Itchy bumpy rash - please help!

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I have an angry-looking, itchy rash on my arm that appeared about five days ago. It's all red with lots of small bumps. I've tried putting moisturiser and also Germolene on it, but this seems to make it more angry and itchy. The only thing that stops the itching is holding an ice cube directly onto the rash.

Does anyone know what it could be and is it anything serious? I'm a bit worried

Looks like hives, have you tried antihistamines?

Deffo try an antihistamine.

No I haven't - are those available from the pharmacy or would I need to see a GP? The latter could be tricky as I'm going away for work tomorrow morning...

Are the bumps fluid filled? Could be shingles, worth going to a pharmacy and asking the pharmacist to take a look.

My DD had it on her arm and after seeing pharmacist saw a GP via 111 as it was a weekend.

No, I don't think they're fluid filled - although it's hard to tell as they're very small (like goosebumps!)

Looks shingly to me..

Could it be polymorphic light eruption? Have you been in the sun? I had it for the first time this year and I had no clue what it was! It's been about a month and it's clearing now.

Try sudocrem. I get that when it's hot and sudocrem helps a lot.

Have you been in the sun? I have PLE and it looks like that. It's bloody awful.

Thanks @EnglishRose13 - I've just googled that and it does look very similar! My arms have been exposed to the sun quite a bit recently.

Did your rash look similar to mine and did you treat it with anything?

Coo bloody hell, me too, popped up on Friday.
It's been up and down like a bride's nightie ever since. I like the idea of polymorphous light eruption - I have lupus so actually that makes sense.

@babysharkah yes I have! I've never had this before How do you treat yours?

I have to take antihistamines all summer, have hay fever so do anyway.

Gradual sun exposure not straight out in to baking heat helps. I'm having a massive flare at the moment - out in the sun all day on Saturday and I'm paying for it now.

A thin smear of hydrocortisone helps get it under control when it's bad.

If it is PLE once you have it, you will get it again. Mine gets a lot worse where the uv is reflected eg on a beach on holiday. I wear long sleeved rash vests all the time.

PLE tends to be on arms and chest so covering is the best way to avoid.

I'm actually off work today as mine is so bad, and it's ugly too.

Take antihistamine and use antihistamine cream from the pharmacist or supermarket. Make sure you get the non drowsy type.

Oh no - I'm in my late 30s and have never had it before. I wonder why it's suddenly happened?

I have very fair skin and burn easily...

Antihistamines can cause increased sun sensitivity. You taking any?

No, I'm not taking any antihistamines at the moment...

It just looks like an allergic reaction either from heat, sunlight it maybe something in the garden you've touched. I'd be very surprised if antihistamine doesn't sort it out.

Have you recently used sun cream OP? Particularly Piz Buin?

I had a very similar rash all over my face after using PB suncream some years back. Shortly after that there was a Watchdog piece on it: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24145832

All to do with Methylisothiazolinone.

If you go into a pharmacy, the pharmacist should be happy to have a look for you and recommend an over the counter treatment or recommend you see the GP if they feel it's required

I used a steroid cream and Sudocrem but it didn't make a difference. I just looked and it was a month ago and I still have a few faint spots.

It usually comes on between the ages of 20-40 (I'm googling) and is more common in women than men, particularly fair skinned.

I have PMLE ...got it for the first time 10 years ago. Mine is just on face and neck.
No cure.

No cure.