Itchy All over My Body!!!

Updated on April 20, 2015
N.T. asks from Mount Laurel, NJ
14 answers

About a month ago I started itching in between my thighs and went to the hospital because it had spread to my legs and I was getting bruises and red dotted marks from severe scratching. They did a blood work and found nothing. They told me to go see a dermatologist and if it worsens to go back to the ER.

Unfortunately I still haven't been to the dermatologist. And this THING has spread all over my body. Always extra itchy on my back, sides, stomach, thighs, arms and wrists. They appear as little pumps. At times it will be bad and go away and then come back in the matter of hours. I know it's not scabies because I has asked the ER doctor. My 4 year old daughter AND FATHER for some strange reason has the same thing. I washed all the sheets in the house and haven't been using anything different.

PLEASE HELP!! What could this be and what should I do?!?!

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

I don't understand - why haven't you seen a dermatologist? They will call one to come see you if you go the ER. Go.

3 moms found this helpful

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I don't mean to be rude but.....

Why on earth did you not follow through with the Dr. suggestion to go to the Dermatologist? I would think if you are that uncomfortable that you wouldnt think twice and see the Dermatologist asap.

It sounds like whatever it is has now spread to the rest of your family. I'd get an appt with the dermatologist now.

We have no way to diagnose you. You already see consequences of not doing what an ER Dr told you to do and now your Dr bill will be x3.

I cant wrap my head around not following through with a Dr suggestion when it involves my health and my family's health.

10 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

This is impossible for us to guess at on the internet. These bumps need to be looked at, physically, by a qualified dermatologist. I don't know why you haven't gone in, but waiting a month and then going on line isn't a good strategy. They said, if it gets worse, to go back to the ER? Because they knew you wouldn't see a dermatologist? That doesn't make sense.

Whatever it is, it's either contagious or the whole family is reacting to the same critter or allergen. Go get checked.

7 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

We are not doctors. Why did you not get to the dermatologist yet? Go, go, go.

Be aware: your insurance may force you to see your primary care physician first, to get a referral to a dermatologist, and that can take time -- you will be forced to do an appointment with the primary and only then will they give you a referral, and then you have to schedule with the dermatologist and it can be weeks or months before the dermatologist can see you.

So, please get the ball rolling ASAP. Did a hospital doctor hand you a referral to a dermatologist? If so, use it immediately -- it may already be out of date. If not, call your insurance to find out if you can contact a dermatologist directly (which would be good) or if you must see your primary care dr. first (less good as it delays seeing the dermatologist). If you need to see the primary, tell them you need a same-day appointment and referral document ASAP - insist that since this is a skin thing, it comes and goes and you need to see the derm. FAST so he or she can actually see the condition "in action."

Husband has gone through similar stuff and it's important to be be very assertive with the doctors so you see the dermatologist when you are actually IN an outbreak.

Do not wait for online strangers to diagnose you -- see a dermatologist.

6 moms found this helpful

V.S.

answers from Reading on

Um... You should go to the dermatologist.

5 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

A dermatologist or allergist is what you need ASAP.
ER I wouldn't normally think of going to for itching unless there was difficulty breathing or major body parts were swelling abnormally (think bee stings and/or nut allergies) and you need a shot to stop the reaction.
The ER did a blood work testing for what exactly?
Why have you waited a month?
Or did you call and had to wait 6 weeks for an appointment (specialists are sometimes booked a long time in advance, I know)?
Since you have it as well as others in your household, there's either something contagious going around, or you are all being exposed to something that you are all reacting to.
When you make a appointment with what ever doctor you are going to see, I suggest you explain that this is happening to 3 people in your household and I think all 3 of you should be seen/evaluated at the same time.
There are SO MANY THINGS a rash could be it's hard even for medical professionals to figure it out.

Sure you can Google rashes and find a bazillion things it could be but you need a doctor to find out exactly what it is so he/she can prescribe something to help clear it up.
I hear about itchy rash and I can think of hives, eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy/sumac/oak, vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), chicken pox, shingles, yeast infections, fungal infections, etc only to name a few and there are SO many more things it could be.
Just get all of you in to see a doctor asap.
I'm curious what it is - if you ever find out please let us know in your So What Happened.

I had a poison ivy reaction that would not stop on its own even after 2 months.
When I woke up with bloody legs from scratching in my sleep I went to an Urgent Care and they put me on a steroid series that cleared me up completely in 1 week (the itching stopped within a day).
Sometimes your histamine reaction can go into overdrive and it won't stop without medical help.

Another time I didn't wash some flux off my hands well enough (I was soldering stained glass sun catchers) and I then rubbed my face.
I didn't figure out what was going on at first but it acted like a chemical peel and my face burned, swelled, and then peeled.
The doctor put me on prednisone for that.

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D..

answers from Miami on

I don't understand. WHY is it that you haven't been to the dermatologist? That makes no sense. You're saying this has spread all over you and you haven't done the ONE THING that you were told to do? Your family has it too and you're still not going?

