HELP! Large Whelps!

Updated on June 19, 2008
T.S. asks from Amarillo, TX
26 answers

Okay ladies, yesterday I woke up with a huge bite looking hive on my butt (sorry) which just got larger and larger. Then today I woke up and have these huge hive looking things which are red and swollen all over me! They itch some, but mainly just burn. The only thing I have changed is that I started taking some Ocuvite vitamins, a Bilberry vitamin, and some Ginkoba for an eyesight problem I am having. I called the health food store and they said it wouldn't be any of that because the hives are just now appearing and I have been taking it for about two weeks, that it is probably something I ate, but I haven't changed my diet at all! I haven't tried any new foods, and the only "new" things I have done is start those vitamins and started using the Principal Secret skin care stuff. I really feel that it is the vitamins, but I would just love some feedback on this, if anyone has ever experienced this. Thank you sweet ladies for your time! T.

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So What Happened?

Hello sweet ladies! Thank you all for all of your wonderful advice and information! Today the hives or whelps are gone after two days of Benadryl and the swelling and burning is gone also. I haven't taken any vitamins since Thursday, but I have continued to use the skin care products so I am going to assume that it is the vitamins. I am going to see a vitamin/mineral specialist and have him analyze the ones I was taking and see what the correlation could be. Anyways, thank you so much for all of the advice, it really helped! T. S.

Featured Answers

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

I haven't experienced it, but I have heard about something similar. I would definitely go see the doctor or google it. I wouldn't hesitate.

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R.W.

answers from Dallas on

i think it is the Principal Secret skin care stuff. It can also be a combination of the foods, vitamins, and the Principal Secret skin care. Sometime it's not just one thing but a combination of things. This is just something to think about, but probably the best thing is to consult a physician.

Hope it clear up soon

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T.O.

answers from Dallas on

This happened to my friend last year. Several of us were called over on the run to look at her butt. It was alarming. Big, red welty things all over.

None of us had a clue what it was. Her doc said it was an allergic reaction... maybe to something outside, as she'd been working outside. I don't know why her butt was the affected area, except it was HOT like it is now, and she'd been sweating in the yard....

Anyway, she had to get a steroid shot and all got better. I'd be taking Benadryl around the clock if I were you.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

One, don't listen to what the health store says they are not doctors. I can't take vitamins because they make me throw up. Ginkoba, makes me dizzy. Eveyone is different. Now you could be having a reaction to something else, but just because some clerk in a health food store who makes minimum wage tells you it can't be that I would agree.

You might try some antihistamine. although I would recommend Zyrtec it can take several days for full potency. Try some benedryl and see if that helps, if not call your doctor ASAP. You could also have just developed a alergy to your laundry detergent if you've changed or they have changed the formulas. I have a problem with certain fragrances. Good luck and I hope you feel better.

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

This happened RIGHT after my baby was born. I broke out for about a week for NO apparent reason! They say sometimes it's just stress related. Try taking some benadryl. Hope it clears up for you.

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T.M.

answers from Dallas on

It could be either of them or neither of them. I typically have fall allergies but have been breaking out in hives lately too. Some days nothing other days like this morning I have hives in several places. My mother who has never had any allergy issues has recently starting having hives off and on too-neither of us have changed diet or soaps etc. If you started the skin care last drop that and see what happens. Benadryl is excellent because sometimes when you have hives/whelps you are actually doing that on the inside of you too and it can affect the airway. However, I have to function so many times I take a non drowsy allergy medication and that works for me too. Hope you get this figured out, I know you are miserable!

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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

Can it be bed bugs? (I think that is want they are called)

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

#1) I recommend seeing a dermatologist ASAP. They can look at it quickly and determine if it's shingles, bed bugs, poison ivy, etc. My hubby thought he got poison oak after mowing the lawn, but it was shingles. If it's an allergic reaction, the dermatologist will right there on the spot give you a cortizone shot, and the hives will disappear. But if it's shingles, then you can spread chicken pox to those around you who have not had them, and you must quickly quarantine yourself at home for about a week.

