Skin rash - allergic reaction to what!?!?!

I'm sorry to hear you've having this. Weird that it's not on your hands if it has to do with gardening, therefore, I think you can rule out contact dermititis unless you've been wearing gloves.

Does the rash burn or feel itchy? Is the underlying skin swollen and red? There is a form of shingles that is only on the face, but usually it is accompanied by a fever.

Here's a link to a possibility... interesting because the MD's surmise this can be a "sunlight-worsened" dermatitis. (At first I thought you might be describing heat rash, but it would be on more places than just the face.)

http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/Perioral.html

Hope this helps. P

Did you get any scratches or skin punctures on your head or neck?

I had something icky and similar. It was cellulosis. You get a puncture, and bacteria gets in your bloodstream and it can travel and cause a little outbreak of the bumpy things you described in an area near, but not at, the site of the puncture.

It itches. Any other symptoms?

I am instantly rashy from leptospermum and buxus...sigh. I think sue (business partner)is allergic to her ivy, though I may be mistaken. So, you scratched your forehead, eh?

maybe this? http://www.medical-library.org/journals2a/infintigo.htm

I empathize with you, I was pulling weeds myself and became immersed in poison ivy.

All over my arms, face, eyes, and down my throat.


I know this info will come as good news to some, but if I'm a little short, please understand.

littlek- Is this what it looks like?

Hey everyone! Thanks for all your info.

Piffka - it's actually not around my mouth at all. It's vaguely itchy, but the itch is not overwhelming. The underlying skin is not at all swollen, but a little red. I wasn't wearing gloves, but I washed my hands and forearms thoroughly after working out there (trying to prevent the re-occurance). Sunlight maybe part of this reaction.

Sofia - No puntures or scratches on anything but my hands.

Osso - I brush my hair from my forehead a lot while gardening, so I tend to put my hair back now. When I came inside and washed my hands, I thought about washing my face too. But, at someone else's house it just feels akward to do.

Max - there is no crusting over of pustules at all. I can scrape off the superficial nasties with my finger nail and they're gone - poof! Poison ivy doesn't usually get me down at all - sounds like you have a bad reaction to it!

Phoenix - sort of, but too me that looks like an infected scratch.

I'll look at some more websites......

I'll check out shingles, ivy, leptospermum and buxus

littlek- There are little blisters on top of the reddened area.

The norway maple is listed as a skin irritant. I was cutting out a lot of that weedy tree. But I couldn't find details.....

Call it a perfectly stupid question but....have u seen a doctor ?

Hey k what are you doing? Gosh yeah, if it keeps up..go see a doc!

Hope its better, or you at least narrow it down a bit...with all you've been doing, thats a bit hard.

Doesn't really sound like a contact allergy. A woman at work had a skin condition that looked like what you are describing. After waiting 2 weeks she went to the dr. and found out she needed an antibiotic, and the stuff cleared up in less than 24 hours.

dr.,dr.,dr. (and you know how much i hate the dr.)

Yeah, I got a rash myself.

All over the area of lower legs where my socks touch my skin. (Not on the soles of my feet, thank...ah...whoever.)

Funny thing -- although it is an angry red -- it really doesn't itch at all.

I hate going to the doctor -- so I'm just living with it. It's been with me for 4 days now -- and seems to be going away. Once it is gone -- who needs a doctor.

LittleK, I had a very similar thing happen. A couple weeks ago we had quite hot weather, and I did some yard work every day. I put on sunscreen and didn't stay out long at one time. The skin of my lower face did what you describe. It was like orange peel, with tiny blisters under a hardened skin... It wasn't a sunburn, but it felt like it was going to peel like one. Now it's gone.

Several years ago I tried a face cream made with alpha-hydroxy acids. It did the same thing, and when my skin recovered it was nice and smooth and new-looking, but I decided that was a rough way to go. Whatever this more recent thing was acted the same way. Combination of sunscreen and perspiration? I don't know...

Frank - my dad gets that. He thinks very much that it's from playing golf on the course just after they've used a fertilizer/weedkiller on the grass - been to any treated greenery? It get's trapped, somehow,under the socks and the contact is prolonged.....?

Wy - I didn't use sunscreen. Did you cut back any maples?

No, I haven't seen a doctor and I won't for this specifically. I'll bring it up when I go for my yearly (I'm prolly past due anyway).

And.... I did use sunblock today, did some work in the sun, did not handle maples - my face is a-ok. Well, there's no rash on my face.

The first thought that came into mind was pollen. It could be any type of allergy, but the best bet is to go see your doc. c.i.

Littlek -- no, wisteria and grass so tall it was blooming...

FrankA -- my dad had a rash like that. He was allergic to the dye in socks, and had to wear white ones only.