Hmmm... unfortunately something like this could have a ton of different causes. I guess you're not considering going to the doctor about this, but that might be the quickest way to narrow the cause down with a physical exam and possibly a patch test or something. Alternatively you might seek out advice on a more specialised forum but you might need to describe the bumps more accurately for that (e.g. size, how long they persist after waking)

It is possible to develop allergies out of nowhere... I developed a skin allergy when I was 14 or so, had no allergies before that. But I think that's quite unusual.

My thoughts:
-Have you slept away from home since then? If so, did you have the same reaction?
-Where were you travelling? Is it possible you picked up something there?
-Try changing any products you use on your clothes or skin.
-Try taking an antihistamine drug for a few days (usually takes a while for it to build up in the body) such as loratadine or cetirizine and see if the reaction stops.

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kitty1826x, I haven't changed laundry soap or clothes...I mean, I *do* change & wash my clothes regularly, but I wear the same clothes over & over. I guess the laundry soap manufacturer could have changed something or I got a different batch or something, but then I'd think that the itchies would happen at the waistband or cuffs or where there'd be more chance of the clothes chafing my skin, & that's not happening at all. I don't think it's spiders because it's happening so regularly, and because we have several cats who chase down & kill all spiders/bugs they can reach, so our house is pretty clear of creepy-crawlies.

blakraven66, probably not roaches as #1 I haven't seen any roaches or any traces of them in this house (if we had roaches I'd think the kitties would be going after them & leaving dead ones around); #2 I keep the house at around 60 F in the winter and it gets down to well below 0 F outdoors, so unless you bring them back from somewhere you're not going to have them...and while I did see two small roaches while traveling, I'd be surprised (and disgusted) if I brought them back home to live.

Hanae, I've been trying to use lotion more in case that's some part of the problem, but these darn things are so random - and I don't think the skin in my armpit is especially dry! Also the air is really dry in the winter here and I didn't get them at all during the winter.

mogiks, I have done google searches etc. and found boards where skin problems are discussed, but haven't found anything quite like what I'm experiencing. Lots of folks on those boards have gone to the doctor only to discover that the doctors mostly don't know what's going on either - a red itchy bump from many different causes looks about the same. Given that my medical insurance isn't great, my finances aren't great either, and it seems likely the doctor wouldn't have any answers, I'm avoiding a doctor visit as long as possible.

They're small red bumps that itch like crazy, and get bigger and redder if I scratch them - very similar to a mosquito bite (but there's no way a mosquito bit me in the armpit as I'm sleeping! ) The more I scratch them, the longer they take to heal; if I can mostly leave them alone they'll be gone in a couple of days.

I have only slept away from home during the winter period when I wasn't getting them at home either, so no help there.

I was traveling in Japan...and I don't think I could have picked up anything too dire while I was there...but if anyone knows otherwise, please let me know! (Tokyo, Nara, & Kanazawa last August...almost unbearably hot & humid, but a wonderful trip anyway.) Bugs-wise, I got a fair number of mosquito bites, and saw one small cockroach at two different places we stayed, and that's about it.

I have tried several different soaps/shampoos/lotions with no effect. When the itchies started, I switched a couple of times (tried new stuff for a week or so at a stretch) & there was no change; then they stopped while I was still using the same stuff I'd been using when I was getting itchies.

Antihistamines have side effects so I'm a bit reluctant to take them "just to see if they help" but that's probably my next step.

Thanks everyone for your replies - not really expecting a solution but thought I'd post just in case someone had a similar experience or a possibility I hadn't thought of.

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"[English] not only borrows words from other languages; it has on occasion chased other languages down dark alley-ways, clubbed them unconscious and rifled their pockets for new vocabulary."
-James Nicoll, can.general, March 21, 1992

Well, of course like all drugs they may have side effects, but for the second generation antihistamine drugs they are generally a lot milder. I have taken both cetirizine and loratadine at various points and for long periods and have never had side effects, and they have been very effective for me. Apparently loratadine tends to have less serious side effects of the two. Both are available over the counter and generically (cheaper than brand names - one month's worth ran me about £3 ($5)).

If that doesn't work out, perhaps a topical anti-itching treatment would help deal with any discomfort, but of course that's not really solving the problem, just easing the symptoms. Then again, frequent use of pills or creams can be quite expensive in the long run. Perhaps it wouldn't really be worth it. I rarely take anything for my allergy anymore, I just got used to ignoring it when it flares up every day, and I'll only take tablets if I know it will affect me in public.

For now it seems quite mild so I don't think it's anything to worry about. It's certainly mysterious though (I feel quite fortunate that the trigger of my allergy was very obvious!). I'm tending towards the idea it's not an allergy, the symptoms are rather unusual for that and it is rare to develop an allergy in adulthood as far as I know.

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If you're sure it's not bugs, then it does seem like it's some kind of allergy/irritation... If everything else failed, maybe try writing down information whenever these bumps come up, like what you ate around that time, where you went, what cosmetics you used. Then try to see if there's a pattern.

Go see a dermatologist, not a regular doctor because they might not know what's wrong with you but describe medicine that might or might not help. A dermatologist will take culture from the skin and see what's the problem. It could be scabies, staphylococcus, dermatitis etc. In any case, if it's a skin disease it's best to treat it as soon as possible. There's also possibility of it being contagious.

If it turns out not to be a skin disease, then good for you. But it does sound like one, and anyway, no point in taking risks. Dermatologist, not a regular doctor. Go see one as soon as possible.

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Far-off places with sweet sounding names.

The thing is...I'm not 100% sure it isn't bugs, but any possible bug that I've investigated doesn't really "fit" (and I haven't seen any traces of bugs).

