat, Miliaria, and Ectodermal Dysplasias. Research blocked sweat glands which cause the goosebump rash due to the bacteria getting trapped under the skin causing irritation and some infection. I am still researching but seems to make sense. Please respond with any info regarding this miserable, unsexy beast taking over my life!- Still itching in Denver

[Still Itching in Denver]

I too have had a very similar rash for a month. I am a 35 yr old female, healthy. After no success from DR.S I am trying acupuncture and herbs to deal with the problem. I also have done alot of research and found that the ORtho Tri Cyclen contains semi-synthetic estranidol which causes rash for some when subjected to UV rays( which I had from tanning bed use and just being out in the sun. I have since stopped taking the pill and with acupuncture have noticed a big improvement but still itching and the hive like rash has taken on the form of orange peel skin or goosebumps from neck to ankle. My face has splotches around my eyes on jawline ( butterfly rash) Only my groin area, palms and feet have been spared from the itching. I have come across a few things that might be a diagnosis...Look up Miliaria, Prickly Heat, and Ectodermal dysplasias. Blocked sweat glands may be the cause for the bumps because bacteria gets trapped between the skin causing inflammation and goosebumps. This is why heat and clothing aggravate the skin. Your body is trying to sweat and is attacking the bacteria clogging your glands. Benadryl did not work at first but in conjunction with the acupuncture and herbs it is better than the pharmacy prescribed by 4 different doctors who still have no clue and told me to come back in 2 months, yeah right! If any other solutions are available please send, thanks

[Unregistered]

I have had exact what everyone is talking about....

Been to the Docs for years trying to figure it out and the itching at times can make you feel you are going insane.

The end result is Wells Syndrom with hypersensitivity topical dermatitis. So for all of us who have this its rare. No cure and out breaks can last years. The difference is level of itching and how much of the body is being effected during the outbreak.

The bumbs are like goosepimples and in places the skin is discolored with little red dots in the orangish patch.

Another possible for those who have something simular but contained only in the arms and legs is Schamberg's disease which is caused by leaking blood vessels and the iron in the blood stains the skin. This is normally a side effect of other medical problems and is mostly associated with other types of vacular problems. Most common in families with mental disorders and most often the person has known allergies like hayfever or other common allergies.

Things which I have found to help!

Aloe Vera gel. Soaking in a hot tub for hours. this is where I slept for a time because I could not sleep in bed without scratching myself silly.

High sulphur mud bath. This last one actually works and puts condition into remission after several repeated treatments over a 4 day period. The problem is cost to go to a spa for this treatment. However, health stores have mud packs which help but I have never tried it as a replacement though it should work.

There is no cure for Well's Syndrom. But it can be managed. I find using lots of skin moisturizers helps reduce outbreaks which can happen anytime.

Warm oil baths also give temporary relief.

If you can have the will power to not to scratch for several minutes the aloe vera gel works miricles and does a better job than the creams that the prescriptions wax based steriod creams.

[Unregistered]

In Response to findmethecause, I have almost identical symptoms and experience.. My rash started as a bumpy patch on the back of both upper arms. Then the next dayit had spread to both of my inner calfs. Next day the itching began! Each day a new part of my body was covered and itching! The bumps looked more like welps or hives with a white halo. After a week of misery, went to Dr. and he did not know so referred me to a Dermatologist 4 days later. I tried benadryl and hydrocortizone cream 1% which did not help at first, then was prescribed hyperoxzine which just made me drowsy. Retried the benadryl but took 2 tabs at a time every 3 to 4 hours along with the hydrocortizone cream. The dermatologist just said my skin looked very dry and of course the rash did'nt look as bad as just the day before. By this time 10 days into it, it had spread in and around my ears, down my neck, around my jawline, down both arms front and back, and down both of my legs. My torso had been spared until the second week, which the rash concentrated on my chest, back stomach and started creeping down towards my buttock area. Thankfully, my groin area has been spared to date. The dermat. prescribed Zyrtec, doxepin, and Triamcinolone .1% ointment. The ointment made my skin burn and the itching worse. The zyrtec after the 3rd day was ineffective, so I went back to the Benadryl ad hydrocortizone cream. Frustrated, I went to an Acupuncturist who is currently treating me for excessive Heat and Wind issues, along with an herbal concoction. I stopped taking my Ortho Tri Cylen because the Semisythetic Estrogen is known for reacting to UVA rays and causing rash. The itching worsened the next two days, but then I broke into a sweat and all of a sudden felt NORMAL! Like the rash just left my body. This lasted for about 24 hours only to return but much less severe than before. Now I have the orange peel look on my entire body except my hands, feet, groin and face. My face does have very mild red rash, similar to the neck pics you posted. It has been a month, and I am still itching, but it comes and goes in waves. Heat and clothes, or just touching my skin aggravates it. After extensive research online, I think I may have a lead...Prickly Heat, Miliaria, and Ectodermal Dysplasias. Research blocked sweat glands which cause the goosebump rash due to the bacteria getting trapped under the skin causing irritation and some infection. I am still researching but seems to make sense. Please respond with any info regarding this miserable, unsexy beast taking over my life!- Still itching in Denver