Get on the phone and make the appointment.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

I've had frequent contact with the ER professionally and personally. The ER is there for emergencies. That means life threatening conditions. I've taken my grandaughter in when her asthma attack symptoms are increasing. I took my daughter in on a holiday because her fever was increasing after having her wisdom teeth surgically removed. I've taken in babies who have been abused and have symptons because we don't know if the symptoms are life threatening. An ongoing rash is not life threatening or have the possibility of being life threatening. That you haven't seen the dermatologist one month later confirms it's not life threatening. I suggest you misunderstood the meaning of going back to the ER. The ER does an initial assessment. Any treatment they give is to provide relief until you can see your own doctor. I suggest that when they say come back to the ER, they mean if the condition worsens and could be life threatening before you see your doctor. It's been a month. Obviously, it's not life threatening nor has the potential of being life threatening.

If you'd called the dermatologist the next day or two after the ER visit they may have gotten you in sooner. Now, you're more likely to have to wait for the next available appointment. By waiting a month you've shown it's not life threatening nor is it so uncomfortable that you need immediate care.

I get that you don't understand the protocol for medical treatment. The system is complicated. Now that you know, call a dermatologist and make an appointment.

As for personal experience with a rash. I had an allergic reaction to poison ivy. I didn't see my primary doctor until the blisters had been oozing for a couple of weeks. My doctor chided me saying that if I'd come in right away they would've given me a cortisone shot and the blisters would have immediately gone away. As it was I took prednisone pills for a couple of weeks.

Your rash doesn't sound at all like poison ivy or poison oak. The likelihood of all three of you being allergic to dyes or perfume is slim. That means it's likely caused by a bug. Only washing the bedding does not eradicate a bug. One has to wash everything in the house that is washable. Put other things in a sealed plastic bag. Treat upholstered furniture. Not fun!

I suggest that you need to find out what is causing the rash before taking those steps. Perhaps you've not made an appointment because you're ashamed of the possibility it's caused by bugs. Know that it's nothing to be ashamed about. Bugs find their way into houses that are well maintained. A person can carry them in on their feet or clothes. Or in a suitcase after travel. If it's bugs, you'll be treated with respect.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.N.

answers from Boston on

If you haven't already, try using a detergent without dyes or perfumes. We love "Tide Free & Clear". Also, could it be seasonal allergies? Once spring starts for us, my daughter gets the same sort of rash. Hers starts with her hands and legs, then spreads if we don't catch it. It's so very uncomfortable! For us, a good moisturizer and consistent antihistamines help a lot.

2 moms found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

It's time for all of you to go back to the doctor. Its obvious that it is contagious and spreading. Ask them to get a culture of your skin and not just a blood test.

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C.B.

answers from Boston on

http://www.mayoclinic.org/skin-rash/sls-20077087?s=1
This shows pictures of common rashes.
Ringworm (not a worm at all) is highly contagious.
Go do the dermatologist!!!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

HIVES............ and things like warm water, detergents, lotions, allergies, STRESS, at night when under the covers and while you might have felt itchy at first, the warmth from the covers and sheets will cause your body to warm and oh gosh, the itching will be ignited..... in my mid to late 30s I got hives A lot and once you get them............. they seem to have to run a cycle and wind themselves out.. (that's my belief at least) ...
you can take things like zyrtec and benadryl but that doesn't always work for long.. this might sounds crazy but AFTER trying to seek out cures, I read somewhere to drink lots of water not only to cleanse the body (in particular the liver) which helps to detoxify the body....but it's suppose help calm the histamines (which is what your body uses to ward off the hives) once the histamines are in full force, it did in fact seem like the water was helping.. maybe I was imaging it.. but it did help.... also... while the hives were at their peak, I didn't do HOT showers, but rather warm.... cotton clothing at night is a must (anything synthetic) than your skin can't breathe... also.. STRESS will keep the hives going.. so will caffeine, sugar and alcohol.... hives I think are just an outward manifestation of something bigger going on in your body.. could be your need that liver cleanse, need to get some of the stress out of your life.. one way or another, your body is saying HELP.... at least that is how I viewed my having hives..

1 mom found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

it is indeed 'unfortunate' that you haven't been to the dermatologist.
i don't get it.
it was bad enough that you went to the hospital when it started, but despite the fact that it's spread to YOUR CHILD you still haven't followed their advice?
but you think MP has the answers?
sorry. i have no help for you.
khairete
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

So you started having a rash in between your thighs and it has spread all over your body and now your child and your father both have the same rash?

I'd say it's time to see a doctor that can tell you what is going on. I don't know what you could be coming in contact with but since it started in a space that has little contact with the world that it has to be something that area is coming in contact with when it's....out in the open...lol.

I think since everyone is having it you have to see what it is that everyone is in contact with. For instance everyone has the same contact with your laundry detergent. BUT everyone won't react to that thing the same.

SO I think this reaction by several different people in your home is something that is not a normal thing. Maybe it could be something introduced in the past 2 months.

If you have some illness and are spreading it to your family you need to know. You need to go have this checked as soon as possible.

1 mom found this helpful
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