Those little Troma film moments

[slipjig3]

Great, we're back to this again, I see:





This has happened on a semi-regular basis for the last few years or so, these raised but colorless irregular splotches showing up out of nowhere, hanging around for an hour or two, then fading. They can appear pretty much anywhere I have skin, although arms, hips and stomach seem to be the preferred ports of call. Sometimes it's just a few little bumps, and sometimes it's these big horrible-looking clusters like in the photo. I haven't the foggiest clue of what they are, although I do know of two things that might trigger the response:

1) heat (they'll show up on my arms if I'm wearing long sleeves in an overly warm building, and once in a hot tub they popped up like whoa)
2) stress (take a wild guess as to which one I think this is)

They also tend to appear just as I'm waking up, which means I don't know what.

They don't hurt, they don't really itch per se, and as I said they never last more than a few hours, but they're annoying and ghastly-looking and a little frightening and I didn't invite them and I can really do without it, thank you very much. Not something I'm putting too much energy into worrying about right now, but...eww.

Comments

[nonethewiser.livejournal.com]

Hives!
They're pretty benign. You could try an anti-histamine if they're bothersome, but you're right, it's often a stress response.

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

So that's what hives look like! Huh. Can't say as I like 'em. Thank you for the advice!

[nonethewiser.livejournal.com]

You may also have some luck with calamine or a topical antihistamine. You can usually pick up a tub of 5mg stuff for about $5 here in Canada.

[brujah.livejournal.com]

Aveeno makes a clear-absorbing cream that I often use on my skin issues -- mine are generated by Lupus, but the mild cortisone in the Aveeno stuff seems to bring the redness down along with a bit of the swelling. If you combine the cream with an antihistamine (during the workday, I wouldn't recommend using Benadryl since it often makes one sleepy,) you should feel and see results within twenty minutes.

(Just so you know which I use and have a visual reference when plundering your local drug/department store, this is what the packaging looks like.)

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

Hives! :P Where are the bees? (not)
It may also be a temporary allergic reaction to something, even if it's only in the air. Or you may have had contact with something your skin has decided is an irritant, like laundry detergents. I empathize.

[rubian77.livejournal.com]

Yowch! :( I'm sorry about your hives.... *hugs*