Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

spontaneous large red itchy welts

I am a 24 year old female.  About 6 months ago I started getting small red bite-like bumps that would itch like crazy.  They seemed to appear in the morning after sleeping.  My first thought was bed bugs or some other creepy crawlie and we did a sweep of our home and found nothing.  I share a bed with my fiance and our son sleeps in his own room.  Neither of them have been getting the spots.  The itchies would last about a week and when they're gone the skin pigment is slightly darker.  We spent 2 weeks away from home in another state and I still received them there.  Shortly after they seemed to stop.  There was about a 1-2 month period where I did not receive any.  I became pregnant in early April and have since started getting these itchy red bumps on a much greater scale.  They started again showing only in the morning and growing to be slightly larger than the end of a pencil eraser.  Now, they start all throughout the day, i get small red blotchy spots that do not itch at all.  They turn into nickel size swollen intensely itchy bumps that last weeks.  They started on my right upper arm, then my left upper arm was attached.  My right forearm was hit bad and now my left is covered in them.  Sometimes they seem to form a line with a fairly equal distance between them.  I also have been getting them on the tops of both feet and on my fingers/hands.  They last about 2 weeks now.  When they go away, they still have a raised bump that itches but the redness and harsh look is gone.  I've been to an allergist who said it was not hives and referred me to a dermatologist.  I had a biopsy done on a fresh one and am still waiting to hear the results.  I have not been able to find anything online similar to what I have.  I've also switched to a gluten free diet recently because my symptoms matched very closely to those of dermatitis herpetiformis, which comes from gluten intolerance/sensitivity.  The pictures of rashes people suffer with this problem however, don't match mine.  The picture shows the large bumps that developed overnight.  There are two small ones that are starting on the inside of my forearm also.  Tomorrow, they'll be the same size.  Any help is greatly appreciated!
123 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi there.
Got something similar. I was in Thailand, I visit the local quemist for some cream or something than will stop the itch. I was toll, I was eating something than my body did not like.
When I came home my doc give me Cortisone and a couple of creams. nothing will help for more than a day.I decide to take the advice about the food intolerance more seriously . I stopped eating gluten, (Bread, cakes, pasta.....)and surprise, surprise the itch stop. I also stopped eating milk products. Because I don't like soy product I just get everything Lactose free. Ones a month I go to my local Italian bakery  get the crunchiest and hottest roll fill it with cheese and meats and eat it. A few hours after, came  the itch and the skin star to break and dry. For about 3 day I suffer the itch, dry and painful skin pain again. ........ all for the love of bread. Look into your food intakes and see if you are developing a food intolerance.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Mites.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Mites
Avatar universal
Smother spots with TEA TREE OIL! I had the same intensely itchy red spots on my thighs and shoulders and upper arms. I woke up about 6 weeks ago with about 5 itchy red spots on my thighs and thought a mosquito had been feasting. They were sooooo itchy that day, they drove me mad. Way more itchy than mosquito bites. I scratched one so hard through my clothes that I bruised the skin around it! Next morning, there were more red spots. I thought bugs or fleas, so washed clothes, pillows, bedding - everything. I then went interstate for 2 weeks into a whole new environment - and a couple of days later there were another half dozen on my shoulders, under my arms, and upper arms. I couldn't believe it. They were so itchy. And the ones on my legs were still there - and getting MORE itchy!
When I got back home, I looked for a home remedy online for scabies, even though I didn't really think they looked like scabies. That's where I saw the tea tree oil suggestion. I started by just dabbing it on, but then decided to slather it on after my shower. I used half the bottle, smothering my skin in the whole area around the spots. And followed up with a good covering of calamine lotion, let it dry then went to bed, leaving everything on my skin for the night. The relief in the morning was fabulous. The itchiness was heaps less and by the next day (after the same treatment) the itchiness was almost gone. The spots faded over the next few days and no more appeared - and no more itch. Still all good 2 weeks later. Fingers crossed. Hope this helps. (And no - I don't work for a tea tree oil company!!)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So for Months Ive been dealing with these Itchy Welty Bumps from Hell & Researching ALL DAY EVERYDAY trying to figure this out myself, since the Drs are incapable to do what I did, Whichs figure it out, bc it's literally starting to make me crazy with the Intense Itching & Bruising (from the God Awful Itchy)... However, I truly think I FINALLY figured out what I have!!!

Have any of you seen Pics of "Allergic Eczema"?? I honestly would've shot down someone trying to tell me this was Eczema, because Ive only known Eczema as Dry Itchy Patches, much like Psoriasis, NOT LIKE THIS, but apparently there's a plethora of different Types of Eczema, which I had NO CLUE... & with Allergic Eczema the Symptoms are a dead Ringer for this Devil's Itch, including: Itching, Burning Sensation/Pain, Red Bumps that Ooze/Drain/Crust, Warm/Tender Skin, Scaly/Raw/Thickened Skin, Dry/Red/Rough Skin, Inflammation, Cuts & Rash... Symptoms CAN spread to other areas of the Body & People with a Family History of Asthma & HayFever, seem to be more prone to developing Allergic Eczema. There can be Trigger's that set off This Type of Eczema, the obvious being your Skin coming in contact with something it didn't like & having a Delayed (24-48hr) Allergic Reaction, but Stress is another HUGE TRIGGER for this Type of Eczema. Which, for me, that makes ALOT OF SENSE. Ugh!

So, if you've been DXed with "Contact Dermatitis", it can't be, because  even though Contact Dermatitis has the SAME Symptoms as "Allergic Eczema", it DOESN'T have Itchy Sores... So if you have the same Sores as me & Online Pics of Allergic Eczema, then you
now know what you're suffering from & it's NOT Contact Dermatitis.

I'm hoping this is the DX you ALL need to finally get the Correct Meds to end this Nightmare! (PS. Please let me know/Post, if this Matches your Itchy Bumps/Rash or if you ask your Dr & he winds up DXing you with this). Thank you in advance! TAKE CARE!
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
I think you’re right. I got HEPATITIS air filters in the house and had my home professionally cleaned, including the use of a UVC light, and my symptoms completely disappeared. Thank you for this post!
Oops— not sure why it autocorrected hepa filters to hepatitis!
Avatar universal
Wasn’t able to see the original pic from Jamie so I’ll describe mine. Anyone know how to view it?

For the past year I’ve been getting welts about the size of quarters or larger that appear anywhere on my body but mostly on hips, thighs, between elbows and knees, and in armpit area. I nearly always have at least one or two welts but can have up to 30 at a time, especially during times of stress. The welts are very itchy and often wake me up at night. I can get them at any time of the day but mostly get them at night, and not necessarily just in bed. My skin is so dry that I have to slather myself in moisturizer and then cover up my body with pajamas at night so as not to transfer moisturizer so I don’t think it is a bug ( I’ve also searched everywhere for bed bugs). Plus I’m always covered up, and there are never any bite marks or clusters of bites. When the welts appear I can feel it— it is an intense sting followed by a small bump appearing that then grows into a raised welt. They last about a five days and slowly shrink, so after about a week they are mostly gone but leave a tiny head with fluid in it and a tiny scab. Part of me thinks it could have something to do with a hair follicle issue since it forms a head. I had laser hair removal on my legs and have only about 20% of hair on my legs so I’m wondering it really is from a hair follicle. I’ve noticed that pressure and friction causes the welts to appear, like if I wear a tight pair of socks I’ll get them on my ankle.  Dryness makes the welts appear too. When I went to Hawai‘i for two weeks (very humid) I didn’t get any welts at all!!! Many times the welts do leave hyperpigmentation marks, so I have marks all over my body. :(  My regular doctor thought I could have psoriasis, but didn’t really investigate it.  I personally don’t think the welts look like psoriasis because they never get dry or scaly and are always circular. I went to a dermatologist who thought they could be a type of eczema and she gave me a cream but it didn’t help. I’m thinking it could be hives but because the welts always last for about a week I’m not sure. I am not able to go see the dermatologist again because I no longer have medical. For over a year I have been using free and clear detergent and rinsing my laundry twice. I have stopped using scented lotions and fabric softener. I moisturize twice a day with cetaphil. I use gold bond itch cream which takes the itch away for about 4 hrs at a time. I think there might be a chance I have Dermatitis Herpetiformis since I do notice that gluten makes me feel sluggish and gassy, plus I do get hard little bumps on my fingers which itch. Does anyone else have these as well??
  I’ve never been allergic to anything in my life and am hopeful that someone can help me figure out what is causing this. Im currently trying light therapy (I am on vitamin D supplements for deficiency). I’m a female in my early 30’s if that helps. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I have itchy red bumps popping up all over my calves and i have a few on my wrists elbows upper arms and shoulders.  I have no idea why last. Week i went to pcp and said said they were bug bites and precribed an ontment for me. I have been applying the ontment as direction it keeps the itching away for a ninimal amount of time so im going to try to make Another appointment with my doctor asap to let her know more of these crazy itchy bumps are popping up sporaticallyand although i use the prescribed ontment i have minal relief
Avatar universal
What is angioedema?
Angioedema is a form of severe swelling beneath the skin’s surface. In some cases, the swelling occurs along with the appearance of hives. This is why angioedema is sometimes referred to as “giant hives.” Hives are itchy, red welts that develop on the surface of the skin.

Both angioedema and hives are typically caused by an allergic reaction to food or medication. Other substances, such as pollen, pet dander, and insect bites, may also trigger angioedema. In very rare cases, the swelling can be a symptom of a more serious health condition, such as Hodgkin’s disease. Some areas of the body, such as the face and limbs, are more prone to swelling than others.

When angioedema is passed from a parent to a child through genetic transmission, the condition is known as hereditary angioedema. Hereditary angioedema has different causes, symptoms, treatments, and complications than acquired angioedema.

Angioedema generally isn’t a serious medical condition and doesn’t leave any lasting marks. It usually goes away on its own, even without treatment.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Dermatology Community

Top Dermatology Answerers
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions