Is it normal to get two to three episodes of on and off skin rashes in a year?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am having on-and-off skin rashes all over my body. It started on my hands and spread to other parts of the body. The bumps are of different sizes, and some are clusters; others are single. In addition, they are red, raised, and very itchy. They are presented for more than three weeks. I get these rashes two to three times a year, and the rashes turn purple when they start to heal.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I acknowledge your query and the pictures attached (attachments removed to protect the patient’s identity). It looks like an allergic manifestation rather than an infective one. It is probably eczema, atopic dermatitis, or allergic dermatitis, which often occurs after contact with a particular allergen. The allergen might be dust, insects, or certain food items. The exacerbating factor might be climate change.

I have a few suggestions for you as follows:

1) Kindly apply plain Calamine lotion or Calamine lotion with aloe vera four to five times a day over the allergic lesions.

2) Avoid citrus fruits.

3) Avoid tomato, potato, eggplant, chili, and pepper.

4) Avoid gluten-containing foods like wheat, barley, and rye.

5) Avoid chocolates.

6) Reduce the amount of milk you consume every day.

7) Bathe in lukewarm water.

8) Sometimes, fluctuation in the environmental temperatures may exacerbate the allergy. In case it is occurring in a cold climate, you can use humidifiers.

9) Keep your room dust-free.

10) Avoid alcohol and nicotine-containing products.

12) Reduce the consumption of processed meat and red meat.

Meanwhile, I suggest you do tests for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and total IgE levels.

Oral antihistamines like Levocetirizine or Fexofenadine and oral mast cell stabilizers like Montelukast will help during the allergy. Topical Diphenhydramine with Zinc acetate will help in reducing the symptoms.

I hope this helps.