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Tiny Blisters, Itchy All Over Body. Have Food Allergies. Infect Baby? Is It Chicken Pox Or Dermatitis Herpetiformis?
Question: I have tiny itchy water blisters all over my body. I have about 200 in total. Mainly abdomen. I have them in my face, arms, legs, buttocks, in between my fingers. Some itch intensely some don't. I even developed one inside my mouth. The one in my mouth is not a sore, it looks more like a pimple. If I scratch a tiny head, it will continously ooze clear water. They are red and they dry up and crust in two days then new one comes out. I have had chicken pox as a child. Can it be a mild form of chicken pox or dermatitis herpetiformis. No fever. I do suffer from food allergies. I even swell up if I eat seafood, etc. Please help. I have a two yr. old baby and don't know if i'm contagious or if only allergies. I ruled out bed bugs because my husband and son share the same bed. Some blisters seem to have "two points" or "two heads" like if they were animal bites. But it can't be because only I have those rashes. It's been almost a week and they continue to show. My husband and child are rash free.
Hi Dear,
I’ve seen your images and gone through your history.
There are a few conditions that can cause a clinical picture like yours e.g. Ectoparasitic infection like scabies, dermatitis herpetiformis, papular urticaria.
As your spouse and child are free of infection it rules out scabies. Involvement of covered part rules out papular urticaria.
With history of IBS and itchy papulovesicular lesions it can be Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Also I would like to know the following:
Is it first episode of rash?
Which part of body it occur first?
Do you have lesions in finger webs?
Is itching worse at night?
Itching occurs first or skin lesion occurred first?
Any outdoor visit /new places/ forest /contact with bushes?
For the time being you can take antihistaminic for itching like Zyrtec.
Apply cooling soothing lotion like calamine lotion.
Use topical antibiotic like soframycin over lesions twice daily.
A visit to Dermatologist will help in proper diagnosis and treatment.
Skin biopsy may be required.
Hope I’ve answered your query.
Awaiting your response.
Regards.
Dr Sudarshan
I’ve seen your images and gone through your history.
There are a few conditions that can cause a clinical picture like yours e.g. Ectoparasitic infection like scabies, dermatitis herpetiformis, papular urticaria.
As your spouse and child are free of infection it rules out scabies. Involvement of covered part rules out papular urticaria.
With history of IBS and itchy papulovesicular lesions it can be Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Also I would like to know the following:
Is it first episode of rash?
Which part of body it occur first?
Do you have lesions in finger webs?
Is itching worse at night?
Itching occurs first or skin lesion occurred first?
Any outdoor visit /new places/ forest /contact with bushes?
For the time being you can take antihistaminic for itching like Zyrtec.
Apply cooling soothing lotion like calamine lotion.
Use topical antibiotic like soframycin over lesions twice daily.
A visit to Dermatologist will help in proper diagnosis and treatment.
Skin biopsy may be required.
Hope I’ve answered your query.
Awaiting your response.
Regards.
Dr Sudarshan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you very much for your reply.
This is my first lesion that affects my whole body. Two months ago my husband, child and myself were infected with scabies. We got medication and got rid of the parasites in two weeks.
It started in my wrist, medium to large size water blisters. Then small hard individual (not clustered) water fingers inside web of fingers. Intensely itchy. Also on top of fingers. They are all in seperate locations: I have five blisters in one hand and two on left hand inside web area. At this time I thought maybe it was dyshidrotic eczema but then when I noticed them around my breast line and underarms and abdomen I ruled it out. Since I noticed that it was around my bra line and under my buttock cheecks I thought it was scabies again but it's been almost a week and husband/baby do not itch.
Itchy is the same all day. Not intense at night. I also noticed that there are like three types of blisters: on hands or web of fingers they are HARD fluid like blisters (these blisters itch the MOST). On abdomen, side or inner legs, back they are soft small pointy blisters that ooze water and crystalize (some itch, some don't). On my face, upper eyelid they are simple small red/round blisters or dots, these DO NOT ITCH.
I have NOT traveled outdoors recently. The ONLY thing I have done almost at the same time as I rashed is I started a rigorous exercise program. 45 minutes a day I do high intensity workout. I noticed I sweat tremendously, my face gets extremely RED and hot to the touch. My face and whole body will stay tomato red and hot and continue to sweat for about two hours even after a cool shower. I do occasionally suffer from face rochea.
