Weird itchy-bump hives on surgical scars - anyone heard of this?

[ShihTzup]

I have a collection of surgical scars around my middle area (hips thighs tummy etc), some up to ten years old, some newer, that have a really weird thing going on.

Once or twice a week, one or other of the scars will come up with an itchy bump somewhere along the scar line, like an insect bite reaction.

Usually 10 to 15mm across, no central spot or mark. Itches like an absolute fucker, then goes away again within a few hours. Quite puffy and raised, slightly reddish but not angry looking.

It's always on or very near a scar - never more then a mm or two to one side.

Its definitely not insect related. Doesn't look or feel like infection related. Feels like an allergy type response, histamine reaction itch thing.

Been going on for six months or so since my most recent surgery, but affects all the scars, not just the newest one. Seems to be escalating in frequency.

I've googled, obviously, and can't find anything that looks or sounds like this.

Anyone seen this, heard of it, or slightest clue wtf is going on there?

It's not like it's super annoying, but it bothers me that it's getting more frequent.

I get the exact same thing! I too have had stomach and breast surgery years ago. It appears like a hive suddenly and the goes away several hours later. It itches so incredibly bad and nothing relieves it. I too have had no luck on finding any information about it. Have you found out anything else?

I haven’t found any other information. It’s so odd!

Hello! I came looking for an answer to the exact problem you described, even though I am a year late on this thread. I have the same bumps that appear, and I took a picture this time as it is currently swollen on my year-old scars. Has anyone since found a reason for this? I was first unconcerned because I thought it was a big bite, but ever since both my feet scars and my arm scar (from Nexplanon birth control) have been doing the exact same type of reaction, I'm feeling pretty concerned.

I’m not a doctor, so this is just my opinion that might help ease your mind. I had my first breast reduction and also a tummy tuck 16 years ago. I had my second reduction just over a year ago. I just want to point out the fact that since I’ve had this going on for a long time and it hasn’t developed into anything serious or hasn’t proved a symptom of something else going on. Does that make sense? I still wouldn’t hesitate to ask your doctor just to be sure, but once other issues are ruled out, this could just be our bodies way of handling a stress of some kind In our bodies. Nothing more and nothing less. I have allergies to a lot of environment things such as different plants, animals, dust mites, fabrics - strong scents or chemicals give me a headache or make me itchy, etc. I also get a rash on my torso when I have a cold, or say, bronchitis or a sinus infection. I’ve been getting that for years, too, and any doctor I’ve asked and some who have even seen it don’t know what it why other than “some people just react that way.” It’s just indicative to my own body’s sort of immune response. I also have psoriasis which is an autoimmune disease. My body just seems to have a strong immune response to things. I get cold sores all the time from the slightest irritation on my lip, or sum exposure or stress.

As I said, I don’t suggest not following up with a doctor, but I thought it might ease your mind that it doesn’t necessarily mean or will lead to anything else or more serious. Because I am curious about how the body works and responds, etc., it still bugs me and I’d like to know why it happens.

I did end up following up with my doctor about the occurrences, and since then the hives have gotten much more intense throughout my limbs. The new running theory is that I am having an allergic reaction to iodine in some of the foods I eat, and it is just manifesting on the scar tissue the worst since it functions differently from the rest of the skin.

Cheers to hoping it vanishes soon. I'm very itchy.

Hi there! I know this is a couple years later, but i'm hoping this will reach somebody. I have recently started to experience the same hive-like reaction on my surgical scar from a breast reduction. I have a theory but i'm not positive about it, so i was wondering, have any of you taken any NSAID's before an onset of the hives? Like Aleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen? That is the only thing i can think of that i've done differently. Any feedback would be helpful, thank you!!

Wow, I can't believe it maybe the Motrin I took about an hour ago. The hive on my scare has now happened twice. 30 minutes ago and about a week ago. The scare is less than a year old but weird to get a hive on a scare. Itches like crazy. I was thinking it may have been cheese that brought it on but I have eaten cheese without hives in the past week. I take Motrin infrequently for lower back pain. Thinking back, I am almost certain I took some right around the time my first hive occurred. Thanks for your question, it my be my answer

This is awesome! I'm so glad we may have found our answer. I know the hives aren't necessarily harmful, but they sure are annoying. My scars are only about 4 months old. I'm going to try taking Tylenol instead, since it doesn't contain Aspirin and it isn't an NSAID. I only take pain killers here and there if I have a headache. Thank you all for creating this forum! I couldn't find any more info anywhere else.