Similar to my story. feel very unsexy and hate wearing a bathing suit. Just diagnosed with grovers disease after 1 year of a mixture of meds. creams and lotions. nest try is photo light theropy. Would love to have my life back..its funny how we take simply thins such as our skin for granted. I had great skin, never a problem till last year.

[Unregistered]

I have this strange skin condition for 3 years. It started on my legs. It got serious when it infected my face. It swelled up so much one night while having a bath, I had to first aid my face with ice packs all night. I woke up parylised in the face then my skin on my face all pealed off. (that was 6 months ago). Blood tests don't tell us anything. Swimming in chlorine keeps the itchy bumps at bay but doesn't cure them. Hot showers and hot steam/sauna help for a couple of hours. I am now avoiding egg, wheat, soy, nuts, seeds and all packaged food sauces ect....but the whole thing is strange my partner doesn't suffer it... Yet it comes in cycles and changes it's location on my face and body. I have taken medications tehy don't work. Vitamin c, lysine do help but not cure.

I will post more at a later date


SKIPPY

[Aubrey]

It's been going on for a month now. It started on my left arm, just above my wrist as a series of tiny reddish, raised dots. It's very itchy. Within about a week, it spread all over my arms. By about 2 weeks it has spread to my legs and some parts of my body (neck, back, under my breast, on my tummy). The worst parts are still on my arms. In the 3rd week, it got to my face a bit.

I've seen 2 doctors and 1 dermatologist. I've been given antihistamine and some steroid ointment. None of this gave me relief. The initial rash seems to fade away into very tiny raised dots (see pictures) and the new itch now appear like this. All over my arms except my actual wrist and hands now have this 'orange-peel' texture - or like a mini basketball surface. It's like having a permanent goose-bumps even on the part of the skin without hair. The dots in some areas are less dense. Compared the affected area with the wrist area that's not affected:



Now, one of the doctors and the dermatologist prescribed Semprex capsules (one after another) so I have been having this medication for almost 2 weeks now. I'm still itching. And the itch on my face got even worse... Although... it looks different from the rest. On my face it is reddish raised area (see pictures) and the skin there feels tender. Plus, my eyelids got swollen too... the left one is worse, it covers half of my left eye.



So I googled Semprex and found out that this allergy medicine itself could cause allergic reaction as well! One of the side effects is swollen eyelids...
http://emc.medicines.org.uk/emc/asse...ocumentid=9183

I stopped taking Semprex but kept taking the evening medication (Hydroxyzine). The following morning the swelling was easing off and my overall condition improved. I felt better than I have been since I got this ithcy problem. So I thought I have found out that I'm allergic to Semprex. I simply stop taking it all together.

But lo and behold! This morning I woke up with huge swelling on both eyelids and a bit on my face too! Plus, I was itching like crazy during the night I had problem sleeping. The itch is mostly on my limbs. So I wonder, am I allergic to Hydroxyzine as well? Could it be that all the Semprex I've been taking for almost 2 weeks have wreck havoc to my body and now it became sensitive/allergic to antihistamine?

Now my skin has become very sensitive too. It's a real challenge to find clothing that won't irritate my skin. Any slightest rough material or seams would make my condition worse.

I found cool weather and open space to be of help a bit which is fortunate because now the weather is cool.

Nevertheless, I still have no clue on what has caused the itch on my arms, legs, body that has turned most of my skin into 'orange peel'. As far as I know, I didn't eat nor get in touch with anything new/unusual in the period before the itch started.