I also notice that NONE of the blisters cluster up. All are at least half inch to two inches apart.
This is my first lesion that affects my whole body. Two months ago my husband, child and myself were infected with scabies. We got medication and got rid of the parasites in two weeks.
It started in my wrist, medium to large size water blisters. Then small hard individual (not clustered) water fingers inside web of fingers. Intensely itchy. Also on top of fingers. They are all in seperate locations: I have five blisters in one hand and two on left hand inside web area. At this time I thought maybe it was dyshidrotic eczema but then when I noticed them around my breast line and underarms and abdomen I ruled it out. Since I noticed that it was around my bra line and under my buttock cheecks I thought it was scabies again but it's been almost a week and husband/baby do not itch.
Itchy is the same all day. Not intense at night. I also noticed that there are like three types of blisters: on hands or web of fingers they are HARD fluid like blisters (these blisters itch the MOST). On abdomen, side or inner legs, back they are soft small pointy blisters that ooze water and crystalize (some itch, some don't). On my face, upper eyelid they are simple small red/round blisters or dots, these DO NOT ITCH.
I have NOT traveled outdoors recently. The ONLY thing I have done almost at the same time as I rashed is I started a rigorous exercise program. 45 minutes a day I do high intensity workout. I noticed I sweat tremendously, my face gets extremely RED and hot to the touch. My face and whole body will stay tomato red and hot and continue to sweat for about two hours even after a cool shower. I do occasionally suffer from face rochea.
I also notice that NONE of the blisters cluster up. All are at least half inch to two inches apart.
Hi,
Info given by you now points towards diagnosis of scabies.
By look of the lesions it was lesions of scabies only.
Recent history of scabies in family points towards it.
Frequent re infection is very common in family and all the family members need to be treated simultaneously.
In first query you didnt provide this info.
Anyways repeat the course of scabies medication.
The two most commonly used insecticides are:
malathion aqueous lotion
permethrin dermal cream
In most cases, the instructions for using permethrin cream will be as follows:
Apply the lotion to your whole body, particularly any hairy areas, when you are clean, dry and cool.
Do not apply the lotion to your face, the hair on your head, your eyebrows or eyelashes.
Apply the cream to entire body below neck.
Apply the lotion to your pubic area, including any pubic hair, hair between your legs and hair around your anus.
Be careful not to get the lotion in your eyes. If you do, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water.
As an approximate guide, an adult will need around 100ml of lotion or 30–60g of cream for one application.
Leave permethrin cream on for 8 - 12 hours.
Reapply the treatment if you wash any part of your body during the treatment time.
After the correct treatment time has passed, wash the lotion or cream off.
Do not use medication more than twice.
Your spouse also needs to be treated similarly to prevent re infection.
Laundering of all your clothes (inner clothes) ,bedding in hot water is essential.
Hope Ive answered your query.
I will be available for any followup questions.
If you dont have any follow up questions please accept my answer.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Sudarshan
Info given by you now points towards diagnosis of scabies.
By look of the lesions it was lesions of scabies only.
Recent history of scabies in family points towards it.
Frequent re infection is very common in family and all the family members need to be treated simultaneously.
In first query you didnt provide this info.
Anyways repeat the course of scabies medication.
The two most commonly used insecticides are:
malathion aqueous lotion
permethrin dermal cream
In most cases, the instructions for using permethrin cream will be as follows:
Apply the lotion to your whole body, particularly any hairy areas, when you are clean, dry and cool.
Do not apply the lotion to your face, the hair on your head, your eyebrows or eyelashes.
Apply the cream to entire body below neck.
Apply the lotion to your pubic area, including any pubic hair, hair between your legs and hair around your anus.
Be careful not to get the lotion in your eyes. If you do, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water.
As an approximate guide, an adult will need around 100ml of lotion or 30–60g of cream for one application.
Leave permethrin cream on for 8 - 12 hours.
Reapply the treatment if you wash any part of your body during the treatment time.
After the correct treatment time has passed, wash the lotion or cream off.
Do not use medication more than twice.
Your spouse also needs to be treated similarly to prevent re infection.
Laundering of all your clothes (inner clothes) ,bedding in hot water is essential.
Hope Ive answered your query.
I will be available for any followup questions.
If you dont have any follow up questions please accept my answer.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Regards
Dr Sudarshan
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. Raju A.T
Answered by
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