Contact dermatitis? Or something else...

[yeahiknoww]

Hello,

Yesterday I suddenly started getting very itchy just above my ankles.

Little red, itchy lumps.

At first I assumed this is due to my new Dr Marteb Chelsea boots. I wear them with socks but the socks slip down to just above ankle, so the bit just above this is exposed to the actual boot. So, contact dermatitis?

However! By bedtime last night I had the same spots on my wrists / forearms.

Very itchy.

So I began to think maybe flea bites? Bed bugs?

But everybody else in the house seems fine.

I was briefly doing a bit of gardening on Sunday, and I am in Scotland...but I didn't see any midges, think it's too early for them.

Anybody got any ideas?

It couldn't be contact dermatitis if it's also on my arms, could it? So must be something else?

We're your ankl3s, wrists and arms uncovered when you were gardening, was it long grass. Photo?

Did you take an antihistamine and did it subside? Any pics?

Photo hopefully attached.

@TraitorsGate no, I was wearing socks and crocs when gardening. Wrists were uncovered though.

@DSD9472 I took an antihistamine right before I went to bed, so didn't really get a chance to see if it subsided.

I can see from this pic though that the spots go right down to my heel, which was covered by my sock when wearing my boots, so I doubt it's them.

OP, that's almost certainly an allergic reaction to something. You've been bitten or stung or it could be from a plant. I get that a lot (redhead) and it looks identical. It itches like hell. Take some more antihistamines and try not to scratch although I never listen to my own advice.

I feel itchy just seeing that OP 😬
They look like mosquitoes or sandflies, but do you have sandflies in Scotland? 🤔Are you sure its not midges? really not sure I'm afraid.

Were you pruning something? Which plants did you come into contact with?

Can you get to a pharmacy, have you got any antihistamines and sting relief cream. Allergies can make you feel quite unwell,

Just looked them up.

Alchemelia mollis and Sedum Autumn Joy, apparently.

Do you know anything about them?

I was mostly just cutting all the dead stuff away and I was wearing gloves for most of it.

Thank you, yeah it's awful 😫

Never heard of sandflies, but yes, it's possibly midges

I've got some antihistamines, going to take one shortly

Hmm. Nothing with a poisonous sap then. Old school antihistamine then

Interesting, thank you. I don't know much about plants, was just trying to tidy the garden up a bit before spring.

I'm guessing I've been bitten by something.

Either midges, or something has got caught under the duvet with me and bitten me during the night