I was diagnosed with and treated for Lyme Disease 2 years ago. At the onset of flu-like symptoms, I also developed a rash on my palms which initially appeared consistent with a drug allergy. The rash disappeared while being treated but each time I stopped Doxicline, the rash returned. My MD thought the rash was not caused by Lyme, but that's when it appeared, so I am still suspicious that it's related to Lyme. I finally went to a dermatologist who diagnosed it as hives and treats it with Zyrtec 2x daily. When I take the Zyrtec, the hives do not appear. As soon as I miss a dose, they reappear. The hives appear mostly on my palms, arms, trunk, behind the knees, and feet. It is red in appearance and feels hot to touch. Has anyone had this type of rash/hives associated with Lyme disease?
Posted by ebrischoux (Member # 7281) on :
Dont know if it is related but my son gets red hot rash on his wrists and top of hands....LLMD just saw the other day and said it was a lyme rash...He tells me his hands burn even before the rash appears...He also had hives on his face and eyes very itchy on Friday...Dont know what that was all about....I gave him benadryl and the hives went away....It could have been what he ate on St. Patty's day but he has never reacted to corned beef before....I know it isnt good and full of stuff that is not great but he loves it and only gets to eat it once a year....Eileen
Posted by beachcomber (Member # 5320) on :
Had hives and anaphylaxis often before being diagnosed properly. Was tested for all posible allergens - nothing. The hives have disappeared with treatment, over time.
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
BGood, there is a rash that is associated with Lyme called "acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans" (ACA). I read that it often appears on the hands, feet and knees. I wonder if this may be what you have?
Sorry, you will have to Google it to learn about it - I ran across it while looking for the skin disorder that I have, which is "Lichen Simplex Chronicus", and probably not related to Lyme nor what is going on with you.
Tracy Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :
I have had what you describe.
When I go OFF long term ABX. It happened in 2001. It was AWFUL. The week I stopped ABX (8 months of them) I started getting very itchy hives at 5pm shrp. We tried elimination diet, trips out of town and all sorts of things to see if it was environmental.
When I took benedryl they would go away.
Eventually I was given allegra. As long as I took the allegra it worked. If i forgot, or tried to stop taking it---that very day I would get the hives.
This lasted an entire year.
I had only had hives once previously due to mites/allergens in an old carpet I pulled up.
After the one year, I was able to ween myself off the allegra.
I was tested by blood and skin for every possible allergen. I tested 0% for everything.
I think it MUST have something to do with our immune systems being in hyper gear. Auto immune.
I am gonna look up the rash name tracy found though! Good luck, Trails
Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :
ACA is from the European strain. It doesnt say there is itching involved, but pain.
Posted by Bgood627 (Member # 9005) on :
Thanks for all the replies regarding LD-related hives. I think it makes sense that the immune system is hyped-up, perhaps reacting to the antibodies left in the body from LD. I didn't mention that mine flares up when exposed to sun and after I work out. Also, as a side-note, my dermatologist recommended alternating antihistamines since apparently it's common to become resistent to them after awhile. Allegra worked for a while, then stopped and switched to Zyrtec. I'm going to try to find a doctor in my area that specializes in treating LD.
Posted by efsd25 (Member # 2272) on :
My son, who also has Lyme, has this rash issue and he takes Zyrtec to keep it under contol. The hives can be a real problem for him! He gets the rash even while on abx.
Posted by diana (Member # 7466) on :
I use to get hives all over my body for about a year or so shortly after I contracted lyme. The docs could never figure out what was causing it. Like many of my other symptoms, it just went away on it's own only to be replaced by something else!
Diana
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
Hi B,
Had hives for years and years. A dermatologist had me on 4 different meds / antihistamins. Had to go to the er 2x from severe hives. Was on steriods 2x.
All pre diagnoses early on in the desease.
Posted by ebrischoux (Member # 7281) on :
This is all so interesting...My son has never had a hive in his life had them all over his face after eating Corned Beef on St. Patty's day...I know not good but he loves it and only eats it once a year...never had a problem with it but his face broke out with hives upon ingestion....
Also another thread re: poison oak...My son had a severe reaction to poison oak when he was little tiny guy...He face blew up and was unrecognizable and rushed him to ER....This has never happend to him again...Cant help but think it is all related..Eileen
Posted by pattilynn (Member # 8065) on :
I've had them since my bullseye rash in 1992. They just break out whenever. I initially thought it was an allergy to PCN since I was taking it but I get them spontaneously. I've only been on treatment 3 weeks.
Posted by sarahinnewyork (Member # 7179) on :
Something to keep in mind is allergy to medication. I had a rash all over when I was on Biaxin and it wasn't until I did allergy testing that we realized that I had a slight allergic reaction to that class of drug-
I currently have a rash that started this morning over the area that I had my Bicillin LA shot last week- VERY itchy! Has anyone experienced this?
Thanks, Sarah
Posted by IsThereHope (Member # 6581) on :
Folks, look these symptoms up, rash on wrists, behind the knees, top of hands, it's probably scabies, a common mite causes it and it's easy to get rid of with cream, stop suffering now, I'm amazed the MD's aren't aware of this. It doesnt' have to be very pronounced, it just depends on how allergic you are to the mites waste products and decaying bodies. I urge you to look this up
Posted by smiles132002 (Member # 7949) on :
Shortly after I believe I was bit I started to get hives periodically. There was no rhyme or reason, no werid food or enviroment. As my lyme progressed the hives got worse. I was put periodically on pretnisone which seemed to work until a year and a half ago. They gave me 2 weeks of pretnisone but my hives didn't go away. I ended up getting mono, I had already had shingles, I started vommitting everything I was eating and I was broke out in hive. After 8 monthes of testing I finally saw a doc who just happened to be an LLMD. She put me on valtrex (often treated for shingles and mono) and within 48 hours my chronic hives disapeared. I occasionally get them now at very specific times or if I get stressed but the valtrex gets rid of them.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)