Play doctor for me

[Spudman***]

Does this look familiar to anyone?

Sunday afternoon I grabbed a wool hat out of the hat basket by the coat rack and went for a hike. Along the way I started itching and figured it was because I had worked up a sweat. I left the hat on and completed the hike. I think I had a little itching before I went to bed but nothing major.

Now, three days later I see red spots starting to form and they are somewhat swollen a a bit larger making my scalp a little tight. They aren't terribly itchy, I have a head ache and feel a little tired but not too bad.

My first thought was some kind of spider bites. I don't think it's a brown recluse or there would be much more pain. Other than that, anyone seen anything like it?

[Katastrophe]

Well, it ain't a brown recluse, 'cause you would be feeling really bad by now.

Are you allergic to wool? Some random bug in the hat? Was the hat washed, dry cleaned, or treated with any new chemical prior to storage? Have you seen any more red areas since removing the hat? Are the red areas spreading or getting larger?

I wouldn't wear the hat again, in any case... A good dermatologist should clear that up in a jiffy.

[Spudman***]

I've never had any allergy to the hat for the several years I've had it. The spots have swollen but no new ones since Monday morning that I can tell. Random bug? Maybe huh. I can't think of what would cause the swelling besides a spider. Thanks for the input.

[Tig***]

Chiggers? If so, give the hat to someone you don't like.

Nurse Mrs. Tig says if it is contact dermatitis related to a reaction to the wool, it would be more spread out. When in doubt, see the doc.

[piebaldpython***]

Nah, no spidery kind of thing. My guess is a reaction to the hat itself, or a reaction to something in the hat (detergent. moth balls, etc).

Seriously.......have you ever had a bad sunburn or a bad flu reaction in that area of your head/scalp? If yes, you may have a "weakness" in that area that makes you susceptible to reactions in that area.

I have that exact issue with the inner part of my left shin/calf area.

[Spudman***]

I've been researching and I'm going to say that it's scabies. That would explain why I feel like something is crawling over my skin at times. I'll get some treatment tomorrow and see if it works.

[Katastrophe]

Good luck, bro... Post up when you get the verdict on what it is. Hope you recover quickly!

[Mike S.]

I agree that it looks like a rash from an allergic reaction of some sort. I've had similar outbreaks on my scalp a time or two, and it went away in short order.

[Spudman***]

I agree that it looks like a rash from an allergic reaction of some sort. I've had similar outbreaks on my scalp a time or two, and it went away in short order.

I've worked out and sweated plenty in that hat before and never had any problems. It's been 4 days now and no sign of lessening which I think would happen if it were a rash. Still, thanks for the input. You could be right.

[Bloozcat]

It could be irritant contact dermatitis or possibly allergic irritant contact dermatitis.

In the first case it could have been from just the wool hat rubbing on the skin possibly due to something like a detergent residue in the hat. The fact that you have never experienced it from the hat when you've worn it before might not matter as your body is constantly changing. That which was never a problem before might be one now. And, if you wear the same hat a month from now you might not have a reaction.

In the second case, it could be an allergic reaction to something like poison ivy, poison oak, or something similar. I sort of doubt that though because where you live those irritants aren't in bloom yet (if they even grow in Idaho). Did you eat any seafood a day or so before it appeared, especially shell fish? That's another possibility.

My guess would be that if you went to a dermatologist and he couldn't diagnose it specifically, he'd just call it irritant contact dermatitis. It's sort of like their catch all diagnosis. Try some Benadryl cream and see if it goes away in a day or two. The Benadryl cream is an antihistamine and should clear up the symptoms if the condition isn't something more serious.

Jeez, it almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about!

No, I'm not a doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night....

[Spudman***]

The pharmacist agreed that it looked insect related. They might not come out well in these photos but there raised raised areas that look like invasion/bite sites. The irritation pattern is not consistent enough to be contact dermatitis.

I'll know in a couple of days if I'll have to go through this again.

[IMAGE REMOVED]

[Bloozcat]

Sounds like you're narrowing it down, Spud.

Hell, we hardly even notice bites here unless they're from a venomous critter. Seems everything here either bites you, stings you, or gives you a rash. They attack you from the land, the sea, and the air. It's a jungle out there (almost literally).

Just don't go into anaphylactic shock on us, ok Spud?

[Spudman***]

Just don't go into anaphylactic shock on us, ok Spud?

That shouldn't be a problem. I don't get severe allergic reaction to anything. Thanks to the railroad we have lot of invasive species around here some of which are spiders. So it's either that of some other biting critter. I hope it's that simple and not toxic shock syndrome. If I have to explain that then the joke was totally wasted.

[sumitomo]

I'm being serious here,I asked my wife to look also(she's in the medical field)It could be herpes (shingles),it does have a blister appearance.Go have they take a cluture and test it.Sumi

[stingx]

Dude, put some salve on that.

[tjcurtin1]

Man - did you notice the top of the thread? On my screen it's full of links for rash and pain issues!!! It's kind of scary how the web works sometimes...

[stingx]

It goes by what you were last googling for. What the hell have you been up to?

[Spudman***]

I'm being serious here,I asked my wife to look also(she's in the medical field)It could be herpes (shingles),it does have a blister appearance.Go have they take a cluture and test it.Sumi

I'm not sure about that. I have an incredibly strong immune system, it's usually in a band around the torso. Mine is in patches on my head. Blisters haven't developed and this isn't particularly itchy or painful. One area is swollen which is very un-rash like. Still, it's possible and I appreciate her opinion.

[Bloozcat]

I hope it's that simple and not toxic shock syndrome. If I have to explain that then the joke was totally wasted.

And just where have you been buying your sanitary products from?

This will probably turn out to be just some mystery that disappears in a few days without explanation. The fact that it occurred in an area not normally covered by clothing makes me believe that it was transient and not systemic. The spider bite makes sense. I've been bitten by non-venomous spiders a number of times and it's usually just a temporary discomfort that goes away on its own. I too have a very robust immune system, so I rarely worry about minor skin irritations.

Be happy that you don't have fire ants in Idaho. Those little b*stards will swarm all over your leg before you know it and then as if an attack signal is sounded, they all bite at once. Ah yes, formic acid, a wonderful neurotoxin...