What causes leg rashes with extreme itching and petechiae?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 26-year-old female with no significant health history. I have anxiety, and I had hyperthyroidism in the past. I have had an itchy rash for over three months. It started as a small patch behind my left knee. It happened after having a ring-shaped rash on my left thigh. I was treated for that with antifungal cream, and it went away.

This new rash is completely different. I am extremely itchy to the point. It is interfering with my life. There is no obvious rash unless I have already scratched that area. I then get a bunch of small skin-colored bumps. Also, after scratching, I often get petechiae and bruising. The itch is everywhere but my face. I have been waking up wet from sweating, even though my bedroom is fairly cold at night. A few times I checked, I had a small fever of around 99.1 Fahrenheit. My doctor puts me on antihistamines (Benadryl at night, Claritin during the day) and steroid cream. It has not worked. She recently wrote me a prescription for Prednisone, but I am worried that a skin allergy just is not what I have.

I am currently taking Effexor 75 mg and Klonopin 0.5 mg when needed. Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have a bright red rash on your legs, which is typically a response to allergies. Allergies can be triggered by various factors, such as food (like artificial colors) or, at times, insect bites. The petechial patch on your shin is likely a result of excessive scratching of the skin.

For treatment, it is important to use a good, preservative-free hydrating moisturizer, such as Cetaphil Restoraderm, in the morning to help soothe and hydrate your skin. If the itching becomes severe, there’s no harm in taking a short course of Prednisolone to reduce inflammation.

Most importantly, I recommend getting a complete blood count (CBC) to rule out any underlying causes. Once you have the results, feel free to reach out to me again so we can further assess your condition and guide you through the next steps.

I hope this helps.

Please revert back in case of queries.

Thank you.