Post covid itch and hives

Posted by tania7 @tania7, Apr 4, 2023

I’m 11 months post covid and have been experiencing red, itchy skin for a couple weeks now. When I itch my skin I get hives. Antihistamines seem to work but then it comes back after a few days. Hot water and heat seems to aggravate the situation. Anyone else experience this and find something that works?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

Long COVID has made my skin a wonderland...small intensely itchy rashes/bumps, raised stone like tiny bumps that do not itch, raised red small patches of skin, red areas that form a scale that peels off leaving a scar, etc. I also now have a transient butterfly mask of a rash on my face and two COVID toes that turn anywhere from red to white and send shooting nerve pain up my foot.

Taking Lysine every day is helping with the itchy rashes...some that I have had for months are healing now. Lysine is thought to slow viral replication so doc did a punch biopsy and it is not herpes or shingles...so some other virus is causing all of this.

REPLY
Profile picture for luvrofthelord @luvrofthelord

I too have the itching on my mid back and have had it since I got the first Covid Vaccine over three years ago. I only got the first two shots (thank the Lord) but the itching is horrible. It comes when I am stressed, get hot, wear something that is irritating to my skin, or sometimes just out of the blue. I don't think I have a rash just a few bumps that I can feel when I reach my hand back. I also get really itchy on my head. I also have switched shampoo's, body wash, laundry soaps, lotions, etc to all things pure. I have been diagnosed with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria. I have been tested for Mastocytosis (which came out negative) because my tryptase levels are so high and if I get bit by any type of Spyder, bug, mosquito, or Bee I have a severe reaction due to the High Tryptase levels that become even higher. My allergist said that you can have Spontaneous Chronic Urticaria without having a rash, that it can be internal. It is no fun itching all the time. I have been getting injections of Xolair monthly for at least a year and they have helped but this time they injected one shot into my stomach rather than one in each arm and it didn't work at all.

Jump to this post

This is so odd because, I have said I never had COVID, but I too have been itching, mostly on the middle of back - but arms and head basically. I am very clean - changed soaps/both laundry and body; change sheets twice a week. Beth 4 yrs old. The dermatologist last week said - you're a scratcher - I said - yes, since COVID Vaccine 8 months ago.

REPLY
Profile picture for vostie @vostie

Long COVID has made my skin a wonderland...small intensely itchy rashes/bumps, raised stone like tiny bumps that do not itch, raised red small patches of skin, red areas that form a scale that peels off leaving a scar, etc. I also now have a transient butterfly mask of a rash on my face and two COVID toes that turn anywhere from red to white and send shooting nerve pain up my foot.

Taking Lysine every day is helping with the itchy rashes...some that I have had for months are healing now. Lysine is thought to slow viral replication so doc did a punch biopsy and it is not herpes or shingles...so some other virus is causing all of this.

Jump to this post

Hi @vostie. Just saying tx so much for your lol “wonderland” word for the everchanging skin/rash/itch…… so many of us have. Quickest healing to you!🌈

REPLY

I also have this issue.
My feet, my hands and recently my face and neck.
Instant hives out of nowhere, redness itching.
I keep paying to attention to see if there's anything specific to trigger this and NOTHING at all.
I'm so exhausted from this Long Covid and just keep getting worse

REPLY

Never had COVID. One week after booster I got loud tinnitus and itching over my whole body. The severe itching was wherever I had skin. It went away after a year and a half. The tinnitus is permanent. Mom never had COVID either, same 2 shots Moderna and a booster, and now, just a week ago, we BOTH have rashes, bumps, and itching. This after our boosters in October 2021. Hers on her lower chest and mine on arms legs chest and privates. This must be some kind of allergic reaction from the COVID drug and I don't want to take more drugs to fix the symptoms.

REPLY
Profile picture for deboah13 @deboah13

I started to get that itching on my mid upper back and arms and almost 9 months ago now. I thought it was eczema. I went to one dermatologist and she ened up a freezing a few spots. She said it had to do with my nerves? It was a medically complicated explanation. So I went to another dermatologist for a second opinion (always do that and research it for yourself!).
At the end of the day, it ended up being contact hives, more specifically, see below.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is the persistent, often daily appearance of hives (urticaria) that last for six or more weeks for no known reason. These hives are often itchy welts or bumps that appear when a trigger in the body causes mast cells to release histamine, serotonin, or other chemicals under the skin (which they are finding out is related to long Covid).
I had already been on Dupixent, which both dermatologist said that if I hadn't, that the hives would have been worse. The second dermatologist put me on the Xolair, but before the third injection, I ended up itching worse than before and stopped using it. Right now, I just continue my Dupixent injections (2x a month), use my over the counter FexofenadineHydochloride (allergy relief-two times a day), and my Triamcinolone Acetonide cream (as needed). I traded out my body wash for some Aveeno body wash that is fragrance free and try to keep my skin moisturized. If you have animals, keep your bed sheets clean as often as you can too.
This has at least kept my itching managable. I hope this helps someone out there. I'm actually going to see a third Dermatologist this week, I don't give up that easily to try and figure things out. I've been doing a lot of research on my own and hoping to figure something out. Keep you all posted.

