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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Itching On Back?

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Posted on Thu, 13 Nov 2014
Question: I am itching especially at the evening & night.Particular area at the back is getting infected by itching.Skin become RED along with the spots.After applying antispectic lotion it vanishes after sometime.It is now happeing regularly.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (27 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Kindly ealborate your query.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.

I can understand your concern for the itching and red areas. In view to help you best I humbly request you to kindly tell certain important points related to your problem:

- Since how long you have this itching and red rash condition.

- Does the redness precedes the itching or itching occurs first and then the area becomes red.

- For how long the redness persist- few hours or more than 12-24 hours.

- Is itching occurs all over body or only on back. Is it reoccurring at the same site on back or randomly occurs anywhere on back.

- What is the severity of itching- mild /moderate or severe.

It would be best if you can click the good resolution pictures of the red spots and send it to me. For that you have a feature on the right of the page to upload the picture.

Tell me you job profile and any other important point which you think is important to tell me.

Hope to hear soon from your side.

With regards,

Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD- Dermatology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (6 hours later)
Reports uploaded, please review.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Kindly provide the details asked in previous mail.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Welcome again to the forum and thanks for sending the pictures.

After analyzing the pictures it appears to be related "Urticaria" or commonly known as hives.

I very humbly request you to kindly answer the details asked in previous mail. The details asked are as below:

- Since how long you have this itching and red rash condition.

- Does the redness precedes the itching or itching occurs first and then the area becomes red.

- For how long the redness persist- few hours or more than 12-24 hours.

- Is itching occurs all over body or only on back. Is it reoccurring at the same site on back or randomly occurs anywhere on back.

- What is the severity of itching- mild /moderate or severe.

Hope to hear soon form your side.

Regards,

Dr Sanjay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (12 hours later)
My Answers are below:

1)Since how long you have this itching and red rash condition.-
Ans: 2-3 months

2)Does the redness precedes the itching or itching occurs first and then the area becomes red.-
Ans :Itching ocuurs first & then redness ocurrs along with hives.

3)For how long the redness persist- few hours or more than 12-24 hours.-
Ans : Few Hours

4)Is itching occurs all over body or only on back.
Ans : Normally at the back & near the hip.Sometimes near the stomach.

5)Is it reoccurring at the same site on back or randomly occurs anywhere on back.-Ans:Yes & also randomly occurs on the back.

6)What is the severity of itching- mild /moderate or severe
Ans: Moderate.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Urticaria: Loratadine for few weeks to months.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Welcome again to the forum and thanks a lot for your swift follow up with details. I can now guide you best regarding your present condition.

After analyzing the complete details and the pictures with diligence I can guide you that you have the condition which is known as "urticaria" or simply known as "hives".

Before I precede further let you understand about your problem. To tell you medically - Our blood contains multiple type cells including red blood cells and white blood cells. Specifically the white blood cells provide immunity to our body which are of further multiple types.

Whenever anything in body is not suitable or offending to body then the number of white blood cells increases suddenly and transiently. Particularly these are eosinophils and basophils which are also known as mast cells.

These cells contain granules which have a specific chemical known as histamine. So as soon as any offending factors come in contact there is bursting of the mast cells. There fore this histamine is released and we experience variable degree of itching and the kind of bumps which we can see in yourself.

The bumps can remain for a very transient period to upto multiple hours. It can remain for more than 12 hours too depending on the intensity of the offending factor but never more than 24 hours.

Now the type of offending factor are innumerable including our food, environmental factors including temperature variation, heat, humidity, cold, dust and even simple of fragrances in air and multiple of other related things and very importantly stress too.

In your case you check out for any change in all the factors during preceding two hours before the bumps. As it is basically reoccurring on back so it might be rated to your clothing or sitting or any of the factors which induces the hypersensitivity on back region.

For the treatment part - it is quite simple and treated with drugs which inhibits the histamine release also known as Antihistamines. I myself prefer Loratadine (Dazit or Alaspan or Lorfast) in my patients as it is very simple medicine without any side effects of sedation. It is quite safe and can be taken for long term.

In my patients I start with 2-3 tablets/day, as soon as good effect is maintained then reduce to one to two in few weeks and then alternate days in next few weeks.

Once there are no lesions/bumps for few weeks then taper off to 2-3 tablets per week for few months and then stop it.

In general urticaria may remain for few months to upto a year period but sometimes it may progress even longer than that too. In most of the cases as our immune system and body get adjusted to that particular offending factor so it then self subsides.

I hope these information will help you in dealing the condition better. If you have any further queries I will be glad to help you.

With good health wishes,

Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia

MD - Dermatology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (33 minutes later)
Doctor Many Thanks for your advise & help.I will buy Loratadine & will i have after breakfast & dinner to start with?.Please suggest.Any lotion you suggest to apply on the back?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No need of anything to apply

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

I am really happy to know that you are quite relaxed to know the simplicity and basic facts about your condition.

For the application of lotion: in general there is no need of anything to apply but in case if you feel more irritation then a simple over the counter calamine lotion can be applied on the affected areas. But most of the time simple antihistamine coverage is sufficient to control the itching.

I hope these informations will help you. I will be glad to answer any further queries or if not then can close the discussion and rate the answer.

With regards,
Dr Sanjay Kanodia
MD-DERMATOLOGY
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (5 minutes later)
Doctor you have not replied about Loratadine & timing of medicine to have?.For many happy days intially I should have that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Dose reduction in few weeks.

Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,

I beg your pardon for the same. In my patients I suggest them to start the Loratadine tablet for two tablets per day after breakfast and dinner. In case if still bumps are seen then I add one more tablet post lunch for few days.

If there are no lesions for 2 weeks then reduce to one tablet in the evening time after tea for next 4 weeks and then alternate days in 4 few weeks before completely stopping it.

I hope these information will help you in dealing the condition better. If you have any further queries I will be glad to help you.

With good health wishes,

Dr Sanjay Kumar Kanodia

MD - Dermatology
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 4165 Questions

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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Itching On Back?

Brief Answer: Kindly ealborate your query. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum. I can understand your concern for the itching and red areas. In view to help you best I humbly request you to kindly tell certain important points related to your problem: - Since how long you have this itching and red rash condition. - Does the redness precedes the itching or itching occurs first and then the area becomes red. - For how long the redness persist- few hours or more than 12-24 hours. - Is itching occurs all over body or only on back. Is it reoccurring at the same site on back or randomly occurs anywhere on back. - What is the severity of itching- mild /moderate or severe. It would be best if you can click the good resolution pictures of the red spots and send it to me. For that you have a feature on the right of the page to upload the picture. Tell me you job profile and any other important point which you think is important to tell me. Hope to hear soon from your side. With regards, Dr Sanjay Kanodia MD- Dermatology