So About Two Maybe Three Weeks Ago At Most, I

Posted on Sun, 5 Jan 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 5 Jan 2020 Answered on

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Question : So about two maybe three weeks ago at most, I started getting this rash ? It kind of looks like pimples but they’re not. And they’re all different sizes. Some are kind of like flat dry patches others are kind of raised like they’re swollen spots. But they’re all small like no bigger than a small pill. It’s on my armpits under and on the sides of my breasts. Some on the sides of my torso and a lot on the left side of my back and shoulders. They itch a little sometimes. Not a lot. At first I thought it was a bed bugs but it’s not I’ve checked. Then a friend of mine says it looks like it might be an allergic reaction to something. Another said it might just be my body changing and it could just be body acne but it all appeared almost at once so it can’t be that. I need some help here.

Answered by Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Dermatologist review is recommended to rule out herpes

Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to Ask a doctor forum. Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all it's sad to know what you had been going through lately.

Based on the history you have shared, it can be early onset of herpes zoster which may arise at chest in the areas specified, and may start to ache after irritation in later stages.

Allergic or contact dermatitis may also have its onset in the same fashion if triggered by any fabric components etc. It's better to get the rash evaluated by a dermatologist.

Meanwhile OTC analgesics like acetaminophen or Ibuprofen alongwith anti histamines like cetrizine or loratidine can be used for pain and itching and will also help to decrease inflammation. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (24 minutes later)

thank you for the fast reply! Would that show up in blood tests? I had recently gotten blood drawn a few days before Christmas and they said everything was normal. This started appearing a few days before. I looked up what you said it sounded like and what I have doesn’t really look like that? It’s more like spread out individual spots rather than a cluster of that makes sense? Like a single spot as if it were a pimple but it’s dry. They kind of look like hives but I haven’t changed anything that I wash with I haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary. I will probably be going to the doctor tomorrow! I hope this helps maybe I don’t know but thank you again!

Answered by Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Examination will be more important than investigations

Detailed Answer:
Hi! Thanks for the feedback. In skin diseases mostly examination is more important than blood work up. Blood work up can be normal even however baseline blood counts to see for eosinophils for allergic reactions or neurotrophic count for bacterial infections or lymphocytes for viral can be suggestive but not confirmatory. Rarely if diagnosis is doubtful, skin biopsy can be used as one of the most reliable tools but in your case a dermatologist visit will be sufficient hopefully. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng