Symmetrical red patches

 Hi all,

 This is my first post to the forum. I checked around a bit to see if anyone else had already posted a similar problem...sorry this is a long post. I think I may be reacting to nickel or other metals.

about 6 weeks ago... I broke out in red patches, very defined and mostly over my joints on both sides. A band of redness across my knuckles, thumb joints.  Red circles on my wrist joints, elbows, knees, ankles and a sharp red line running from wrist to elbow. My face.. from my nose down to my chin and slightly across.. a big red circle. Both ears.. screaming red.  My face was hot but not itchy, there were no welts or hives. I had no trouble breathing. Just stared in amazement and horror at my skin...

Fifteen minutes prior, I had cleaned my ear piercings with some hydrogen peroxide... my ears have been pierced for 30 years.. and I had to stop wearing earrings 20 years ago as they became intolerable to wear. The holes never closed over so I'm left periodically cleaning out some.. for lack of a better word... gunk that accumulates. I felt I reacted to the metal in the earring that I used. 

Anyhow, last week.. similar reaction, not so severe after shaving. Shaving in the shower went fine.... about an hour later I noticed a few stray hairs in the armpit area. Took the now dry razor to my armpits. 15 minutes later my neck is itching like crazy... my face feels hot..  my hands have those red patches again. My neck had no red patches which is odd because that's where I was so itchy.

Saw the doctor today... he's thinking "hot flashes"... I've had those before and I'm not yet in menopause to my knowledge, I'm 43.. he's sending me for a FSH test. I didn't go as I was worried that the needle for the blood test may set me off. I'm going to see an allergist as well. The doctor drew his fingernail deeply into my upper arm 3 times.. there was no instant reaction, but in a few minutes there were 3 red lines.. not surprising to me as I know my skin is very sensitive.. he says.. you have "dermographism"... I have since Googled that and I don't think so....

If you have read this far I sincerely thank you! If you have any thoughts or ideas of what this could be.. please share, thanks so much.

-kaslo

Hi Carla and Mary,

The allergist did some routine tests ( scratch tests?) where he pricks your arms in about 15 places and then drops some allergens on. No reaction.

So... I was to go over to this lab and get the North American 'tray', which is about 30-40 or more metals that are placed on the back and covered with tape. No showering for 3 days and then go back and have them remove it and look at it.. then run over right away and see the allergist. I Googled the process and thought ..forget it... I'm positive nickel will be one of them and I know I react to that. That is probably what's in my earring and razor blade. Why would I want that taped to my back as well, I can react to tape too.... oh boy.

I'm going to buy an Epi-pen, after the last reaction where my neck went itchy, I'm worried about a anaphylactic reaction and I guess better safe than sorry.

I don't eat shellfish, or any seafood. The first time I reacted I had a banana smoothie before it happened. The second time I had pumpkin & banana pancakes.

I've been eating banana smoothies for many months now with no reaction... my friend thinks it could be that....I have a banana smoothie everyday before I go to work for breakfast.

Laundry soap... I was using 7th Generation. A bit too full of essential oils and fragrance for me. Back to the Safeway Select unscented brand.  

I don't know.... but I really want to shave! :)

Thank-you again for your thoughts!

-kaslo 

It sounds like to be on the safe side, you need an epi pen.  Can you buy them where you live without a prescription?  I have to have a prescription for mine.  Just curious.

Take care!

Carla