Maybe 3-4 days ago I noticed a red spot to the side of my stomach area. I didn't think much about it until the next morning my belly button was itching like crazy. I checked it out and saw a tiny little red spot at the bottom (outside) of my belly button. The next day I'm itching a little more (though not terribly) and realize my whole belly is covered with tiny red spots (not raised at all) with a few bigger raised spots, almost eczema looking but perfectly round. They go around my sides and a few on my lower back. Also, several right under my breasts. Those don't itch at all. Nothing itches severely, just comes in spurts and doesn't last long for the itching. The little red dots are harder to see, but there. I also feel spots on my neck on both sides, which got quite itchy for one day, but they don't seem to be that visible without really looking. Everything is concentrated on my belly, sides, a few lower back, and neck. When I woke lastnight with Natalie for a potty break, they were driving me crazy. I used some Cortisone and went back to sleep. They are a little itchy today.

Any ideas?? I haven't changed soaps or creams at all. I generally don't have sensitive skin anyway. I do work in some pretty filthy homes where things have been crawling on my when I left, but I've managed to stay away from scabies to this point. When I google scabies, it doesn't totally s ound the same. It's not in my 'crevices', as scabies describes.

It's grossing me out. Any thoughts?

By Tink on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 10:01 am:

I just finished a round of antibiotics for cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection, most likely staph. My doctor thinks I probably got it from my preschool students and I know you work with children of the same age. The rash and the mild itching sound just like my symptoms. I'd head into the doctor for a double check but it's luckily just a basic round of antibiotics for treatment. I was contagious and had to stay home from work and away from my family for 48 hours until the meds started working.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 10:03 am:

Things that come to mind: hives, a viral rash, chiggers or some other type of bug bites? I think I'd be calling the doctor, especially if it gets worse. {{{HUGS}}}

By Tarable on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 10:40 am:

I was also thinking hives or bug bites, but I would go to the dr just to make sure.

By Shellyg on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 11:08 am:

Does the reash feel Hot? I just had the same thing and it was a form of excema. When the bumps started to go up my neck towards my face I freaked out and went to the Dr.s. The Dr gave me some cream that made it go away in two days!

By Reds9298 on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 04:35 pm:

Thanks guys! The rash and red spots does not feel hot. Iit's also not hives because I'm familiar with hives. No one else in the family has it. They also don't seem to be spreading past my mid section and my neck, and lord knows I've scratched at them.

If it's not better I'll make an appointment on Monday. It doesn't seem to be getting worse quickly, just popping up here and there very gradually.

By Karen~admin on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 08:49 pm:

Could it be pityriasis rosea?

By Reds9298 on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 09:28 pm:

It could be Karen! It's driving me C-R-A-Z-Y...has spread to really bother all around my neck and hairline at the back, and dare I say, to the nether regions as well! I know, TMI! Just right in the crease between my thigh and my parts. My shoulders, too. My legs, arms, hands, feet, back, and face seem to be mostly untouched. I'm calling at 9am on the dot tomorrow and begging for help. YUCK! I've had it about a week now. No one else has it so far, but I really hope it's not contagious. I'll keep you posted!

By Debbie on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 10:37 pm:

Deanna,

Have you had 5th disease that you know of? I got 5th disease this spring. It started with a rash all over my torso. I didn't get it on my face, and I don't think I had it on my arms and legs. It was small red dots, not really raised. Kind of looked like prickly heat, or a rash that I have gotten from certain soaps. It itched, and spread, got worse when I was in the heat.

Good thing you are calling the doctor. It doens't sound good, and with it spreading, you definitley should have it checked out.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 10:54 pm:

It sounds like that also Debbie. Not really raised much at all, but I do feel them. When I first saw it, I thought it was a heat rash, even though I hadn't been really in the heat. Very similar to a reaction from a soap. Maybe that's it. I'm getting anxious to find out now! Was that contagious for your family? Thanks - I'm going to look it up now!

By Debbie on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 11:02 pm:

Deanna,

I got it from the boys. It is very contagious, but you can only get it once, like chicken pox. When kids get it they get the red cheeks, it looks like they have been slapped. Unfortunately, if you get it as an adult, it can be pretty ugly stuff. You can get joint pain and swelling, which I got really bad. It lasted for a few weeks, and then came and went for a couple of months after that. When it was the worst, I actually had trouble walking, and couldn't get up from a sitting position because of the pain in my knees. I also couldn't move my fingers without pain, and had trouble holding on to things. The swelling and joint pain is usually in the hands, feet, and knees. I really hope this isn't what you have. But, some people have very mild cases. So, if you do have it, I will keep my fingers crossed that you don't go through what I did. The swelling/joint pain starts a week or two after the rash. Oh...and once you have the rash, you are no longer contagious. It is only really bad if you are pregnant. Kids seem to not get really sick with it, my boys just got the rash, but never really felt bad. They can do a blood test to tell if you have it.

By Jjandmom on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 06:18 am:

Ok not to mention but did you check your house foe fleas , I know it is that season where you don't even have to have a pet and they can hop on your clothes or anything. They can be very itchy I know when we had them the one time in here they seem to only bite me no one else seem to be getting them. here's how to check wear white sock and walk on the floor a little bit then look down at your feet and see if there are any little black things jumping. Sorry I had to add this.

By Reds9298 on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 10:05 am:

Debbie - I haven't had any pain, aches, or ill feelings whatsoever, and I've had this for about a full week and no one else has anything. I do work with small children 2 days/week, but I've not noticed any rashes on any of them.

Jjandmom - I'm very familiar with flea bites and what that looks like, just from getting bites in the homes where I work. It's definitely not flea bites.

I'm supposed to see the doctor this afternoon.

By Karen~admin on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 11:48 am:

Jeff had Pityriasis Rosea several years ago, and it took a few weeks for the rash to clear up entirely. He went to a dermatologist and was told to use hydracortisone cream for the itching. If it's Pityriasis Rosea, there really is nothing much to do except wait for it to go away.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 07:41 pm:

Any updates? Enquiring minds want to know! LOL!

By Reds9298 on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 10:57 pm:

Thanks for asking! He thinks it might be "pityriasis vericoses". I find almost nothing online about it when I do a search, but he showed me a medical book and its description today. He thinks it's fungal and not contagious. I'm so grossing myself out! He gave me an anti-fungal cream and said I should see a big improvement in 3 days. If not, back to the doctor I go. I really hope it works. I don't have the time or patience for the itching or another visit!

By Jewlz on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 11:10 pm:

thats what my hubby gets every summer ...and if u dont treat it then it spreads down ur torso ... not contagious and dont really itch on him and dont look terrible just a rash. the dr gave him a prescription stregnth selsun blue medicated ... they reccommended that he use that once a week after we get it under control ... then the dermatologist tole him he had three precancerious places on his head and burned them off . lol so he is healin now all over. good luck with ur rash hope it heals fast for ya

By Dawnk777 on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 11:40 pm:

Good luck. The itching must be driving you crazy! I hope the anti-fungal cream helps.

Do you mean pityriasis versicolor, maybe?

Pityriasis info from Mayo Clinic This one is caused by a fungus, or overgrowth of yeast, on the skin, and is is more affected by hot, humid weather.