What Causes Itchy Rash On Face,groin And Torso?

Posted on Fri, 6 Jun 2014

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

Fri, 6 Jun 2014 Answered on

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My friend has been itching for a week. He presented with a "rash" on his face, groin, and torso, and then had isolated "bites" in several other areas. Since then, the condition on his face has completely disappeared (may be coincidental and not related) but the other rash-type areas have grown in size and gotten worse. The one on his torso is about 12 inches long and curves and almost looks like there is a tunnel running along the middle. The rashes and bites itched but did not hurt - until today. He saw a doctor at urgent care a week ago who said he had "no idea" what it was and prescribed oral prednisone, which did nothing. He has been in the woods hiking a lot lately (in Ohio) but nowhere tropical or exotic. He sleeps next to his wife every night and she has NO bites, NO rashes, and NO itching. Should he see a dermatologist or an infectious disease specialist or go back to a GP or what? Any guesses as to what it might be?

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is ore of an allergic reaction!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about what your friend is going through.

I have read through the information you have provided and have reviewed the image. This sounds more like an allergic reaction. I will like him to try antihistamines like zyrtec at doses recommended by his pharmacist for 1week and if there is no improvement, then he should get it evaluated again. This time around, I will recommend a dermatologist. This is not an infectious rash and an infectiologist here would not be very helpful for now.

In all, this seems to be an extensive allergic reaction. Antihistamines for a week then review. If no improvement, let him consider seeing a dermatologist.

I hope this helps. I wish him well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications should need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar