Grid/Net shaped rash

Posted by karenamara @karenamara, Sep 19, 2020

My boyfriend gets these net-shaped patches on his back once in a while, according to his mom it's been happening since he was a teen. What is it? It doesn't hurt or itch. He takes a medication called Modecate.

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@amandajro

Hello @ponina and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. There have been others who have shared they realized the pattern resembled that of fabric they've been exposed to, however, you mention that you were sick at the time of the rash. Had you been sick the previous two times as well?

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I honestly don't remember if I were sick the previous times. This last time, I wasn't exactly ill, actually I had an intense back pain , hence I had to lie down all day.
I have Multiple System Athrophy, sometimes my skin seems affected, for example, I need to shower really fast or else it feels like burning or turns red even if it's not too hot; might have something to do with it.

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This symmetrical grid shaped rash with red dots is well documented, it is mysterious but the most prominent theory is that it is caused by the Puss Caterpillar. The rash happens within hours, you may look fine in the evening and wake up to it. No definite conclusions made. No mention of any treatment that I remember.

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@gardeningjunkie

This symmetrical grid shaped rash with red dots is well documented, it is mysterious but the most prominent theory is that it is caused by the Puss Caterpillar. The rash happens within hours, you may look fine in the evening and wake up to it. No definite conclusions made. No mention of any treatment that I remember.

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You keep telling people on here it is from a Pus Caterpillar and that is very counterproductive. This has happened to me four times over the last 15 years and those don’t live where I do. Also, the pus caterpillar rash does not look like the grid rash. Grid rash also does not hurt, whereas the pus caterpillar one is said to be excruciating. So please stop speaking it like it’s fact.

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@shanty22

You keep telling people on here it is from a Pus Caterpillar and that is very counterproductive. This has happened to me four times over the last 15 years and those don’t live where I do. Also, the pus caterpillar rash does not look like the grid rash. Grid rash also does not hurt, whereas the pus caterpillar one is said to be excruciating. So please stop speaking it like it’s fact.

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Hi @shanty22 I haven’t had one of these rashes but I find this whole thing so fascinating. I stumbled across a posting on FB a few years back and now seeing this on Connect, it caught my attention again.

By the way, Welcome to Connect. We’re a community forum where members come together to help each other out by sharing stories, experiences, ideas, support…

Were you searching for information on the grid rash when you found us? When was the last time you had the rash? Do you remember anything in common with each event?

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I got one of these yesterday. This is the second time. If anyone learns what this is, please tell. The only abnormal thing, I did was eat pickled herring

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Also I did have chest x-ray a few days ago

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Following this thread. I was in the car driving and it just appeared! It was so strange. It started off as a small square then got bigger.

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@leochick75

Following this thread. I was in the car driving and it just appeared! It was so strange. It started off as a small square then got bigger.

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Hi @leochick75, as you can see, you’re not alone with this mysterious grid pattern. We’ve had a number of members writing in to figure out what’s going on!
As mentioned in a previous reply to another member, I haven’t experienced this but find it really interesting. Can’t help but wonder the cause and also what could you all have in common. This seems to happen in many parts of the world.

Do you remember anything unusual precipitating this, such as an illness, bug bite, etc.?

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@karenamara

i also thought he was leaning on something but it isn't from that. sometimes he just wakes up like that and it takes about a week to pass.

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I haven't had it happen much, but no doctor has had an answer for me, I'm currently waiting for another event so I can hopefully make it to my doctor's office, and take photos ... My wife has some I believe... But any time we noticed them was after waking up and always on my back.

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I have been experiencing these grid rash-like dots off and on for more than a decade and I suspect they are related to stress.

The first time I experienced one was summer 2012 when I had a newborn. The grid was on my right shoulder blade. Since that time, to my knowledge, I have not had one on my back again.

I don’t think I got one again until probably 5 years ago when I went to therapy for the first time. I find it very stressful talking about myself and when I left, I had a grid on the back of my right hand.

Since then, I have had a grid on the back of either hand from time to time. In the last perhaps 6 months though I have had one quite frequently. Since they have been happening more, I have noticed they happen during times of stress. They last about a week and do fade as the days go on.

The photo of my hand I took today. I was telling my husband how much I have to do at work before the end of the year and that I didn’t know how I would get it all done. The grid showed up a few minutes later.

I know there have been mentions that they could be an autoimmune issue and I know stress can exacerbate autoimmune disorders. I had psoriasis when I was young but I literally have not had an occurrence in more than 20 years I think. I do not had eczema or any other conditions that I know of.

I would be interested to know if anyone else who gets the grids has anxiety or gets extremely stressed.

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