Eczema or Urticaria (Hives) or Angioedema?

[Anonymous]

I've been having recurrent episodes of a rash - it's puzzling because they occur in the same place(s) over and over. I frequently get a patch above and below my elbow; also in the center of my chest in a square shape; and on my face below my eyes and on my chin. I have had each occurrence several times over the past month but never before then. Basically it comes on quickly - sometimes I can literally feel my face starting to puff up. It gets very red and swollen and the puffy patches weep some sort of fluid. Then they dry out and become very tight and eventually dry out and flake off. The itchiness is unbearable.

I have no known allergies to food or medication (I'm 40) but I do have allergies to tree pollen, grasses, dust, mites. I've taken Zyrtec daily for 8+ years and Benadryl has not appeared to help with the outbreaks.

I've seen a GP who can only recommend hydrocortisone; a dermatologist who thinks it's urticaria (hives) and an allergist who thinks it's eczema. In my internet research, however, I've seen some photos and descriptions of angioedema that look and sound very similar to my symptoms.

Just wondering if anyone suffers from anything like this or may recognize what I am describing and has gotten a different diagnosis. It's been very frustrating to have this recurring mystery rash and get no guidance on how to prevent or treat it.

[Anonymous]

Have you taken pictures or had the drs see it when it was active?

[Anonymous]

OP is it like this?
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/angioedema

[Anonymous]

I had 2 episodes of angioedema. In my case it was swelling around the eyes. Two different allergists (and the ER doctor) said it was the result of an allergy to either cold or exercise. (Both times I had been running outside in below freezing temps)

[Anonymous]

OP, I have a similar condition that's yet undiagnosed. Last week, I had the miserable cold virus that's going around, and ended up with a full face of swelling/ hives. It's now all burnt looking around my eyes and my entire face is peeling. Nothing like getting over miserable mucus to lizard place to turn your DH on, right?
The scary part of this episode was the inside of my mouth hurt too, but dr was not concerned as no breathing involvement.

Regardless if it's hives or angio, the treatment is the same: antihistamines and avoid the problem. Doc will advise to avoid heat and cold and any other potential allergens. I find weird combinations will set me off... Eg. Oranges and cold. I can eat oranges all summer.

I carry Benadryl cream and liquid (faster to absorb) with me always. Hydrocortisone cream if it's really bad, but you need to be aware that prolonged use thins the skin, so it's not really recommended for the face (where I get most of my "hives").

[Anonymous]

Put Eucerin cream (the think, lard-like stuff) on it (not the Eucerin lotion). Also recommend Luxiq. I got a prescription for that in the foam formulation. It's the best thing for my itchy patches (eczema, uticaria?) -- actually heals them. There is also an anti-itch cream called Zonalon which I use when I'm really itchy and nothing else will stop the itch.

I used to live every day on 1/2 dose of benadryl. With the things listed above, I rarely/never take benadryl for itchiness.

[Anonymous]

I'm 10:04 -- forgot to add that I avoid ALL caffiene (wll, not the caffiene in chocolate!) and keep alcohol to a minimum. Both dry out the skin and have been directly related to itchiness/eczema for me. If I have a glass of wine, I make sure I drink an equal amount of water at the same time and that seems to help. But, in the winter, I have to be extra careful with alcohol b/c my skin is already dry from the dry air.

Caffiene will pull the water out of your system, so get rid of that. I'm not a health nut by any means, but those two things create dry, itchy skin.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this is the same thing, but I get hives from my environmental allergies. I am allergic to cats, dogs, bunnies, etc. If I go inside a pet store, I get hives all over my arms and sometimes on my neck. I am also allergic to grass pollen, and even though I am on zyrtec daily, I still get hives on the inside of my elbows during grass pollen season.

[Anonymous]

OP here - when I saw the dermatologist I was not having an episode so I could only show pictures, although I now have dozens. When I saw the allergist I was about two days after an episode so it was no longer swelling but had dried up and was starting to flake off, which is why I think he leaned towards eczema. I'm overseas and the dermatologist only works two days a week (!) so hard to catch him when it's active.

[Anonymous]

I suffer from hives from various allergies and have since childhood I have never experienced weeping and when they the episode is over it was like they were never there. So I don't think it is hives.

Good luck. Sounds like you may have to scour the internet for rash images so you can find out what it is.

But like others have said it seems to be an allergic reation so benadryl is your friend. I typically carry it around with me. At the first sign of an itchy tongue I take one.

[Anonymous]

OP,

I have something similar but in different areas for which I still don't have a diagnosis. I saw a dermatologist (useless) and a allergist (slightly more helpful).

I have a parent with celiac disease who prior to diagnosis had weird skin outbreaks. I got tested but it was negative. If you're eating wheat, keep eating it until you get a blood test so that the result is accurate.

I have cousin with Lupus, and I haven't seen an immunologist yet, but am seriously considering it due to other symptoms.