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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Itching And Red Bumps On Arms/back/legs Indicates Scabies?

I have been itching for weeks! There hasn't been anything irregular in my daily life. No new foods, laundry detergents, lotions, soaps or body washes. I can't think if anything new introduced to my body. It has been weeks and I'm still itching, fairly intense leaving scratch marks and even bled. Suddenly a spot on my body such as arms, back legs will turn red and have small bumps then after a while it will disappear, I've had scabies before and I heard that if you've had them before , the 2nd time symptoms will appear faster and more severe. I don't have pimple like bumps with scabs on them and for the most part it is a red rash that comes and goes, there may be a few small bumps left behind. Can it be scabies??? Since I've had them before does that mean I'd b broken I out with sores all over me by now ??
Fri, 14 Mar 2014
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Dermatologist 's  Response
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

It could be scabies Or papular urticaria, which is hypersensitivity to insect bite. Scabies though classically presents with itchy, excoriated papules at various body sites, it may be not very classical always specially if it is early or in those who have a good hygiene, it is always better to treat it empirically at the first instance.

Papular urticaria on the other hand is a hypersensitivity reaction to insect bite and it presents with itching and urticarial papules, distributed mostly on limbs.

If I was your treating doctor I would have treated you empirically for scabies with a single whole body application of 5% permethrin followed by twice daily application for 7-10 days of a steroid+antibiotic cream combination over the itchy spots.

An OTC antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10mg once daily would help you deal symptomatically with itching.

regards
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Does Itching And Red Bumps On Arms/back/legs Indicates Scabies?

Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic It could be scabies Or papular urticaria, which is hypersensitivity to insect bite. Scabies though classically presents with itchy, excoriated papules at various body sites, it may be not very classical always specially if it is early or in those who have a good hygiene, it is always better to treat it empirically at the first instance. Papular urticaria on the other hand is a hypersensitivity reaction to insect bite and it presents with itching and urticarial papules, distributed mostly on limbs. If I was your treating doctor I would have treated you empirically for scabies with a single whole body application of 5% permethrin followed by twice daily application for 7-10 days of a steroid+antibiotic cream combination over the itchy spots. An OTC antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10mg once daily would help you deal symptomatically with itching. regards