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I am getting small diameter red spots, like mosquito size that itch like crazy, have them on my hands and up my arms and and just recently on the back of my neck
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Male Person's Age: 62 Already Tried: used anti itch creme that helps, lots of moisturizer thought it was dry skin but still itching
Hi,How long have you been getting these spots for?
just started last week
Okay. Tell me do these spots come and go each lasting for no more than a few hours or have the bumps been persistent since appearing?
they come and go, when i put the anti itch creme they seem to go away then reappear in about the same location on my arms
Thank you for the information. Typing out an answer, be back with your shortly.
Your symptoms are most suggestive of Acute Urticaria. This is a skin reaction pattern caused due to the release of histamine in the skin which produces itchy bumps which usually only last a short time. Acute Urticaria can have many causes raging from prescription drugs like penicillin or an OTC drug like aspirin to systemic infection (either bacterial or viral), food additives or seafood or intestinal worms. The last is usually only of significance in children. Stress is also a major cause of an outbreak. There are numerous rarer causes, however if all of the above are ruled out then I always get a patients thyroid function test done as hypothyroidism is often a cause. Many times it is not possible to find an exact cause and neither is this required since most episodes of acute urticaria are self limited, usually within 4-6 weeks of onset of symptoms. So I would recommend just taking Tab Claritin 10 mg once a day for 2 weeks and calamine lotion over the affected areas if symptoms occur, and seeing whether the they recur on stopping the medicine after 2 weeks. If they do then take the medicine for 2 weeks more. If the bumps still recur after this then you will need to see a doctor in person to get the appropriate blood tests. You can continue using your moisturizer and anti-itch cream as well.Hope this information is useful, please feel free to ask if you have any queries.NOTE: Please remember to only rate my answer when you are satisfied. If you feel the need to click either "Helped a little" or "I expected more", please stop and reply to me via the CONTINUE CONVERSATION button with the issue you have. I will be happy to continue further and do everything I can to provide you with the service you seek.
is the claritin over the counter?
Yes it is.
Experience: MBBS, MD (Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology)