@ninajp

I have had some sort of dermatitis since birth. When my pollen allergies get worse or when I sweat the blister-like bumps pop up and the burning and itching start. They are so so small I cannot see them until a pin point scab appears. When it does I use apple cider vinegar (undiluted, but some people dilute it with water) as a rinse after shampooing. I leave it on for a couple of minutes before rinsing.

Last October I had something different. The bumps larger and pimple-like. I went to the dermatologist when the apple cider vinegar did not calm it. I had swelling behind my right ear with one of the bumps .. I have to lay on that side to sleep and am sure that did not help. .. it became infected. The dermatologist called it folliculitis. He wrote a prescription for an antibiotic ointment.. with an ingredient that orally I am allergic to. The ointment made it worse. I kept trying to get in touch with the doctor for something else to clear it and his nurse would never call me back.

So I researched things that might help. Mostly shampoos with vinegar, tea oil, Aragon oil or other oils, and other herbal ingredients. Mostly dandruff shampoos. I got so confused looking at them I just grabbed one off the shelf. I grabbed Harry's something or other shampoo (forgot what the something or other was). It helped, but the aroma was a bit overwhelming… I have asthma. I did not realize it was a man's shampoo. lol.

I looked for other shampoos. I came up with Herbal Essence with Aragon oil. I got the shampoo & conditioner package they sell at Walmart. It helps. With the active bumps when my hair is dry I apply a little triple antibiotic ointment with pain relief to each bump. I find it easier to use my finger tip to apply it than a q-tip. Sometimes I felt like I was covering all the skin on my scalp. I had it cleared .. I thought .. and I went back to the shampoo I had bought last before having the pimple-like bumps. .. I have a few bumps again, so that shampoo went in the garbage and noted as not to buy again. Looking back .. I had changed shampoos to that shampoo when the pimple-like bumps started. I seem to be allergic to some ingredient in it.

I had some bumps come on my face, neck and upper chest when this mess first started too. Places shampoo drops to. I started using Cetaphil cleansing bar instead of soap. It has cleared my skin. It has taken awhile. I wish we had more dermatologist in my town. If it gets bad again I will be heading to another town or maybe a big city for a better one.

Oh .. most of the bumps were on my right side if scalp. I had Shingles in 2017 on the left side of my face and up into the scalp on that side. I have neuralgia on the left side and the Shingles made it worse. A light breeze, touch, or a smile can trigger pain and burning. This pimple-like outbreak on my right side did not hurt as badly as the Shingles .. but I still wonder … they looked similar.

ZeeGee

Glad you are getting relief from using Benadryl. As you explore the possibility that this is an allergy, it may be helpful to examine the ingredients in your shampoo and experiment using shampoos that don't have certain ingredients. I found that I was allergic to a common ingredient called Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS). Using shampoos that don't have this ingredient has helped tremendously. SLS is not the only chemical in shampoos that people react to, there are others. SLS is just the one that triggers me. I hope this helps. P.S. This chemical is also commonly used in toothpaste and can cause problems in the mouth for some individuals.I wish you the best as you work to determine what is happening.

@ninajp I asked my pharmacist what the difference was between Benadryl and Reactine, and he told me Benadryl works best for itching, Reactine for allergies.