Skin feels raw, but no rash

[hypervigilant]

For years I've been having occasional episodes where small areas of my skin feel sore and tender. It tends to be on my torso somewhere, but I think I've experienced it on my upper legs and rear end as well.  Right now it's an area starting at my spine below my ribcage, and wrapping around my side to the front a bit. It's a sensation that my skin is raw, as if it's been scraped or carpet-burned.  Any contact with the area feels exactly as if I'm touching raw tender skin (probably less painful) and the discomfort seems to be just skin-deep.  There is never a rash or injury of any kind, and I can't trace it to any kind of lifestyle thing, activity, detergent, etc.  It's been going on for years, never lasts more than a few days, and is never more than mildly annoying.  It hasn't killed me yet, so I'm really not concerned that something's terribly wrong, but I'd like to know what it is and if anyone else has ever experienced it.  

[MoMax13]

There is an article on health line that has 29 possible causes of burning sensations. Some are not at all close to what has been described here in this post but others may be a bit closer (http://www.healthline.com/health/burning-sensation

It sounds like in general people the first few years of this post are hypothesizing:

1) something related to shingles/herpes like zoster sine herpete (shingles without the rash) which if you have had the chicken pox you have the shingles virus in you as I understand.
2) b12 issues: Another idea is nerve pain brought on related to B12 either  as being deficient or as a treatment.
People have also suggested stress/lack of sleep and a relation to B12.
Pernicious anemia (low red blood cells due to inability to absorb b12) or  Vitamin B 12 deficiency
3) Another idea: Lyme Disease
4) Fibromyalgia
5) Allodynia- (copied from a previous post) It comes from a malfunction of specialized nerves, called nociceptors, that sense information about things like temperature and painful stimuli right at the skin. For some reason, our nociceptors start telling our brains that just about any sensation is painful. Researchers believe is part of the central sensitization associated with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a handful of other conditions. 

You can read all about it at http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2009/03/07/painful-to-touch-fibromyalgia-tactile-allodynia.htm 

Allodynia and there is are a few different types eg. tactile allodynia and mechanical allodynia.  I am almost certain this is it.  One of the posts I read said Neurofen or Naproxen really helps.


Other online searches bring up:
6) Radiculopathy (pinched nerve  in the spine),
7) Neuralgia (myelin damage),
8) Peripheral neuropathy ( affects nerves outside the brain and spine like carpel tunnel (thumb and inner fingers) and ulnar nerve (outer fingers), numb arms or legs, etc). Some note a burning feeling.
9) Peripheral vascular disease (blood vessels outside the heart and brain to narrow, block or spasm, pain and fatigue with exercise most often in legs, pain improves with rest),
10) Cervical spondylosis (neck arthiritus),
11) Multiple sclerosis (deteriorated myelin),
12) Megaloblastic anemia (large and few red blood cells), 13) Ulnar nerve palsey (outer finger numbness can go up to shoulder, pain, muscle weakness, fine motor movements, hand weakness increased with activity, burning in hand, loss of grip strength)

Not sure if any of this helps. I am trying to figure out my own symptoms and this is the info I have run across so far.  

[Siritorg]

Hi, I have the burning sensation, like some clothes have been rubbing against the skin or something similar. No rash or other visible symptoms. I'm wondering if it could be related to low vitamin B12 values? I think I'm low on B12 and have many symptoms, and then I suddenly realized, one symptom of low B12 is burning sensation on skin! Hope this can help some of you! Try some B12 and see if it goes away!

[Gopi74]

Hi, I am 42 and I have had the same burning sensation just 2 inches right of my belly button. It is sensitive when I touch and no rash. As Siritorg suggests, I consulted my family doctor and said this could be due to two reasons, one is Hypertension or Low B12 which I have. Also said that this sensitivity cold move around and need not be confined only to waist. Suggested me to have methylcobalamin 1500 MCG daily. I have just ordered online. Let me see if this helps.

[Cryrolfe]

Google

Zoster Sine Herpete

I just started having this in my inner thigh....feels just like everyone said.  Sunburn, carpet burn rash.
I am 47 - Female
I also had Bels Palsy as a teen and chicken pox as a child.

[justright1947]

I have been battling with this exact burning - sunburn sensation for 14 days. it mostly occurs in the evening but there were days that it started earlier in the evening. Feels like razor burn on face, arms, buttocks mostly About the 3rd day, I noticed a cough which progressed to a sore throat, which got my attention
I went to my Psychiatrist because I thought my SSRI pooped out, but when I popped a klonopin it did nothing for the burning but I was calmer
I went to Patient First( Horrible place) and my BP was 160/90 and I never have issues. In the morning it was normal They said I had a low grade infection and perhaps the
burning skin was part of that. Gave me pregnisone and Zithromax and my anxiety was full tilt and developed a horrible cold/ cough. Stopped the antibiotics and I am at day 14 with burning skin, a cough/cold
This is all too weird!
Could I have a virus type thing that is causing this? not shingles had the shot-
Stopped the meds as they made me insane!

[co_doc]

I've had the same sensation/symptoms that were brought up originally since childhood at seemingly random times on random patches of skin (never hands, feet, or face, though). The sensation usually goes away in a day, but the current bout is in its third day. I've never asked a doctor because it always goes away well before any appointment and it certainly does not constitute a medical emergency. Some understanding would be nice, however.

[froggyamy]

I have this too for a year or so now. I currently have one near my Inner leg and one on the thigh/buttock almost. It varies though usually its my arm. I have recently been diagnosed with Gilberts Syndrome and there are so so many symptoms with this that I am wondering if this is one.