[sfharper]

My husband started breaking out in a rash and for over three years we were stumped. He'd scratch so much he'd bleed. He went to our family doctor, two dermatologists, we tried every potion and cure we heard about or could imagine. I played first aid specialist with the raw wounds -- putting on hydrogen pyroxide, iodine, and antibiotic cream so they'd heal and rubbing in lotions all over since the best advice we got was dry skin. One day we discovered he was allergic to eggs. Since he went off eggs, he's cured. Hallelujah!

[KR258]

I have red bumps that itch...it started on my upper legs and then I got a couple on my tummy and around to my lower back and now I have a few in my arm pit. If I don't scratch it quits itching by the next day but the spot is still there...just gets smaller. If I do scratch then it gets larger and burns and gets a white head that usually breaks at some point...then it too gets small but doesn't go away. I've been using benedryl (sp???) but it hasn't really done anything but stop the itching. Still not sure what it is but it's been over a month. I thought maybe a bug or spider but my dh is spot free! So I thought detergent but after changing many many times it's not better. So...what is it?? I have no idea. Should I worry...? I have no idea!!

[deedee1231]

I have a son who has got to have some of the most sensitive skin on earth! He has eczema and he has keratosis polaris and I am pretty good about identifying and treating spots of either. (Keratosis Polaris really doesn't even need to be treated) But then he also breaks out with all manner of spots, bumps, rashes, welts, and marks that looks like bites that I don't think are bites, and I never know what is going on with him. We are talking about a kid who managed to infect the whole neighborhood with the chicken pox when he came down with an awful case of it as a result of getting vaccinated for it !

When he was a baby/toddler, I used to take him in to the pediatrician every time he developed a new rash that I didn't think was eczema. He used to get a lot of bumps and welt type deals. And they always looked different from the last crop, , so I would worry. The doctor always said the same thing, "It is probably caused by a virus, it isn't anything serious, if you are worried put a little Benadryl ointment on it and it will clear up in good time."

Well, I eventually stopped taking him to the doctor for this kind of stuff. I mean, a co-pay every time, and then all the dr tells me is basically nothing. So if it clears up in a few days I don't worry about it much. I had been following this procedure (wait and see if it just clears up procedure) since he was 3 or 4 and it was going pretty well. Then when he was 8, he comes and tells me he has this itchy rash on his back and asks me to look at it and see if he is breaking out with eczema back there. I look, and it isn't eczema, but he definately has a frightful looking rash happening on his shoulder blade. After all my experiences with him I tell myself that it probably looks worse than it really is and I put some Benadryl on it, but I vow to keep and eye on it.

The next day, he has this wicked rash from his earlobes to his knees and down to his elbows on both his back and his front. He looks like he has been rolling around in toxic waste or something and I am thoroughly freaked out by the whole thing. I don't even bother to call the doc, I rush him to the ER (That was a real nice co-pay! ) So, the doctor comes in, looks at it, says "Oh I have a few medical students today, do you mind if I ask them if they can identify this?" I answer, "No, I don't mind, but can you tell me what it is first?" "It is a virus called (insert big fancy medical terminology here), it will be fine in a few days. It looks much worse than it really is. I'll prescribe some cream for it and you can give him Benadryl if it itches"

Kara, I wouldn't worry .

[erinellakal]

Erin breaks out in a red bumpy rash everytime she swims in a pool. She must be allergic to the chemicals or something. And its been ever since she was a baby. A few hours after she swims it goes away.

We go boating, swimming, tubing, skiiing, etc...every sunday on the same lake. We all get in the water but Erin is the only one that comes out with what we call "swimmer itch". Not sure if she is just more sensitive to the "stuff" in the water or what.

She has also gotten hives more than anyone else i know. And they are always different in the way they present them selves. Sometimes a few big welts, sometimes her body is covered in "wine stains" sometimes little pimple like bumps.....its crazy!

Here is a picture of her latest rash. Her name was "polka dot" until these went away! lol

[deedee1231]

See, my son used to get stuff like this all the time!!! Still does to a certain extent, but not so much as he used to. Alex also gets a red, bumpy rash every single time we swim in a pool. I thought that the chemicals they were using in our community pool were too harsh for his sensitive skin, but recently he has swam in a few different pools and he gets it no matter where we swim.

Poor Erin, that really looks uncomfortable. How do you treat her? As stated above, I have found that doctors are pretty useless for this sort of thing ! I usually use 1% hydrocortisone ointment on stuff like that or else I will just use benadryl cream for the itch when it covers such a large portion of his body so as not to put too much steriod cream on him.

[erinellakal]

We use hydrocorisone or benadryl cream or a generic anti itch cream. We always have them in the house so Erin just chooses which she would like.
When the itching is really bad i will give her the oral benadryl...usually before bed so she isn't up itching all night long.

[gaby12]

Had itchy dry skin on my lower legs, went thru every type of special "free and clear" laundry detergents, sensitive skin shower products, even razors without strips, and creams - no help. I got rid of it when I started adding essential fatty acids to my protein shakes.