Then again I haven't found an allergy/sensitivity that really "fits" either.

I'm pretty sure I'd have to go to my regular doctor to get a referral to a dermatologist, & between both visits I'm guessing it would cost me $250 or more. Not really worried about being contagious since I live with three other people & none of them have had any itchies at all. (Plus it definitely does NOT fit the symptoms of scabies or any kind of skin infection.)

Just to make things weirder, I've been sleeping longer the last few days, and have had fewer itchies - actually I don't think I've had any at all for the last few days. (O_o) I would say, "oh, maybe it's a reaction to not getting enough sleep" but I was short on sleep all winter and didn't get them.

Anyway, thanks again for the replies.

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"[English] not only borrows words from other languages; it has on occasion chased other languages down dark alley-ways, clubbed them unconscious and rifled their pockets for new vocabulary."
-James Nicoll, can.general, March 21, 1992

Excessive stress is another possibility. And lack of sleep causes more stress hormones to be released. Most people don't react that way to stress but some do. If it seems it's not caused by stress or some external factor (insects, allergy) I recommend you consider seeing a dermatologist since there are things like methicillin-resistant S. aureus that can be difficult to treat and the sooner it's diagnosed the better.

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Far-off places with sweet sounding names.

I say I'm getting bug-bite-like itchy bumps that last a few days, and you suggest methicillin-resistant S. aureus? Seriously??

If it was anything that looked like an infection, or didn't heal up & disappear quickly, then a skin infection would be a lot more reasonable, but this...really?? As far as I know, what I've described matches NONE of the symptoms of a serious skin infection. Until this...whatever...gets more serious than a few itchy bumps, or I suddenly have an extra $300 floating around, I'll skip the dermatologist, thanks.

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"[English] not only borrows words from other languages; it has on occasion chased other languages down dark alley-ways, clubbed them unconscious and rifled their pockets for new vocabulary."
-James Nicoll, can.general, March 21, 1992

@TofuQueen
What about ants? Around here, they start invading when it's hotter and tend to leave nasty, itchy bites.
During last year's attack, I started sprinkling Cinnamon all over the apartment (windows/cracks), and next to my desk especially. It acts as a deterrent.
Since I have pets, I had to find something that wouldn't endanger them and cinnamon was the safest way I could find.

That's the only bug that hasn't been brought up yet, I think.
Either way, good luck! It sounds like a pain...

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Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.

And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

Salt works too! Ants won't go near it. Last summer ants kept getting into my apartment from the balcony and a line of salt by the door stopped them effectively. As a bonus, I heard it works against vampires and ghosts as well

Hm, I hadn't thought about ants, but I'm inclined to think that's not it. The ones I've found in the house here (occasionally, not an infestation) I've picked up & tossed outside & never been bitten even once. Where we lived when I was a kid, I did get bitten by ants, and it HURT!! Not something I think I could sleep through! (My mom tried spreading ground nutmeg around her house to deter ants, but the darn things would just go around the lines of nutmeg & come in by a different route.)

Early this morning I dreamed that I had a whole line of the itchy bumps on my arm, but when I woke up there weren't any there at all. However - I played with one of my cats last night and he scratched me a bit (right forearm), and the scratches have been HORRIBLY itchy off & on all day. I'm sure cat scratches didn't always itch like this. At some point three itchy bumps popped up, each one directly ON one of the scratches. Toward the middle of the day I got one itchy bump on my belly, and this evening another started itching on my left shoulder.

At this point I'm inclined to think it's just some weird skin reaction, since I can't figure out anything else. (And really hoping this doesn't mean I'm starting to be allergic to cats... )

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"[English] not only borrows words from other languages; it has on occasion chased other languages down dark alley-ways, clubbed them unconscious and rifled their pockets for new vocabulary."
-James Nicoll, can.general, March 21, 1992

Do not underestimate mosquitoes !!! They can bite you anywhere ! anytime! .. and anyone from a third world country would agree :3

Well, your bumps could be a reaction to a loooot of things... practically anything you interact with could get you allergies, randomly even ! But the possibility of a bug bite can not be neglected.. so.. how about you do an experiment.. for a day and/ night use some bug repellent. keep your doors and windows shut tight or just stay at a different place (a friend's place, maybe) and see if any new bump comes up the next day... Also, home-sweet-home is not the only place where a bug could bite you.. so... if its a bug bite.. the bug/s could be present at some locality that you frequent... soooo... food for thought :3

Checking with a doc would still be the best idea, anytime :3


Last edited by Accursed-kun at 3:53 am, May 27 2014

My friend's allergies manifest like this. Whenever she scratches her skin, even very lightly, this spot becomes swollen and itchy, like a mosquito bite. She used to have this all the time, now only in her allergy season (pollen). Perhaps you really are allergic to something? Personally, I discovered I was allergic to almonds in my 20s, maybe it's a similar situation.

No, I never suggested that. Learn to read before you use that sarcastic attitude towards me. If you were not asking what it might be aside from bug bites then the fault is in yourself. I don't know where you live to have to pay 300 dollars for a visit to a dermatologist.

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Far-off places with sweet sounding names.

Sure, salt keeps them away.. But if you really mean business, make a 50/50 mixture of salt and sugar. The sugar draws them in, they take a great deal of the stuff back to their nest, salt included. Seems like something in salt is pretty much lethal to ants, and before long, even the queen gets a bite...

Our home has never suffered an ant incursion that has lasted longer than a week or 1½ tops, and never more than once per summer, after we started using that particular homebrew. 100% success ratio ain't bad.

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