Skin Flare up from bites

[Guest Posts]

In the last couple of weeks I have been getting skin flare ups on my body which are extremely itchy. The rash is very red on the surface of the skin?
I have tried cutting out certain foods, but this hasn't made any difference.
The only thing I can associate with this happening is that I got badly bitten by an insect on my neck (on the golf course) about two and a half weeks ago and it was very itchy. I put 'Eurax' cream on the itchy area where the bites were located at the base of the head, there were about 4 bites as far as I could make out at the time. After they healed up I seem to have been having the skin flare-ups on a regular basis now, every day.
Can you suggest what could be causing this reaction, please? Plus if there is anything that can be done to help me?
Thank you. Anne

[Dr Stephanie Gallard]

Anne, this is the sort of thing that needs to be seen really to be investigated properly. I am not sure if it is likely that the flare-ups are connected to the bites, although it is not impossible.
I would suggest going to see your GP, and taking photographs of the rash when it happens. What you are describing could be a rash called urticaria, for which we usually prescribe antihistamines to start with. There are other options, such as a contact dermatitis, where your skin has come into contact with an irritant of some kind. Your GP will also want to take a bit more of a dermatological history, starting out with previous skin problems you might have had such as eczema in childhood.
Sorry not to be able to be more helpful