What could be the cause for red and raised rashes that come and go? (photo)

Doctor's Answers 1

Thanks for the question. Hives or urticaria are rashes that come and go. They are often red and raised and itchy and settles within hours. If the hives last for more than 6 weeks, this is considered to be chronic urticaria.

In chronic urticaria, you may consider seeing your doctor/dermatologist for further work up. Blood tests are often done to rule out an underlying associated medical problem eg. thyroid disease. Antihistamines are the mainstay of treatment, but there other newer treatment options now for persistent and recurrent urticaria. You can discuss these with your doctor.

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Could an itchy rash be a sign of an STD? (photo)

Hi, I can understand your concern about the rash in view of your exposure history. Certainly, some STDs can cause rash/ skin lesions like Syphilis, Herpes and HIV. Typically, secondary syphilis (that means syphilis that has not been treated and the disease progress to 2nd stage) can cause a rash but the rash is usually not itchy and usually appear as small bumps. Herpes usually cause blister-like skin lesions. HIV rash can vary in appearance and there is no specific characteristic rash that can definitely indicate that it is a HIV rash.

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How long does pityriasis rosea take to clear up?

Thanks for the question. Pityriasis rosea is a condition that typically presents with scattered red rashes on the trunk and arms and thighs which may be scaly. The face is often spared in this condition. There is a herald patch, often a larger patch that appears before the rest of the rashes, but this is not seen in all cases of pityriasis rosea. The face is also a very unusual site to get the herald patch. So overall, it is really difficult to comment if your rash is truly pityriasis rosea without seeing your rashes.

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