#2) Otherwise if it was an allergic reaction, then I would go see an allergist to pinpoint what it might be if you can't figure it out.

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C.M.

answers from Lubbock on

Have you eaten Mexican food lately.. Our son did this when he was about 19 and the doctoer said Mexican food will do this sometimes in summer time. They gave him a benedriyl shot and it went away. He hasn't had it since and he still eats Mexican Food.

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

well if you can stand it..do a little experiment. You can stop taking the vitamins and stop using the principal skin care. Then take benedryl. Wait until your skin clears and re-introduce the skin care line. Wait a week. Then re-introduce the vitamins. You'll know for sure which one it is. Now, if you're having wheezing or shortness of breath don't do this experiment. but for sure, take benedryl and you can use some zyrtec, hydrocortisone cream topically.

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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi T..
See if you can do some research on Vitamin A toxicity.
I am not familiar with Ocuvite but if it is for eye health then it may be "A" heavy.

My husband was put on A supplements a few years ago and developed large red patches on his skin after taking the vitamin for a couple of weeks. They were red and burning...reminded us of early poison ivy but with no rash bumps.
When he quit taking the supplements the spots went away in a few days.
When we looked it up we found that A does build up in your blood and when your body has had enough it does develop skin troubles.
"A" is one of the fat soluble vitamins...which basically means that it stores up in your fat cells instead of flushing excess through your system like "C".

Anyway...look it up.
I am sorry that I do not have those links.

Good luck.
B.

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I.T.

answers from Dallas on

Hi,T.
It sounds like an allergic reaction. I had that happen to me when I use coca butter lotions,baby oil. I applied the coca butter for stretch marks on my buttocks and my skin itch,burn and swelled up. I didn't understnad what cause this. I mention to my husband, and that the same thing happens when I use Baby oil. He went to the store and looked at both bottles and found the ingredent in both to be Mineral Oil. I can not use anything with Mineral oil. to this day, I will break out any where I use the cream. you might want to check any new lotions you might have applied. and also look into the vitimins.
I hope this helps.

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T.

answers from Dallas on

This is happening with my husband right now. He hasn't changed his diet or any of the vitamins/medications he is on, so we have decided it has been stress induced, because his company is talking about layoffs, and he's pretty stressed about that. He has been using a 1% hydrocortisone cream to help with the irritation. I hope yours clears up soon, he has had his for about a week now!

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

I advise you to see a doctor about this. IF you are having an allergic reaction, the first one can be very minor-as a warning. The following ones can be far more scary. i have had 3 very random reactions in my life and have no idea what causes them but the 2nd' and 3rd landed me in a hospital ER. I carry an epipen and benedryl strips that dissolve in your mouth now just in case although I haven't had a reaction in 4 years.

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Hi T.,

It looks like you've got the situation handled, so that's good. As an FYI, scientists are finding more and more that isolated vitamin supplements are not helpful and in some cases can actually be harmful.

I suggest you look into a whole food supplement to make sure you're getting all the nutrition your body needs. There are several out there, including the one I market. If you'd like more info, feel free to email me.

God bless!

____@____.com

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

people can take antibiotics for years and then take the same ones again and have an allergy. just because you were already taking them doesn't mean that the vitamins weren't the culprit. you may find that there is one ingredient that you are sensitive to. go off all the supplements and new skin care product. you can always add back in one thing for 2 weeks until you get it narrowed down. FYI, i always have eaten cantalope until about 6 years ago and had swelling of my lips and tongue and itching in my mouth. so new allergies can develop at any time. i also don't eat cantalope anymore!!!! or anything that has touched cantalope. since the whole mouth swelling after a little piece the size of a chicken nuggett. i have always been scared to eat it again, since next time i fear that my throat might swell. some allergies like that intensify with more exposure, kinda like antibiotics, that progress into anaphylaxis shock. so i would be careful if you try to experiment with adding things back. i would definately have some benadryl on hand. i also have severe allergies and have taken allergy shots and have an epi-pen. but i have never broken out taking a supplement. but stranger things have happened.
good luck,
L.

