PLEASE HELP AND READ. this is a genuine cry for help. I can’t sleep from the itchiness.
Picture of my thigh above. 19F. RPMHx of cystic acne, on Lymecycline 300mg OD nocte. No illicit drug use. Heavy vaping. No new medications, no change in laundry detergent etc., no new products. THIS HAS NOT BEEN CONTAGIOUS TO ANYBODY, I HAVE HAD SKIN TO SKIN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE SINCE HAVING THIS AND NOT A SINGLE PERSON HAS BROKEN OUT IN ANY WAY.
After a bout of strep at the end of February, I was put on Clarithromycin for the first time in my life (we discovered I’ve become resistant to penicillin). I had no symptoms of anaphylaxis and finished the course in its entirety. It cleared my strep, but ever since, I’ve had these HORRIFICALLY itchy “hives” EVERYWHERE on my body except for my chest, neck, face, and vagina. The itch genuinely feels impenetrable. I tried an OTC dose of Cetirizine, and when that didn’t work, I was prescribed Telfast 180mg for a month, and 0.1% Betnovate for 1 month. I found that it eased the itch but it was still there, and I had to stop the Betnovate as it was thinning my skin.
The itch is significantly worse at night and gets so bad that I scratch through my skin (I know I shouldn’t be scratching, but I promise you if you felt this, you’d scratch too). I’ve also developed dyshidrotic eczema on my hands and feet since February, but my understanding is that these are kind of exclusive areas of dyshidrotic eczema.
I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow, but I am BEGGING on my very itchy hands and knees for some second opinions on what this could be. I’m suspecting follicular eczema but I’m just basing that on what I’ve seen in practice as a nursing student so please chime in if you think otherwise. I’m genuinely sobbing as I’m writing this because I am so exhausted from scratching and it’s past 1am. Please, please help me. Thank you.