I Don't Know What It Is!

[GlutenFreeAustinite]

About eight weeks ago, I noticed a purplish lesion on my leg (about the size of a quarter). I think it existed before that, but that was when I really took notice of it. The skin surrounding it was raised. It didn't itch too badly, but it hurt if I accidentally bumped it. It just would NOT go away. The thing got bigger and now it's finally shrinking (I think) and now it looks like an average mosquito bite though it has a scabbed layer on top. The layers keep peeling away, but it responds well to witch hazel for whatever reason.

I know DH typically is more of a rash, and definitely itches way more than this does. My mom thinks it could have been a nasty spider bite of some kind, or an ingrown hair (I'm so sorry for the TMI). I've been gluten-free for a year and a half, but have been glutened a few times since I stopped eating it. Could it be DH?

[itchy]

To me it doesn't have many of the characteristics of DH.

Typically DH would itch or sting ferociously. More likely it would come on both sides of your body, and you might notice some linearity. I haven't heard of a single large sore related to DH, but who knows. Often DH sores would have a hard centre, and the sore itself would be surrounded by an area of bright red or purple inflammation.

There just doesn't seem to be any of the typical characteristics of DH.

[squirmingitch]

I agree, the hallmark of dh is intense, never ending itching. And it often will itch or sting for 12 hrs. prior to the rash appearing (for me it often does this for 24 hrs. before presenting).

It doesn't sound like dh to me. But celiac disease is associated with lots of skin conditions so it still could be related to celiac.

[GlutenFreeAustinite]

That's what I was thinking. DH doesn't make any sense. I've always had crazy sensitive skin though....I'm the type that steps outside and breaks out in a rash.

[squirmingitch]

Okay, since you're in Austin then have you been wearing shorts this winter? You may have sat down on something, even something you didn't know was there. a spot of gasoline on a seat, bench at a park --- something your skin is sensitive to --- something that gave you a chemical burn, something you're allergic to. Any of these things a possibility?

[GlutenFreeAustinite]

That's entirely possible.....I haven't worn shorts all that often this winter, so it would have been harder for me to do that, but if it were an allergic reaction, I think it would have gone away by now. So it could have been a burn, or a nasty bite of some kind. We have rather nasty bugs around here.

[squirmingitch]

I know, including scorpions.

I'm in Florida. We have nasty bugs too. And scorpions.

[GlutenFreeAustinite]

I detest scorpions. And snakes. And Florida is probably just as bad, if not worse!

[squirmingitch]

I don't mind the non poisonous snakes but rattlers & moccasins OH MY!

But I don't think we have the really, really lethal species of scorpion that you do. At least i hope we don't. 55 yrs. & crossing my fingers. Not saying it -- don't want to jinx myself.

[GlutenFreeAustinite]

And coral snakes. Ugh. Not a fan. Water moccasins scare me because they like to hide. At least rattlers have the decency to let you know they're around.

And...ooh! I hope we don't have it. I haven't done extensive research into it. I tend to creep myself out..

[squirmingitch]

Water moccasins scare me because not only do they like to hide but they are MEAN! & will come after you. Shivers!

Oh yeah, the coral snakes.

[ciamarie]

I know, including scorpions.

I'm in Florida. We have nasty bugs too. And scorpions.

Ya know, I don't like cold weather and winter.... but I'll take it over having to deal with those creatures you're talking about! Except we do have rattle snakes in some of the more dessert areas, at least that's what the signs said on the way to Coulee Dam! I didn't actually see any, thankfully!

And I agree with the consensus that this skin rash doesn't sound very similar to DH.

[GlutenFreeAustinite]

I know! I know a girl who got chased by one. And one summer, I was out on a ski ramp (don't ask me why we were hanging out on a water ski ramp in the middle of a lake!) and my friend's brother looked down and there were like five moccasins hanging around the base of the dock. And we had to swim all the way back to shore. UGH.

I've lived in Wisconsin and Massachusetts...I'd take cold weather over killing critters any day.

Thanks for the DH advice. It's just such a weird little spot.