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"Skin Writing" Rash
I have MS, been on Betaseron since February. Lately I've been experiencing strange, itchy, mosquito bite-looking welts that appear from either applying pressure to a particular area or a scratch. For instance, I was doing work at my desk and when I picked up my arms, theses bumps appeared on my forearms. I just accidentally scratched myself on the side of a table and now there's an itchy raised welt where the scratch is. The other night I developed rashes on my back just from lying down. They usually disappear within an hour.
Nothing about my diet has changed, I'm not using any products like detergents or lotions that I've never used before (most of my stuff is hypo allergenic to begin with). I'm at a complete loss and it's driving me crazy. Today I got a rash from my bra strap, a rash from my watch, a rash in the crease of my arm from holding a grocery basket, a welt on my forehead from scratching my face. I've been taking Bendryl like candy just to get through the day.
I did some googling and it looks like dermatographic urticaria, but I'm not a doctor obviously. I'm just wondering if could be MS-related or have an auto-immune trigger? Is this a flare or a precursor to a flare? I mean, I don't know who to call. A PCP, my neuro, a dermatologist, all of the above? I'm so itchy.
Nothing about my diet has changed, I'm not using any products like detergents or lotions that I've never used before (most of my stuff is hypo allergenic to begin with). I'm at a complete loss and it's driving me crazy. Today I got a rash from my bra strap, a rash from my watch, a rash in the crease of my arm from holding a grocery basket, a welt on my forehead from scratching my face. I've been taking Bendryl like candy just to get through the day.
I did some googling and it looks like dermatographic urticaria, but I'm not a doctor obviously. I'm just wondering if could be MS-related or have an auto-immune trigger? Is this a flare or a precursor to a flare? I mean, I don't know who to call. A PCP, my neuro, a dermatologist, all of the above? I'm so itchy.
I have not experienced this type of rash/hives, however I started to get a rash on my legs after I started copaxone. It was non injection site related, and it would come and go. It wasn't itchy, or raised. Just this redish-purplish rash that was blotchy.
I was taken off of copaxone due to the rash, because in rare cases you can develop a non injection site rash. I switched to Rebif and the rash didn't go away.
Recently I went to a dermatologist. He biopsied it, and dx'ed it as livedo reticularis. I'm undergoing more tests for other autoimmune diseases, as it can be associated with some or idiopathic.
Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to have to live with it because it's not going away. And there's a chance it never will.
Laura
I was taken off of copaxone due to the rash, because in rare cases you can develop a non injection site rash. I switched to Rebif and the rash didn't go away.
Recently I went to a dermatologist. He biopsied it, and dx'ed it as livedo reticularis. I'm undergoing more tests for other autoimmune diseases, as it can be associated with some or idiopathic.
Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to have to live with it because it's not going away. And there's a chance it never will.
Laura
I'm new here and just diagnosed last Wednesday. My first symptom was hive like itching about 4 years ago.It could be anywhere, anytime and it was miserable! I took Benydryl for about 3 years at night(bedtime) and it would last pretty good until about 7 pm the next evening and then the itching would start again.
I began having other symptoms this past February and was having a hard time getting to sleep. My PCP prescribed Hydroxzine(Ataracks (sp)). It did not help me sleep but it has stopped the itching and hives if I take 2 at bedtime.
Later I found on one of the National MS websites that itching can be an uncommon symtom of MS and they recommended the same medication.
Hope you find something that helps you!
I began having other symptoms this past February and was having a hard time getting to sleep. My PCP prescribed Hydroxzine(Ataracks (sp)). It did not help me sleep but it has stopped the itching and hives if I take 2 at bedtime.
Later I found on one of the National MS websites that itching can be an uncommon symtom of MS and they recommended the same medication.
Hope you find something that helps you!
Thanks to everyone for all of the great replies. I went walking along some trails this weekend and got scratched by a few broken branches, and those welts appeared like clockwork. Same thing happened when my boyfriend accidentally scratched my feet with his menacing, unkempt talons a.k.a. toenails (he was promptly pedicured by yours truly).
It could be stress-related? I don't know. I'm in my second semester of nursing school and working in an oncology unit. It's the hardest thing I've ever done and most days I don't even remember to make an appointment with my doctor until its after 8pm.
I stopped taking the Benadryl because it was making me so drowsy that I would fall asleep before taking my injection and I managed to miss two injections over a span of 4 days, something I never ever do. Today I've only had one tiny bump on my hand. I scratched my forearm on purpose just to see what would happen and I didn't get an intense reaction, just a redness/itchiness. What a bizarre mystery.
If I remember to get a referral to an allergist/immunologist, I'll keep you guys updated. Thanks again!
It could be stress-related? I don't know. I'm in my second semester of nursing school and working in an oncology unit. It's the hardest thing I've ever done and most days I don't even remember to make an appointment with my doctor until its after 8pm.
I stopped taking the Benadryl because it was making me so drowsy that I would fall asleep before taking my injection and I managed to miss two injections over a span of 4 days, something I never ever do. Today I've only had one tiny bump on my hand. I scratched my forearm on purpose just to see what would happen and I didn't get an intense reaction, just a redness/itchiness. What a bizarre mystery.
If I remember to get a referral to an allergist/immunologist, I'll keep you guys updated. Thanks again!
Hi Thenea,
Definety sounds like an allegic reaction... just to let you know it could be a medication you have been on for sometime you could have developed "serium sickness" my son developed this to an antibiotic he had been on many times prior... his reaction was hives! Please get to Dr ASAP because it also affected his respiratory. He was put on a prescription antihistime for approx a year. Good Luck!
Debbie
~Live as if all your dreams came true~
Definety sounds like an allegic reaction... just to let you know it could be a medication you have been on for sometime you could have developed "serium sickness" my son developed this to an antibiotic he had been on many times prior... his reaction was hives! Please get to Dr ASAP because it also affected his respiratory. He was put on a prescription antihistime for approx a year. Good Luck!
Debbie
~Live as if all your dreams came true~
Hi Theana:
I'm in LimboLand and I started getting idiopathic uticaria almost three years ago, so your post intrigued me.
There is a specific name for what you are experiencing: dermographism urticaria. Here's a link that can tell you more.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1050294-overview
As Shelly said, please watch for signs of a severe medical reactions which require emergency treatment.
I'm in LimboLand and I started getting idiopathic uticaria almost three years ago, so your post intrigued me.
There is a specific name for what you are experiencing: dermographism urticaria. Here's a link that can tell you more.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1050294-overview
As Shelly said, please watch for signs of a severe medical reactions which require emergency treatment.
Hi Theanea,
Nice to see you. Sounds like an allergic reaction to me. What other meds ar you on besides Betaseron? Welts are classic allergic. When the histamine depletes in one area, it moves onto another.
It will return, but will just keep exhausting different areas of your body.
I would go with an allergist. They have degrees in immunology, and can get to the bottom of it. In the meantime, please be careful - reactions can get worse. It happened to me, and all the while my docs gave me prednisone, and told me probably food, detergent, etc. Well, it got so severe (whole nother story) and ended up being a med I was on. The very ones they told me weren't likely to have allergic reaction.
I learned from our dear Doc Quix who use to be here that you can get allergic to anything, at anytime no matter how long you have used it.
Keep benadryl handy and make that appt!
-Shell
p.s. some areas I had looked like uticaria too.
Nice to see you. Sounds like an allergic reaction to me. What other meds ar you on besides Betaseron? Welts are classic allergic. When the histamine depletes in one area, it moves onto another.
It will return, but will just keep exhausting different areas of your body.
I would go with an allergist. They have degrees in immunology, and can get to the bottom of it. In the meantime, please be careful - reactions can get worse. It happened to me, and all the while my docs gave me prednisone, and told me probably food, detergent, etc. Well, it got so severe (whole nother story) and ended up being a med I was on. The very ones they told me weren't likely to have allergic reaction.
I learned from our dear Doc Quix who use to be here that you can get allergic to anything, at anytime no matter how long you have used it.
Keep benadryl handy and make that appt!
-Shell
p.s. some areas I had looked like uticaria too.
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I do think these reactions can stem from autoimmune causes but I've never heard of them being specifically associated with MS or flare activity. Even though there don’t seem to be successful treatments I'd definitely see the dermatologist (or a rheumatologist) to be sure of a diagnosis and treatments.
I had uticaria and hives mixed with dermotographism quite a few years ago. It led to the belief I was developing multiple allergies (to shrimp and several NSAIDs that were prescribed at that time). The wheals and itch came and went for many months before disappearing completely. After it was all over, I broke down on a vacation and sampled jumbo shrimp. Results? No itch. No hives. No more shrimp abstinence.
A few months ago my pressure uticaria revisited after a stressful hospitalization and pacemaker implantation. Every time I got up after sitting for a while I would have huge itchy hives on my hips and buttocks. There was no explanation. It had just returned to increase my misery for a time - then went away again.
I used anti-itch and cortisone cream. They helped some but I found sitting on a COLD PACK to be the most helpful thing to reduce both the hives and the itch.
I did wonder for a minute if the episodes this year might have been from Copaxone (they were near some injection sites) but I have been taking that for too long now (and haven’t stopped). I don't really think this had an allergic origin in my case. Although I never had a good reason to re-trial the NSAIDs associated with earlier episodes (and still list them as allergies) I suspect now I’m no more allergic to them than I am to shrimp.
I hope you have been back around to have a look at the responses members offered. Also hoping your latest body misery is short lived.