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Has Rash On Entire Body, Start As Small Fluid Filled Blisters, Itches And Ruptures With Pain. Treatment?
Question: Hello,
My friend has a strange rash on her entire body, they start as small fluid filled blisters, that are itchy and rupture. They seem to be spreading. They become painful after they itch. She's concerned greatly, but hasn't started doing anything differently to provoke an allergic reaction. I will attach photos
My friend has a strange rash on her entire body, they start as small fluid filled blisters, that are itchy and rupture. They seem to be spreading. They become painful after they itch. She's concerned greatly, but hasn't started doing anything differently to provoke an allergic reaction. I will attach photos
Brief Answer:
Please read a detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
There could be multiple causes for such lesions like pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, contact dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, bacterial infection,viral infection, drug induced rash, insect bite induced etc.
As the description provided by you is quite concise, i would like you to answer below mentioned queries
Age of the patient
Since how long is she having it. If lesions are persistent or appear intermittently.
Area of involvement
Any history of precipitating factor- drug, insect bite, allergen etc
Treatment taken so far or any consultation taken from a dermatologist. If any skin biopsy has been done.
description of lesions. If patient develops small blisters or big blisters. If blisters are grouped or appear singly. If there are any other lesions apart from blisters.
If possible detailed history of onset and progression of lesions.
Please attach an image of concerned lesions too as without examining the lesions it would be difficult to think of a diagnosis.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Take care.
Please read a detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
There could be multiple causes for such lesions like pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, contact dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, bacterial infection,viral infection, drug induced rash, insect bite induced etc.
As the description provided by you is quite concise, i would like you to answer below mentioned queries
Age of the patient
Since how long is she having it. If lesions are persistent or appear intermittently.
Area of involvement
Any history of precipitating factor- drug, insect bite, allergen etc
Treatment taken so far or any consultation taken from a dermatologist. If any skin biopsy has been done.
description of lesions. If patient develops small blisters or big blisters. If blisters are grouped or appear singly. If there are any other lesions apart from blisters.
If possible detailed history of onset and progression of lesions.
Please attach an image of concerned lesions too as without examining the lesions it would be difficult to think of a diagnosis.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The patient is 19 years old, it has been going on for 3 months, they're coming and going with steroid cream, she has a history of allergy, particularly to latex. This is affecting her lower abdomen, between fingers upper calf and groin. No known insect bites, occasionally smokes marajuana. The blisters are never bigger than a button on a remote. They're provoked by heat. No biopsy has been done
Brief Answer:
It could be pemphigus vulgaris
Detailed Answer:
HI,
Thanks for writing to us.
Spontaneous development of fluid filled blisters in a young adult responding to steroid creams points towards pemphigus vulgaris. It is an auto immune disorder where one gets small fluid filled blisters rupturing on own in two to three days to form superficial erosions healing with crusting in few days. Lesions can be present over skin, palms, soles, scalp and mucosa. oral cavity involvement is also commonly seen and may sometimes develop later in disease course. Another possibility though unlikely could be impetigo( a type of bacterial infection commonly seen in children)
Had she been my patient, I would have done a skin biopsy of fresh blister and a bed side test known as tzanck smear for acantholytic cells( where blister is de roofed and a scraping from base of the lesion is mounted on slide, stained and examined microscopically to look for cells characterisitc of pemphigus.
A dermatologist visit is mandatory as sometimes pemphigus can progress and involve larger body area. Patient can be brought into remission with early treatment.
Right now, to help lesion heal, ask her to do warm water compresses over lesion and apply antibiotic cream. The lesions would dry and heal in few days. Whenever new blisters appear a biopsy should be done.
Hope this helped.
Take care
It could be pemphigus vulgaris
Detailed Answer:
HI,
Thanks for writing to us.
Spontaneous development of fluid filled blisters in a young adult responding to steroid creams points towards pemphigus vulgaris. It is an auto immune disorder where one gets small fluid filled blisters rupturing on own in two to three days to form superficial erosions healing with crusting in few days. Lesions can be present over skin, palms, soles, scalp and mucosa. oral cavity involvement is also commonly seen and may sometimes develop later in disease course. Another possibility though unlikely could be impetigo( a type of bacterial infection commonly seen in children)
Had she been my patient, I would have done a skin biopsy of fresh blister and a bed side test known as tzanck smear for acantholytic cells( where blister is de roofed and a scraping from base of the lesion is mounted on slide, stained and examined microscopically to look for cells characterisitc of pemphigus.
A dermatologist visit is mandatory as sometimes pemphigus can progress and involve larger body area. Patient can be brought into remission with early treatment.
Right now, to help lesion heal, ask her to do warm water compresses over lesion and apply antibiotic cream. The lesions would dry and heal in few days. Whenever new blisters appear a biopsy should be done.
Hope this helped.
Take care
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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