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S.T.

answers from Dallas on

Our new (and awesome) pediatrician (Dr. Deborah Bain in Frisco) stated that 99% of all skin related issues are due to things we ingest. I completely agree!

Mamasource member Lauri posted that you can react to something you ingest even after you have been ingesting it without any problems. I agree!

The best test is to keep track of what you are ingesting and try to find the source that way. Also, trust your instincts. If you think it's the vitamins, then it probably is.

If you are interested in other testing check out Immunolab.com and see if there is a Dr in your area who will order these tests for you. It tests for immediate and delayed reactions.

S.

I sign with Sierra! At 13 mo she has 33 signs, 20 spoken words, five signed 2 word phrases, seven spoken 2 to 3 word phrases and she knows 13 body parts!
http://www.weehands.com/weehands_with_sheri.htm

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

Allergies can come at any time to any thing. I used penicillin for years, then took some for a sinus infection. After being on the penicillin for about a week and a half, I had a terrible allergic reaction (bumps, swelling, etc. -- hello ER). They said it took that long for it to really get into my system. My MIL ate shrimp for years and one day went to lunch, had shrimp, and went into anaphylactic shock. Now she can't eat any kind of shellfish. My mother also developed allergies to medications suddenly in her 40s.

So, you may be allergic to any of those products. It may have taken 2 weeks to fully get into your system.

When looking at food allergies, I have been told to remove all suspects for two weeks and get rid of all of the symptoms. Then, introduce each new thing back in one at a time. It's kind of like when we do new foods for babies -- we do each new one for a week or so before adding another new food. Try this with your vitamins and your new skin care.

I know this message is late -- hope you are feeling better by now!

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C.V.

answers from Dallas on

Can they be chigger bites?? look into it.

Prayers to you that it will calm down soon.

Blessings

C.
Inspiring the Wellness In You!
www.pebblecrossing.com

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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

Years ago I had a similar situation. I went to an immunologist and the findings were toxin allergies. Due to a build up of what I was allergic too. You can reach a critical mass point and then you boil over. You can take benedryl 25mg (pink/white capsule)up to six a day if your symptoms are at their worst and you can stay awake. Remember whatever is showing up on the outside of you body is also happening on the inside. Becareful of throat swelling. If you are unsure about the benedryl or need a quicker fix the dr can inject an anti-inflamatory/anihistimine. Drink plenty of fluids that will help flush your system. I hope you feel better soon. C.

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L.F.

answers from Dallas on

I break out in hives all the time. I have been to an allergist twice for testing and they can never find anything tha I am allergic to. Even if you have been eating or taking something for years, you can become allergic to it. You may never find the source of the hives. Hormones could even trigger hives. In my twenties, everytime I was getting ready to start my period, I would break out in hives. It seems like ever since I had my son, that doesn't happen much anymore. I hope you can figure it out, but don't be surprised if don't. Good luck!

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V.B.

answers from Dallas on

Shingles??? If it is below the waist and stress. Look into it.

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

Ok...don't panic - but if I were a betting woman - my bet would be that you've got bed bugs. There has been an incredible resurgence of these pests in the last three years. Bed bugs feed at night. They bite you, and a welp appears, upon touching or scratching it - the welp burns because the bugs actually defecate while biting and this can lead to infection. Here is a link on how to get rid of bed bugs: http://dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=652

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B.

answers from Dallas on

I wouldn't assume that it's not the vitamins. It took about 2 or 3 weeks for my mom to develop a rash due to an allergy to a medicine. They made the same assumption and treated her rash as a bunch of other things before, as a last resort, they had her stop taking the medicine and the rash went away.

B.

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B.T.

answers from Dallas on

T.,
Did you change laundry detergents, soaps, fabris softeners etc? This sounds more like a contact problem than something you ate.
Blessings,
B.

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

bed bugs. have you changed your bed linens lately? when you do, spray your mattress with lysol disentfectant and whipe. vaccuum or dust your flooring and discard clean the appliance after use.

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