This past Friday I announced to my husband " I think there's a mosquito in the house." as I scratched my face. Looked in the mirror later and realized it is not a mosquito bite. It's red and tender by my ear and there's a lump or two. Then an inch away closer to my jawline, there's a cluster of what feels like 6 or 7 small pink bumps. I want to scratch them! I have taken Benadryl (pill) and put on some Walmart brand Antihistamine creme. Neither really help. I'm not sure if I touched poison oak, then touched my face (it's on my right side and I'm right handed). Or do I have a virus? Did a bug bite me and I'm having a bad allergic reaction? I don't seem to have a fever or any other symptoms. These bumps are not raised enough to were I think they're popable. I do not think there is pus or any ooziness. I looked up hives and impetigo online. Doesn't quite look like either one. Hoping one of you mamas have had something similar and could give me other ideas to read about online.
UPDATE: After reading suggestions, I can tell you that no I have not traveled. I do not wear makeup nor have I switched facial soaps or perfumes or moisturizers. I put saylic acid on my foot Thursday or Friday, so thought maybe I had an allergic reaction to it. But why would it be on my face? My veterninarian uncle said I'd have a reaction on my foot, not my face. On Friday I went to 5 or 6 garage sales, did I pick up something there? A few days after realizing this wasn't a simple mosquito bite, I washed all my linens and blankets that I use. I tried a different Benadryl pill and that seemed to help more (perhaps my other was expired). I am not popping and am trying hard not to scratch. I does't look much better than it did this weekend. Doesn't look worse either. If I don't see improvement soon, I'll go to the dr. I had chicken pox as a kid, so don't know if I'd get shingles, especially being 29 yrs old.
After one week, it started looking better, but it was still real itchy, and now my WHOLE neck was itchy not just that one spot. So I made appt for dermatologist. It was almost all gone by the time I had the appt, but still itchy allover. Dr said it was most likely an allergic reaction to something. Prescribed a type of hydrocortizone cream. The sample worked great. Said if this happens again, they can do a test to see if I'm allergic to the top 28 allergens. Thanks for your input, everyone.
my first thought is shingles. I had a swollen spot on my temple that i thought was a bug bite. It swelled to the size of a quarter all the while my lymph nodes were swollen too...i finally went to the doc and was diagnosed with shingles...should have gone earlier, as i have a very large scar/divet on my temple from the first sore.
Actually it sounds like hives to me. It is common for hives to start around the hairline/neck area. You may be having an allergic reaction to something you ate, or any medication you took recently? If the benadryl is working, continue to take it as directed. Don't use a topical benadryl cream, instead use a cortisone cream. Use creams as directed to prevent a chemical burn and don't mix the creams.
Shingles is actually a mutation of the chicken pox virus, and if you had the chicken pox the virus can remain inactive in your system only to flare up later in life as shingles. Shingles usually effects older adults so it's not unheard of. If it is shingles your doctor can give you a prescription for an anti-viral medication like Valtrex.
http://www.shinglesinfo.com/index.html?WT.srch=1&WT.m...
I have super sensitive skin and am allergic to some medications, so I have dealt with hives myself. I also have family members who have chronic shingles.
Good luck!
Even though they don't look like hives, they may very well be hives anyway. I have had chronic hives for many years. They don't always look the same. Pressure hives and cold hives are small and flat. Other hives look exactly like mosquito bites and itch like them as well. When you scratch them, do they become larger? Watch them over the next few days. Take an over the counter antihistamine (like Claratin) to reduce the itching. They just really, really vary. My son has had hives a few times too. With all of my "hives experience," I didn't even know they were hives this last time. ....until they became bad. It looked more like a random rash. The most likely cause is medication (it doesn't have to be something you've never taken before). Very often people become sensative to things they've taken many times. If you have recently been on antibiotics, this could be a possibility. It could be something you were exposed to (topical). Just watch it over the next few days. If they are indeed hives, and spread all over your body, you know it's a systemic reaction and not local due to something topical. There's not much you can do other than taking an antihistamine and trying to figure out what's causing them so you can avoid it. Hives are like a thorn in the side. Oh, one last thing....are they coming and going or the same exact spots in the same exact place? If that is the case, probably not hives. In that case, see a dermatologist. Don't waste your money on starting with a GP. I've had GP's try to diagnose my random skin issues over the year and they're always wrong.
It could be spider bites. It could be contact dermatitis from a different laundry detergent. It could be a reaction from new/different/old makeup.
It could be shingles. I would go see your doctor about it, or call the nurse and ask. Shingles are contageous for those who haven't had chicken pox.
You did not say where you live or if you had been doing some traveling. Is it possible that you picked up some bed bugs somewhere.? Take the sheets off and check the bed very good. If necessary have someone come in and do it for you. Also see your Dr. see if what he thinks.
Don't scratch or pop--it may spread or get infected. If it isn't better soon, see a doctor. I had horrible poison ivy last summerr and the only thing that helped was cortisone shots. Good luck!
Could be a yeast infection? It is possible to get them on any part of your skin. Could be anything, though. Just to be safe, I'd have the dermatologist take a look.