Hi what was the parasite name and what was the medication name, strength and how long did you have to take

@Maezy321

I got to the bottom of why my scars kept swelling up. Turns out I had a parasite in my gut which triggered an autoimmune like response. I did a lot of reading up shut gut health and rashes so I got a gut test done! Turns out I was right! Started treatment a week ago and they’ve stopped swelling up. I got a nasty stomach bug back in November so guess that’s when it started .

Maezy321 what was the parasite and the medication they prescribed

It was blastocystis hominis and they gave me black cumin seed oil and biocidin to take.
Turns out this was only part of the issue. The main trigger for the swelling is that I can’t actually eat gluten! The only time the scars swell up now is if i accidentally eat gluten, so I’m now completely gluten free

@Maezy321

It was blastocystis hominis and they gave me black cumin seed oil and biocidin to take. Turns out this was only part of the issue. The main trigger for the swelling is that I can’t actually eat gluten! The only time the scars swell up now is if i accidentally eat gluten, so I’m now completely gluten free

Maezy321 nice. I already have black seed oil. I'll grab some biocidin. What was the regemin you used for both how often? Amount? How long? Did you take at same time?

Black cumin seed oil - 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening with food.
Biocidin - 5 drops 3 times a day, between meals or 20 mins before a meal directly on/or under the tongue or diluted in small amount of water. Start slowly with 1 drop 3 times a day and increase by 1 drop every 4-5 days until you reach the recommended dose.

There was another supplement I forgot to mention sorry
Saccharomyces boulardii - 2 capsules before bed.

I would be careful and cautious taking anything ther isn’t prescribed to you as this was specific to me following a full gut report and testing. Just because it worked for me doesn’t mean it will for someone else. Also without gut testing you may not have a parasite. The parasite damaged my gut which made me intolerant to gluten which then subsequently meant I got hives on surgical scars when eating gluten. It wasn’t the parasite itself than gives the swelling, it’s the damage to the gut causing “leaky gut” that resulted in toxins and histamine reaching outside the gut causing inflammation such as hives. If you reach leaky gut you will see there are many symptoms associated with it and many causes for it. It could also be a histamine intolerance and not leaky gut. It could be something completely different but research leaky gut and histamine intolerance and you may have other symptoms that they cause too. For example I had chronic back pain, fertility issues and constant indigestion which all disappeared after treatment

And I did this for 3 months

I had shoulder surgery 10 weeks ago. The (three) incisions all healed fine. The biggest however, which is on the bicep side of the crease of my armpit, has developed a hives like rash. The itching is deep, a little pink in color, and worsens in the sun. Not sure what it is either???

I recommend giving Zyrtec a try for anyone who might also be having an allergic reaction that appear on the scar tissue and other places. That, and an Aveeno acid treatment lotion to help the itching stop.

I have same problem @ShihTzup

I get this sometimes on my c-section scar. It’s in an awkward position under my undies all of the time so gets sweaty and I’ve gathered it’s to do with that. Happens mostly during summer.

How odd ,I also get this on one of my (extensive) scars on my stomach .

I experience this as well. I had them on punch biopsies for years and then I had a double mastectomy. They mostly show up on my breast scars now, but occasionally on my leg too. I haven’t figured out any connection. Usually it is one bump, however when my appendix burst, the scar on my right breast was covered with the bumps 🤷‍♀️

Did you ever figure out what this was? I have had this for years. In the scars it happened it the stitch also found it’s way out before the itching started. But one is a few years old and I still get this reaction. @ShihTzup. Is there a way to post picture

I just experienced this for the first time. It woke me up in the middle of the night, it was so itchy. I had a migraine so I took 800mg ibuprofen twice yesterday. So that’s interesting you noticed that connection. Did you ever get any answers as to why?

Hello! I hope you will still see this message! Can you please share what parasite it was please? And what other parasites they tested for? My allergist suspects parasites, but i have been getting all sorts of tests, including parasites, for the last 10 years, with no explanation....

Nevermind,just found the second page...

Did you ever figure it out??