OT: skin woes - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: skin woes

crazyone

Veteran

On Angie's skin care routine post, I had mentioned that I had developed a rash all over from using the soap at a hotel, over a week ago. That went away in 24 hours, but now I seem to have been struck again by what are clearly hives. It started innocuously enough, just a bit of itching on my arms when I woke up on Sunday, but yesterday and today it has gotten much worse and I have hives over my arms, legs, back, and now even my face and neck. And yes, I have been to the doctor's office--twice, both yesterday and today. I was told to take some antihistamines, which have helped with the itching but I'm feeling depressed that I've broken out like this all over and don't know why. They seem pretty confident that it'll just disappear with some time, and don't see the need for me to get allergy testing unless it really hangs around or reoccurs, but right now I'm sad to be sitting here covered in red bumps

Anyone else have an experience like this?

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from Mellllls

catgirl

Veteran

Have you eliminated things like detergent, viral infection, side effect of other illness, bedbugs (shudder!) etc? I feel for you - I come from an itchy rashy family that is always having skin issues. My friend has a skin condition that started this way, and I doubt it's what you have but I'll find out the name - you never know!

crazyone

Veteran

AG: the doctors I saw were pretty sure it wasn't bedbugs (that thought also crossed my mind, but what's going on is very different). I haven't been sick recently nor have I changed my detergent or used any new skin products (aside from that one day of using hotel soap and moisturizer) so I'm a loss to figure out what this could be. I'm just hoping it goes away soon...

rachylou

Veteran

Maybe it's dry skin. My skin is really dry, always has been, and when it's really bad I get a kind of rash.

Diana

Veteran

Have you ruled out a sensitivity to your lab gloves or other stuff in lab? I go through random phases of super skin sensitivity where all my lab gloves (even nitrile) make my hands red and itchy. I also get dermatographism and other random hivey things along with this (although it's not all over, just localized spots, not just on my hands either). All the doctors ever told me was that it was probably stress related (real helpful, i know). In any case, I do not test allergic for latex or other glove materials....

ETA: In any case, I would ask for a latex allergy test just to be sure. Latex allergy is not something to mess around with, and it gets worse with more exposure. It's an easy blood test.

crazyone

Veteran

rachylou, that's what i originally thought, since now the heat's on and the likelihood of skin dryness is greater. But I don't think this is dry skin--they're clearly hives, and all over.

Diana: I haven't ruled anything out yet (except bedbugs).

bj1111

Veteran

how awful...good luck on finding a cause.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Oh man, I really can sympathize. It really irritates me sometimes how doctors can seem so unimpressed with our symptoms that they aren't interested. I just had something similar happen... all I can say is to keep bugging them if it does not go away. :T

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I don't have any advice, just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear that. I hope you will solve this problem soon.

ironkurtin

Veteran

This happened to me on sulfa drugs and it is *miserable.* Good luck tracking down the culprit!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I've had this happen off and on since I was about 18. I went to several doctors. None of them could really diagnose it (but I also felt like they weren't taking me very seriously). All they did was prescribe steroids, which they kept telling me was not a long term solution. Finally I moved cities and saw a doctor who diagnosed it as Eczema, which essentially seems like a broad term describing skin allergies, but the allergens can be almost anything. I tend to get an outbreak most often if I'm under a lot of stress. Also, certain scented lotions, soaps, and perfumes can cause it or an environmental allergen (like pollen), or some fabrics will irritate my skin.

Anyway, if this is your first outbreak, all you can really do is be aware that it might occur again (hopefully it's a one-time thing). If you start getting recurring outbreaks, it's well worth pursuing a diagnosis, even if you have to see several doctors to do it. Just knowing the triggers that can bring on a rash (especially stress) has helped me reduce their occurrence. I only get them very occasionally now.

I'm not sure what you're doing to deal with this current outbreak (other than take antihistamines), but I found using Cetaphil (the creamy liquid kind) helped a lot. The more hydrated you can keep your skin, the better, but you don't want to put anything scented or heavy on it, either. If it burns as well as itches, I found cold compresses or ice packs helped a little bit. Other than that all you can really do is wait.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I know how frustrating and miserable it is.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Another thing that has brought on hives for me was stress. And then, naturally, the hives made me even more freaked out...it can be a vicious cycle. It's surprising what physical symptoms can develop from stress/anxiety. If you're going through a challenging time, you may want to look into what can help either medically or just by getting much-needed R&R.

Whatever the source is, I hope you recover quickly!

Kari

Veteran

Yes. There are certain times of the year when my skin is just prone to freaking out - spring, when tree pollens are floating around and my allergies are in overdrive, or excessively dry weather in winter. I don't know what the exact irritant or allergen is because it is so unpredictable. I just take a Benadryl and put cortizone cream on my skin and wait for it to go away, but it's annoying and embarrassing!

Kari

Veteran

And I should also say that I sincerely sympathize - that is NOT fun at all, and I hope it passes quickly!

crazyone

Veteran

thanks, everyone! The itching is starting to reoccur (probably because this morning's antihistamine is starting to wear off, time for the next), but I am hoping I will magically wake up tomorrow with many fewer hives (it would be nice for my self-esteem for them to at least not be on my face and neck). I'll keep all of your suggestions and good wishes in mind. Even though it's likely nothing serious it's quite a downer! I wasn't actually stressed before I broke out in hives but now that I have them, I'm stressed about them and that brings the vicious cycle that Amy talked about. But in general I get 8 hours of sleep a night, eat well, decompress a lot (maybe too much), etc....

Ana: many thanks for your detailed post. I'll probably get some Cetaphil lotion tomorrow.

Isabel

Veteran

Oh this stinks ! I am so sorry ! My mom had a case last year. They did the same with her - antihistamines. Cortisone, over the counter, really helps my mom too. It took 3 weeks for her to fully recuperate, but she did. The doctor also suggested that she keep a humidifier in her room and that she drinks tons of water ( in case it was an allergen ).

She started getting a small break out yesterday so she took antihistamines and I rubbed her down with cortisone and she's almost better.

You probably know not to take hot showers or baths, too.

Good luck !! Do whatever you can to stay upbeat.........they will go away....they will !

Aziraphale

Veteran

Crazyone, I've been breaking out in a rash on my neck for about eight years. It used to happen only occasionally, and then it got more frequent, but it wasn't until it started to come about once a month that I connected it with my menstrual cycle! Who knows what's going on hormonally, but right at the time my period starts, my neck starts to itch. If I do nothing, I wake up the next morning with hives. If I take antihistamines before the rash appears, it seems to block the reaction and I'm fine, although my neck tingles for a couple of days.

What I'm saying is, there is a possibility that what's happening to you is related to something internal, and not something you're putting on your skin. My doctor said that 80% of cases of hives are ideopathic, which means they never figure out what caused it!

My sympathies -- hives are incredibly annoying. It will go away, though. Best of luck!

Jjsloane

Veteran

I can definitely sympathize if not help diagnose. I have sensitive skin. My kids have sensitive skin. It's annoying. I avoid all soaps with any scent or lanolin (these can cause raised itchy rashy patches). Like IK I have allergies to Sulfa from being in the sun while taking it once (again large rashy patches). DD has had staff infection on her skin and been treated with prescription creams. They also have severe hive reactions to bug bites which SIL has as well. I recently had a rash under my wedding band (it's platinum so not the reason) and had to get a prescription cortisone. I hope you can find some relief.

Mellllls

Veteran

My sister has had 2 similar outbreaks in her lifetime. The doctors could never diagnose the issue.....