How long can you take your compression socks off Patti? Just my thoughts but you could give the rash some air. Also rinse out the compression hose with some cool water, possibly vinegar water then rinse again and dry. For the itching you could take benydryl-- if your dr ok's it. Don't drive of course.
Are you possibly getting a heat rash from the hose? or some friction?

You poor thing! I can't stand itching either. Do you have an aloe plant? It might help with the itching. Hope so.

How is the original rash site doing? Did you ever get a proper diagnose on that one?

Please get yourself to the dermatologist ASAP. Be the squeaky wheel.Tell them you are in misery and need to see someone NOW. You shouldn't have to wait a week to get in for something like this. This is an acute episode of something. It's not like you just want to have a mole checked out or something.

Was a drug interaction completely ruled out?

om gosh this is awful, i really feel bad for you. can you take benedryl? or put cortisone spray on the rash? that might help you know whether this is a reaction of some sort. i really hope these are just rashes and not reactions to your meds.

many yrs ago i came back from a trip visiting my now DH in orlando w/ an unbelieveable rash that 3 dermatologists couldn't figure out. i had it for 4 weeks and it was spreading from my feet up past my knees and onto my hands, wrists up to my elbows. i was desperate trying home remedies, all kinds of antibiotics, trying to culture myself in microbio lab lol. it was chiggers lol, not to many dermatologists in chicago had seen that i guess! i hope you find relief fast! ~ liz

The other two rashes cleared up completely. I had a couple days inbetween of total relief.

This again seems to be something different.

I've thought about going to a different dermatologist than the one they are sending me to. I'd want it to be a good one...but one that can take me a little sooner.
On my legs it looks like the pores that are inflamed..but it is also down on my feet on the tops and it is the red tiny rash there.

patti

Chiggers is a real possibillity this time of year depending on where you have been. Chiggers would have mostly affected the top band of the compression socks, and the edges of your underwear. Another possibility is a reaction to residual laundry soap in your garments, or the fragrance in laundry soap.

Since it happened under tight fitting socks, I am not inclined to think it was posion ivy or oak - you know, leaves of three - but am not ruling it out completely. Some people react to nightshade. Nightshade is a pest in my location. It invades the edges of lawns and tries to overtake gardens. Poeple come into contact with it while seeding their gardens.

Let us know what you find.

Try some over the counter cortisone cream, and use it often. Also take benedryl, which can make you sleepy. If you don't have any benedryl, take an over the counter cold medication with antihistimine, which is what benedryl is, but try to get some benedryl eventually. If it is allergy, that should help. I agree with the suggestion to rinse out the pressure stockings--I am allergic to the coating they put on cloth in the manufacturing process. Sometimes hot soaks help reduce itching too.

This happened to me also. How uncomfortable it was for 8-12 weeks. Finally, I figured out it was a new medicine I was on, and it took quite a while to get out of my system before the itching subsided.

I did see a quacky derm guy about it, but he wasn't much help. Just wanted to tell stories and focus on himself. I never went back...and shortly after the itching got better.

I still have remnants of the rashes on my legs and arms, and occassionally they will itch even though I stopped the med long ago.

Oh you poor thing. I can relate to the red itchy rash.

I developed one over two years ago on my elbows and forearms. It then spread to my knees. This itch was so intense that I wanted to keep scratching even though my skin was raw.

First I was diagnosed with psoriasis (wrong) - then after waiting 6 months to see a dermatologist I was diagnosed with Dermatitis Herpetiformis. This rash is associated with Celiac Disease. I do not have Celiac Disease. Went through blood tests, endoscopies, colonoscopies, biopsies.
All which showed no Celiac and the biopsy came back as folliculitis. Inflammation of the hair follicles.
This Dermatologist put me on a pill called Dapsone. This pill was prescirbed years ago to people with Leprosy.
Well, I thought I died and went to heaven when I first started taking this med. The rash disappeared - no more itching. However, two years later my bones ache, my joints ache not to mention I am so badly anemic. I feel like I'm 100! I'm told this is all because of the Dapsone.
I have asked to see another Dermatologist. Remember I live in Canada. I received the referral in January/08 and my appt. is scheduled for October 28/08. Nothing like waiting 10 months.

Don't feel too bad - 1 week is nothing, although it seems like forever when there is discomfort!!

Patti, did you get your diabetic meds changed like you wanted to? Is it possible it's the Byetta causing this?

Put ice packs on when you can sit for a while, with your feet up. Just for a little while, as you don't want to get the skin too cold.

Tami

I just got home from the doctor for a similar rash Patty.
Mine rash is caused by very very dry skin and my clothes were irritating my skin. The irritation led to scratching (til I was bruised and bleeding) which led to an infection, much like impetigo. It is miserable. I am on steroids and antibiotics.
He said to wash my clothes in Dreft, shower in cool water with Dove moisturizing bars and wear loose clothing.

The skin irritation came from hot flashes which made me sweat, which dried out the skin which led to itching, etc. etc. I was showering several times a day; sweating + bacteria + stinky. This was a mistake. The showers and the antibacterial soaps made everything dryer.

My pores are wide open on my back too but I don't know what is causing this.

I am tired of waking up to blood stained sheets and night shirts. Hubby says I scratch in my sleep. It is ugly.

I hope you can find some relief soon.

Lori

Patti, I'm glad you're getting in to see a dermatologist. All these rashes are not normal. It could be a systemic problem manifesting itself externally.

Better to get to the root of it, than to guess or try to self medicate.

Hope the doc can make you feel better soon!

Now I have some on my upper arms...Not a lot to see...but enough to make my arms itch too.

patti

Patti, what a rough time you are having!

Google "Contact Dermatitis" and read up on some of that and see if you can identify what you have.

You may or may not be able to match it up, but it will give you something to do in the meantime.

Good luck.

Sue

I went to the Dermatologist last month because of a rash on top of my feet. He told me it was "Barnacles of Life" in elderly. LOL! I got Barnacles! What the hay? I'm 58!

It is itchy too! I have a spray Herbal Formula Natural Menthol that cools the itching. Premiere's Pain Spray!

I'm squinting to read the ingredients: Natural Mental, Peppermint oil and Eucalyptus Oil.

Gayle

Gayle-I have that same thing!LOL Sometimes the tops of my feet itch so bad I can hardly stand it and I have these tiny scaly spots everywhere.Also my knees and the sides of my knees,behind my knees,under my arms and under my boobs.LOL Sometimes I have to take a Benadryl just to get some sleep.I thought it was something in the laundry soap so started using fragrance free and rinsing everything an extra time.Didn't help,neither did changing deodorant and bath soap.Man,it's the pits to get old!LOL
My mom had little red itchy spots on her lower legs.Looked kind of like bites of some kind.Can't remember what it is called but doctor said it is common in older people.She was 88.
Patti-I hope you get some relief soon.

Sarna will give you temporary relief from the itching, Patti.
It's not cheap but soooooooo soothing!

Lori