skin rash

[lagatta]

A topic of interest to travellers! I remember a contact dermatitis contracted on a plane that left me with a scarlet ring of rash around my throat as I arrived at my destination (was also going to see Someone Dear to My Heart in a few days). And one never knows what is in the hotel mattress, no matter how posh and seemingly spotless the digs.

I have an odd rash - just small raised bumps, not red unless I scratch them, a bit like small insect bites. No "pattern" like ringworm or scabies. And it comes and goes. It also disappears if I take an allergy pill, but hate taking them too much. It is a hard thing to consult a medical professional about, as it only arises from time to time. I haven't travelled anywhere recently and am not aware of any exposure to new allergens. A friend said it could be a fungus infection. Dunno.

[bixaorellana]

LaGatta, I had something very similar on my upper torso after sleeping on a bed that came with an apartment I rented. It was a rash that would sort of "bloom" and itch furiously, then subside again. I was told to use Aloid on it and it worked like a charm. I purchased it here over the counter, amid a certain amount of smirking by the teen clerks.

Here is the Wikipedia entry for the generic term: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miconazole

Here are brand names in the US, Canada, & Mexico

I don't know why this stuff works on itching --- works on mosquito bites, too -- but it does.

[lagatta]

Oh that is funny. I certainly don't have either of the racier diseases, or ringworm. I can certainly try that.

[Deleted]

Isn't northeastern North America in the grips of some sort of bedbugs-from-hell event?

[lagatta]

Yes, but these aren't bedbug bites. A neighbour contracted bedbugs and the whole building was fumigated, though I didn't have any. He picked them up (in his clothing, no doubt) while travelling in Scotland and Ireland, so they are Gaelic bedbugs, not northeastern North American ones.

But oh yes, the poshest hotels here, in Boston, in NYC etc are dealing with infestations.