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Rashes After Blood Is Drawn. Is It Allergy?
Every time I get a blood draw, I get a itchy rash soon after that stays for about 3 days. It s flat, warm to the touch,but not infected looking, quickly blanches. The tourniquet was up a lot higher and over my shirt. She used an alcohol pad to wipe the area. A cotton gauze and paper tape. None of which bother me otherwise. I also just had a ton of needle stick type allergy testing the day before with no problems. In the past, they always had to stick a few times and dig around, so I always chalked it up to that, but this time, she got it first try, no digging, no problem.
Sat, 2 Feb 2013
Hello,
The rash that you get from the venepuncture area after the sticky plaster is applied is usually a reaction from the rubber in the plaster. Occasionally, how the phelobotomist (person who does the drawing of the blood) inserts the needle into the skin can be cause why the site looks red raw or purplish later on. This is a reaction of the stainless steel needle and the force of the puncture. If you are fair skinned, the effect is more obvious.
Rubber reaction is usually not a serious thing, unless you have latex allergy that is IgE (allergy antibody) mediated and requires consideration if you react to gloves, condoms, rubber slippers (itchy legs) etc. Avoid the cheap rubber plasters next time. Just keep the area pressed with cotton and don't fold your arm at the elbow, so the bruising doesn't occur.
I hope this answers your query.
Best Wishes.
The rash that you get from the venepuncture area after the sticky plaster is applied is usually a reaction from the rubber in the plaster. Occasionally, how the phelobotomist (person who does the drawing of the blood) inserts the needle into the skin can be cause why the site looks red raw or purplish later on. This is a reaction of the stainless steel needle and the force of the puncture. If you are fair skinned, the effect is more obvious.
Rubber reaction is usually not a serious thing, unless you have latex allergy that is IgE (allergy antibody) mediated and requires consideration if you react to gloves, condoms, rubber slippers (itchy legs) etc. Avoid the cheap rubber plasters next time. Just keep the area pressed with cotton and don't fold your arm at the elbow, so the bruising doesn't occur.
I hope this answers your query.
Best Wishes.
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Hi
You are mildly allergic to the swab which people used to clean the area they used to take blood or from the sticky tape which is used to stick the cotton wool in place. In either case, it should improve with time as you grow older. Otherwise, just take some mild 0.1% hydrocortisone (steroids) cream once or twice after the blood is taken. Avoid the sticky tape. It is unlikely to be life threatening and should not become worse in the future. Hope you are not a regular blood donor.
You are mildly allergic to the swab which people used to clean the area they used to take blood or from the sticky tape which is used to stick the cotton wool in place. In either case, it should improve with time as you grow older. Otherwise, just take some mild 0.1% hydrocortisone (steroids) cream once or twice after the blood is taken. Avoid the sticky tape. It is unlikely to be life threatening and should not become worse in the future. Hope you are not a regular blood donor.
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