My living space is bright with plenty of sunshine and good ventilation. We have big windows that we open every day. We clean our place regularly too.

I have also checked my bed for bedbugs but I didn't see anything, i.e. blood stains or anything at all. I have also washed all the beddings with hot water. Still doesn't help me a bit. BTW, my husband doesn't get any of the itch I got, so whatever it is, it is not contagious.

Oh and I am female, 38 y.o. in good health aside from this condition. I'm not on any medication prior to this, and my weight is normal (slim).

My doc thought it could be something internal so I had some blood tests done several days ago, but the result won't be ready until next Thursday.

I wonder if any body here has similar experience with me, especially the 'orange peel' skin condition.

Thanks a lot for any info you might share here.

~f~

Wow, looks like I have the same thing! Mine started 3 weeks ago and a day after I got back from England. At first my legs started to itch, with no apparent rash, then all of a sudden my arms were itching and it showed up as little hives upon scratching. Now more recently, I have that "Orange peel" texture on my skin with tiny little bumps all over my arms and legs. There have been a few parts of my body that have been spared, but it seems that the bumps are spreading to my fingers and feet. I had been to 3 different doctors about this and no one seems to have a clue. They prescribed me scabies treatment and antihistamine for the itching, but its not scabies and antihistamine does not work! This is so annoying! I'm always itching and my arms and legs look so unattractive! Someone needs to find out what this is and how to effectively treat it! Someone please help!!

[Unregistered]

Wow, looks like I have the same thing! Mine started 3 weeks ago and a day after I got back from England. At first my legs started to itch, with no apparent rash, then all of a sudden my arms were itching and it showed up as little hives upon scratching. Now more recently, I have that "Orange peel" texture on my skin with tiny little bumps all over my arms and legs. There have been a few parts of my body that have been spared, but it seems that the bumps are spreading to my fingers and feet. I had been to 3 different doctors about this and no one seems to have a clue. They prescribed me scabies treatment and antihistamine for the itching, but its not scabies and antihistamine does not work! This is so annoying! I'm always itching and my arms and legs look so unattractive! Someone needs to find out what this is and how to effectively treat it! Someone please help!!

And i thought i had it bad i started off having a tiny itch on my arm then it grew over night to my whole body doctors said scabies at first but they didnt even bother to do a skin scraping and look at it they just guessed they gave me perimethrin which didnt do anything for the itch, cortisone doesnt help at all, they gave me hydroxizine that doesnt help the itch but it does put me out to sleep so it helps that way. went to the docs today and they took a skin scraping still waiting on that and now they want to give me oral steroids. but ganja seems to help me the best other than that hydroxizine

[Unregistered]

OK I'm not alone either but i do have some things to consider that i think may have triggered this issue. I have the same all over tiny itchy rash. Mine started under my breast, i was working outside for several days in heat and humidity, that when i actually noticed it. prior to that i dyed my hair and when i was at a social gathering my back of my neck begin to burn and i got very hot my ears felt like they were on fire! i rinsed the back of my head several times thinking i didnt get all the coloring out. a couple of days later my cat scratched me very bad on my breast and hand. She is an outdoor cat and we live in the tropics! I'm thinking she may have infected my system with a plant unknown to doctors. i havent been yet i have a apt on the 3rd of Oct, so i will repost with any new info. I also have extremely dry scalp, especially on the side of my temples with red patches underneath the scaling skin, behind my ears. this is not normal for me. The area where my cat scratched me was looking like it was healing until this rash spread I have been like this for almost two weeks and I am miserable! I truly believe this is an infection that attacks your immune system and nerves. My itchiness is worse when i am awake, I have self medicated with benadryl, it calms it but when i get moving again it starts back up. I do agree with the ALOE but i think i get more relief from Gold Bond healing lotion, again temporary. I cant imagine going through life like this forever so i wont stop till i find the cure. Wish me luck. please keep posting together maybe we can all get cured. Hopeful OH MY gosh my daughter seems to be having the same problem!!! Shes allergic to guava plants!! there everywhere here and my cat climbs trees. i will let you know, try temovate cream if you can get a prescription for it, that's what i used on her and no citrus just water

[chris9]

Hi there findmethecause. I recently performed a google search for some symptoms I was experiencing, and came across your post. I have had quite a similar experience and am very curious to know if you ever figured out what was wrong and what caused the rashes?