Itchy rash on my back

[Andrew Dwyer]

Yesterday I started to get really itchy on my back as me and the gf were having lunch in an outdoor place, as we were leaving she noticed one of those small hairy caterpillars on my shoulder ( could be relevant or maybe a coincidence).
Because of the position I was having trouble to scratch it so asked gf to take a look and she said my back was extremely red , mainly because I had been scratching like crazy ( wrong, I know ).

Anyway today it looks like this
 
There are two main groups on my back and some isolated bites/lumps elsewhere ( neck, stomach and arms)
 
Got some cream ( Dermovate ) from the chemist and after cleaning the affected area with alcohol and applying the cream I get relief for 4 or 5 hours when I shower and repeat.
 

 

 
I do spend a lot of time in the garden with my shirt off and usually spray myself against mosquitoes as they do like my blood [emoji51]
 
Any ideas, recommendations ??
 
TIA,
Andy

[BigT73]

Hi Andy,  you could try antihistamine tablets?  

[Andrew Dwyer]

Hi Andy,  you could try antihistamine tablets?  

Yes, my gf had some spots a couple of weeks ago ( very minor, I could barely see them ) after having an allergic reaction to injection ( cat bite ).
She gave me one of those little yellow pills this morning, to be honest I was doubtful but will continue to take them after your post .

[ukrules]

If you don't fancy the tablet version of the antihistamine there's a cream which is very effective and contains the same ingredient - I use it all the time, it's called Systral, available from main pharmacies.

 

 

This cream is very effective, when it wears off just put some more on...

Edited November 11, 2018 by ukrules

[Andrew Dwyer]

If you don't fancy the tablet version of the antihistamine there's a cream which is very effective and contains the same ingredient - I use it all the time, it's called Systral, available from main pharmacies.
 

 
This cream is very effective, when it wears off just put some more on...

Yes, thanks for that.

The chemist gave me this :



Seems to take the itching away for a few hours, but reading the “ blurb “ it is more for dermatitis.

Would still like to know the cause though ??

[Andrew Dwyer]

Just had a hot Dettol shower !!

Feeling clean now if nothing else !!

[Cadbury]

Try a hydrocortisone cream. I should be applied sparingly. Talk to Dr Google about it re frequency of applications. Works for me.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Just to wrap this up :
I bought some of the Systral cream, continued with the Chlorpheniramine tabs ( two a day) and had warm showers with Dettol ( Thai style, in a large washing bowl) 3 or 4 times a day, very refreshing !!

The results are good and the rash is all but gone, I suppose the trick is NO SCRATCHING !! but sometimes it was unbearable, if I had one of those back scratchers I would have done some real damage [emoji51]

Still no idea of the cause and was hoping for some ideas ? Whether it fleas, bedbugs, small spiders etc or an allergic reaction to soap powder or something of that nature ?

Anyhoo, thanks for the help guys.

[worgeordie]

Could have been very small ants,so small you can hardly see them,

they bite mutable times,and I find the bites are much worse than

the bigger species of ants,and the itching lasts a lot longer, as in days.

regards worgeordie