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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!
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Avatar universal
Did anyone's bumps appear much bigger (2+ inch diameter) than the original picture and NOT particular itchy? I woke up this morning with five of those welts all over my body (thigh, upper arm, neck, ear) and they are not itchy but mainly warm to touch. I had another one a week ago on my thigh which had since reduced to a faint purple mark (still large in size). I thought they were bug bites but 1) the welts don't match any particular bug bite, 2) my husband did not get any.
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1 Comments
I woke up this morning with these huge quarter sized and also various sized multiple welts all over my body. They itch like crazy and are warm to the touch. I have done nothing different that I can tell that would cause this. My husband has zero welts on him. Maybe it's stress??? Idk.. But I'm going crazy with this itching! They are still popping up in various locations throughout my body. Hope I can figure this out soon!
Avatar universal
I have the exact same thing.
I feel it happens over night. I've had it on and off for 2 years (mostly off), on arms, hands, feet and now my waist.
Ive been through multiple pesticides...and no bugs! In different houses and in different countries...i get them.
So..... i'm quite certain we have allergies to something, whether its dust or something we consume, this is our body reacting to it.
I feel we all have initially sensitive skin, which causes us to have a heightened reaction causing these 'mosquito-like' welps.
I will find out what is causing this..... sooner or later.
I'm not sure if its perhaps something like gluten or dairy is the culprit, or something down those lines.
I can say the last 2 mornings i have woken up with more itchy welps on my arms, hands and feet...the night before each morning just so happened to be the nights i had a rare glass of red wine......could a reaction to alcohol be the problem???
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Avatar universal
Hello, The Picture Looks Exactly Like mine. I awoke last night with two welts, one on my back and one on my arm. The only difference is that within the few hours before writing this Ive gained five more welts. Three on my back one on my under arm and one more on my forearm. I'm starting to think allergies cause I know I don't have bed bugs and some of the welts happened during the day. Think I just Got Another, I Don't Know Whats Causing This but I don't like it.
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How do you view pictures
Avatar universal
This is crazy. I am experiencing the same exact thing. Mine has just started up. Like about a month or so. It started with small little bits looking marks that extremely itched. People also suggested bed bugs but our place showed no signs of any bugs. Its impossible not to itch them and it seems like that makes it spread or something. It will start as just a small red circle then eventually turn to a raised mosquito looking like bum. I've also gotten some on my neck and back that were in a row with at least 3 "bits" and all evenly spaced. Then I will still have the random ones on my body. They are always in a group of 2 or more. I have them on my arms, legs, hip, back and neck. Its already so annoying. I haven't seen the doctor yet but now I feel that they are probably going to say the same thing.
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563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Without examination,confirmation of a diagnosis is tough but it can be due to hives Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red,itchy,raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.

Many cases of hives are "idiopathic," meaning no cause is known. Others may be triggered by viral infections or medications.

The mainstay of treatment of hives is antihistamine which may be necessary for prolonged periods (in excess of 6 weeks). You can take non-sedating antihistamines such as Cetirizine(Zyrtec) or Loratadine(Claritin) to get symptom relief. Sedating antihistamines such as Chlorphenamine(Benadryl) is used at night to get urticaria control. Short courses of oral cortisone or steroids are taken for short periods (one to three days) to settle more severe symptoms but since you are pregnant so these are to be taken after consultation of your gynecologist.You may take Vitamin C and apply calamine lotion on the rashes.

If the hives don’t go after 6 wks of treatment also, then it can be a case of chronic urticaria which needs further evaluation as it may be due to auto antibodies.

Hope it helps. Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
PLEASE READ THIS SO I CAN AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.. I FOUND A NATURAL CURE FOR MYSELF... I am not sure what I had but I know it was infestation by the intense itching and spreading, maybe Scabies or some other type of mites.. I  had bought this natural cleaner at Walmart called "the amazing Whip it multi purpose stain remover concentrate"with a yellow label (check the ingredients, it's totally fine for your skin!!), and I had FOOD GRADE Diatomatious Earth on hand for flea control for the cats and dogs.  I had been trying all the natural cures that worked last time (clove and tea tree oil, neem, aloe vera, lemongrass, enzymes),but weeks were going by and I was no better off.  I tried one last protocol after reading they like moist environments... first I sat in the infrared sauna (if you don't have access, I'm not convinced that did any good, but want to share exactly what i did), then i rinsed off and dried, and put the Walmart stuff (also on Amazon for 30 bucks, I used the concentrated form), let it dry and then patted the food grade Diatomatious Earth on and went to bed. I did this 2 days ago, 2 or 3 times a day... I haven't itched since and am healing up!!! PASS THIS ALONG!!
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Avatar universal
I’ve been having this same problem for over a year! I thought I was going crazy! I don’t drink any alcohol by the way.
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Avatar universal
Oak mite bites?  Scabis?
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Avatar universal
Spider bite?
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Have u found out the cause?
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Avatar universal
I have the same thing on my arms and legs and feet,can't figure it out.


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Avatar universal
You have scabies.  Get a skin scrape and two to three treatments of ivermectin or stromectol and some peritherin creme and do this for three weeks and they will go away
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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.
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Avatar universal
Mites.
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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!!)
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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!
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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!!
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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.
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Avatar universal
I was so happy to see this string of comments... until I read every last one. :(  The only thing I can add is that I saw how the first one happened! I was outside, it is HOT and humid here in Florida, and one of those dang flying black gnats bit my arm. And I killed him. After that, before I knew it I had 7 of the dang things on my neck and shoulder. When I woke up the next morning my entire back was covered.I am beginning to think its anxiety/stress of being bit.... Because it is so humid here these gnats and mosquitos take over and I just can't handle being out there any more.Nothing works on the itching. NOTHING, And they do not go away for weeks. So after they were all gone the last time, I started using a bug spray with DEET to keep the little bastuds off me. I have not gotten another welp since.  I do not live where there are too many smart doctors. If I hear one more person say bedbugs, I am going to scream.
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Avatar universal
Dryer sheets!!! I recently started using them for the first time this past winter because the static electricity was killing me. I would get the occasional grouping in an armpit or back of my arm or somewhere on my thighs. I recently slept in the buff one night and the area normally protected by boxer briefs(and softest/most sensitive skin) exploded with 15-20 welts that itched like hell and eventually started weeping even though I did my best to not scratch. Stress may also play a part...anyone want a two year supply of wholesale club dryer sheets. Never again.
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Avatar universal
I have been suffering for about 2 years now with the same symptoms that have been mentioned here. It's been on and off but I thought I had been magically cured because I haven't had a breakout in almost 1 year but today was woken up by an extreme itch in my right armpit. I got up to find 4 red bumps in a u shape perfectly spaced out. As the day went on these bumps have gotten bigger like welts and darker in colour (red) they are extremely itchy!! Also 5 more bumps appeared on my back. The day before I noticed my left palm was itchy and looked closely I could see tiny little hard bumps. This itched for maybe 30 min and then went away. These little bumps usually happen on my palms and bottom of my feet.  When all this weird stuff initially happened 2 years ago it was after I did a serious cleanse/detox. I cut out all dairy, sugar, carbs, meat, beans, vinaigre, mushrooms, etc to try and cure candida overgrowth. I did this for about 2 months. When I started to reintroduce some of the foods back into my diet I broke out on my right lower leg (front side) into a linear red zigzag line that was itchy. I noticed that wherever I would itch it my skin would form a blister. A few days later my skin would randomly break out into these red itchy bumps through my body (leg, arms, back, stomach and now armpit) these bumps become enlarged to about the size of my pinkie in diameter and turn bright red and welt up and then eventually flatten. I have been seeing one of the best dermatologist in Toronto and he doesn't know what's wrong with me. He even arranged to have a team of doctors and professors examin me. I still have no answers after all of this. I am tired, depressed and feel helpless. If anyone has any answers or results from their doctors please share!!
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3 Comments
Sorry I forgot to mention that we checked for bedbugs as well it's not that. And another common thing I noticed a few time when I previously had the breakouts the night before I drank a lot of red wine.
One more thing I failed to mention I'm a 32 year old female
I cut out gluten and then began eating it and my bumps started too! Maybe this triggered the start of it? I’m the same age as you and female too.
Avatar universal
Oh my goodness, even though I still don't know what they are I'm glad to see its not just me suffering. I am planning a wedding so I can see how it may be stress. I thought it was spider bites at first, them this morning I had about five in different spots from my waist to my ankle. So that made me think bed bugs but there is no signs of them and no one else in my house is having a problem. I hope someone finds out and shares it with us!
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Avatar universal
A bit of relief seeing people describe my problem exactly. I just started developing these tiny red spots on my hands one morning, then while taking my bath, I thought I touched a lump of meat on my butt skin. God they were as big as a cream cover. I was so scared thinking it was cancer or so. The next day, it spread round my body, from my hands to my thigh to my elbow to my waist to my lower back. Even when I remove a thight brief the normal patch it causes now turns into welts. Its left my butt but now spread all over my elbow. They re so gross and they itch like hell. I've become very aggressive cause am always irritated. Someone help out, anti histamine drugs prescribed by my Dr. Only work for sometime. This is not bed bug am sure of it. Pls any help? I have no one to look after me here. I live far away from my family. If my friends find out, I could be an object of mockery. The spots look like beads cause they are neatly arranged in lines. Jesus come to my aid
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1 Comments
Oak mite bites? Possibly scabies
Avatar universal
I have the same thing happen. I see not sign of any bugs. They start out looking like a mosquito bike and swell to a size of a nichel to a quarter and get intensely itchy and last a week. I have not idea what is causing it.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
DO YOUR RAISED VERY ITCHY BUMPS HAVE A WHITE RAISED CENTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RED BUMP??
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