Jump to this post

Tell me more about your Dupixent and Xolair issue? You itched more with both? I have been on Xolair for years and it doesn't seem to do much. Just today I convinced my dermatologist to prescribe both. I have heard, albeit anecdotally, that both will do the trick? I use the other meds you mention and none of them do very much. Any further info would be appreciated.

REPLY
Profile picture for cg55 @cg55

Tell me more about your Dupixent and Xolair issue? You itched more with both? I have been on Xolair for years and it doesn't seem to do much. Just today I convinced my dermatologist to prescribe both. I have heard, albeit anecdotally, that both will do the trick? I use the other meds you mention and none of them do very much. Any further info would be appreciated.

Jump to this post

You may want to watch what you are eating. Out of the blue my scalp started to burn itch snd little bumps along with losing my hair. I found that i am Histamine Intolerant. I am on a low histamine diet no beer wine cheese tomatoes avocados. As long as i follow the diet I have no problems. Bit a few slip ups and in no time the issues are back. This is just one of the many symptoms I have had with Long Covid. Hope this helps

REPLY

The itching is nuts!
I've had it 4 years with LC. My head, especially my face, arms, hands, feet. It instantly turns into hive and redness.
More and more of the oddest symptoms keep showing up.
Since covid and 4+ years LC I lose so much hair. I do have very long extremely thick hair but, everyday that I brush my hair, I pull large hand fulls out with LC. I'm exhausted with all of this. I've tried dr., after dr.,s without any luck of any help of relief from any of it. The brain fog, dizziness, heart palpitations, breathing issues, sick daily, digestive issues, sleep issues, bloating, swelling and so much more but, the bone and muscle pain OH MY!!!! I can go on and on but in NWI, we've extremely careless dr's that don't care to even remotely attempt to help with ANYTHING JUST HERE TAKE THIS, THIS AND THIS WHEN I SAY TRIED IT, TRIED, TRIED IT and none of it helps with anything period. In this area it's about insurance collections not actual treatment and none of them care to want to help you with LC. I'm exhausted! I feel at this point it's not ever going away and most days are debilitating. I pray for all of you dealing with LC and the destruction and havoc it causes over our bodies and lives.

REPLY

Much itching and irregularity on my scalp.

sfish

REPLY
Profile picture for krystalm @krystalm

The itching is nuts!
I've had it 4 years with LC. My head, especially my face, arms, hands, feet. It instantly turns into hive and redness.
More and more of the oddest symptoms keep showing up.
Since covid and 4+ years LC I lose so much hair. I do have very long extremely thick hair but, everyday that I brush my hair, I pull large hand fulls out with LC. I'm exhausted with all of this. I've tried dr., after dr.,s without any luck of any help of relief from any of it. The brain fog, dizziness, heart palpitations, breathing issues, sick daily, digestive issues, sleep issues, bloating, swelling and so much more but, the bone and muscle pain OH MY!!!! I can go on and on but in NWI, we've extremely careless dr's that don't care to even remotely attempt to help with ANYTHING JUST HERE TAKE THIS, THIS AND THIS WHEN I SAY TRIED IT, TRIED, TRIED IT and none of it helps with anything period. In this area it's about insurance collections not actual treatment and none of them care to want to help you with LC. I'm exhausted! I feel at this point it's not ever going away and most days are debilitating. I pray for all of you dealing with LC and the destruction and havoc it causes over our bodies and lives.

Jump to this post

Hi @krystalm. I am so sorry you are going thru so much and just want to assure you there is light at the end of the tunnel. Each of us respond and react to literally all things differently and time does show triggers🤞. Not making light in any way as I literally found myself on ground last night yet I knew I would be able to get up after some time and a new day of pacing, watching foods, no multi task of even talk on phone with writing ….. gives opportunity for more future healing and finding every smallest joy possible. We are all here for you on
quickest healing journey possible🌈

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.