Google Answers Logo
View Question
 
Q: Health/skin sensitivity with petechiae ( Answered,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Health/skin sensitivity with petechiae
Category: Health > Conditions and Diseases
Asked by: theo1-ga
List Price: $25.00
Posted: 17 Nov 2002 08:06 PST
Expires: 17 Dec 2002 08:06 PST
Question ID: 109330
Question: What is the cause and treatment for a severe skin
sensitivity with paetechiae.  This is a problem that began 10 years
ago and has neither been definitively diagnosed or treated.
Suggestions have been made that it could be either environmental or
from an internal cause. I have provided a brief history and
highlighted signs and symptoms below.

During the winter of 1992 I developed petechiae on my legs and stomach
with very irritated, sensitive skin, though I had no rash or
itchiness. Petechiae, I was told at the time, was blood leaking
through the capillaries in the skin into the surface of the skin. The
petechiae passed and then reappeared about 6 weeks later in April of
1992. After about 2 weeks, these disappeared but the very
uncomfortable skin irritation continued.

During this time I went to several doctors who performed a number of
tests and assessments but no diagnosis was made nor treatment
provided. During the summer of ’92 the problem became more tolerable
but when the cool weather returned in the fall, the problem became
severe again. Dry skin did not appear to be the problem.

Once again during the winter of 1993, I developed petechiae on my legs
only. The very uncomfortable skin sensitivity continued. During a trip
at that time to Florida, I realized I felt better in the warm climate
of the south. That next year, with no treatment or resolution in site,
I relocated to Florida where I live today. I am not free of the skin
sensitivity, but with lighter clothing and warm, humid weather, living
here is much more tolerable.

I have learned in the last ten years that it seems the symptoms are
less with a healthy diet, exclusion of wheat from my diet, and
supplements of vitamin C and multi-vitamins. Since I suspect that this
may be an allergy-like problem, I have also used HEPA filters and
other treatments to reduce mold and dust in my house. Since this
problem began at the time I was doing some work on my home (painting
and sanding plaster walls), some have suggested that I avoid the use
of, and exposure to, chemicals.

Below I have highlighted some of the significant information that
appears associated to this problem.

 Spring 1992 development of seasonal allergies. Allergy
testing done revealed allergens to “early tree”

 Winter 1993, developed petechiae on legs and stomach and very
sensitive skin. It was like wearing wool on sun burnt skin.

 Petechiae passed after a week or two, then returned in April
of same year, with flourishes this time on stomach, legs and upper
arms

 During this time, blood tests revealed low white blood cells,
with other blood counts and cell sizes being irregular. White, odorous
coating on my tongue worsened.

 Winter of 1993 was last time I had petechiae but the skin
sensitivity and low white blood count has continued. I moved to
Florida in the winter of 1994.

 Allergy testing over time has revealed some sensitivity to
molds, wheat and formaldehyde, although results have been somewhat
inconsistent.

 Enlarged lymph node diagnosis 12/97 under left upper arm

 Symptoms are typically worse in dusty, moldy, environments,
in cars with the heat on and after eating wheat or concentrated
sugars. There is never a rash nor is there ever any itchiness.

If you can offer any insights or information that leads to a
resolution of this very uncomfortable and restrictive condition, it
would be very much appreciated. Please email me if any clarification
or elaboration is needed.

Request for Question Clarification by bcguide-ga on 17 Nov 2002 10:03 PST
When you went for testing what conditions were ruled out? 

bcguide-ga
Answer  
Subject: Re: Health/skin sensitivity with petechiae
Answered By: belindalevez-ga on 17 Nov 2002 13:14 PST
 
<Petechiae is the bleeding of small capillaries in the skin or mucous
membrane. It appears as round pinpoint sized dots that vary in colour
from red to blue or purple. These dots most commonly appear on the
legs but can appear all over the body.

There are a number of causes of petechiae which include:
1. Injury or trauma.
2. Allergies to medication.
3. Autoimmune disorders – where the body creates antibodies to its own
tissues.
4. Liver disorders such as cirrhosis.
5. Bone marrow diseases such as leukaemia.
6. Thrombocytopenia – a deficiency of platelets (responsible for blood
clotting).
7. Vitamin deficiency – lack of  vitamins C, K, B12 or folic acid.
8. Medications such as blood thinners including aspirin.
9. Recent blood transfusions.
10. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
11. Giving birth.
12. Aging.
13. Sepsis or blood infection.
14. Violent vomiting and coughing.

Treatment.
In order to effectively treat petechiae, it is necessary to find the
cause. Diagnosis is often a case of initially ruling out the most
serious causes. The treatments vary depending on the cause. Vitamin
deficiencies can be treated by modifying the diet or taking
supplements. If a medication is indicated as the cause, then stopping
the medication can result in a cure of the petechiae. Thrombocyopenia
can be treated with drugs and in more extreme cases surgery involving
removal of the spleen.


Recommended action.
Since as yet your doctor has not given you a diagnosis, your best
option is to pursue a diagnosis which could result in a treatment. You
have indicated that you have a low white blood count and
irregularities in the size of the cells. This should probably be
further investigated. The person best qualified to both diagnose and
treat diseases associated with the blood is a hematologist. >


<Additional links:>

<Petechiae>
<http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/972.html>

<Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.>
<http://www2.vhihealthe.com/topic/topic100587000>

<Petechiae>
<http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum_2/ReflexSymp.DystrophyF/Ialsohavethem.html>

<Dealing with drug induced Thrombocytopenia>
<http://www.hosppract.com/issues/1998/05/dmmkelt.htm>

<Immune thrombocyopenic purpura in adults.>
<http://www.nabi.com/products/sdf_pi_itp_adult.htm>

<White blood cells.>
<http://www.hon.ch/Library/Theme/Allergy/Glossary/wbc.html>


<Search strategy:>

<Petechiae>
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Petechiae>

<Petechiae treatment>
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Petechiae&as_q=treatment>

<Petechiae treatment research>
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Petechiae+treatment&as_q=research>


<Hope this helps.>

Request for Answer Clarification by theo1-ga on 19 Nov 2002 06:30 PST
The answer does not address the issue of the skin sensitivity which
was one of the major points in the question. It also does not address
the apparent connection to some environmental element (ie, dust,
molds, chemicals?), that I had recently developed respiratory
allergies, or that the petechiae developed only during the winter
months.
Conditions that were medically investigated were related to chemical
sensitivity, allergies to molds, and blood disorders such as ITP,
systemic problems related to vitamin and immune defeciencies. Patch
testing revealed some reaction to rare chemicals, there was
inconsistent positive testing to molds, and a hematologist found some
blood "irregularities" but nothing that connected all the dates.

Clarification of Answer by belindalevez-ga on 21 Nov 2002 05:05 PST
<Sensitive skin has many causes including:
1. Stress.
2. Allergens.
3. Weather and climate change.
4. Animals.
5. Chemicals in hygiene products.
6. Foods – the most common are eggs, shell-fish, strawberries, nuts,
nut oils and milk products.
7. Woollen clothing.
8. Pollen and moulds.
9. Medication.
10. Flowers and plants including chrysanthemums, figs, geraniums and
pine needles.

Treatment involves identifying the cause and then avoiding it. This is
achieved by patch testing for suspected causes.

Mold allergy.
There are thousands of types of mold that can survive all year round
in mild climates and indoors. Mold allergies can be worsened by some
types of food including mushrooms, dried fruit, yeast products, soy
sauce and vinegar. If mold is suspected then the remedy is to
thoroughly clean your house and discard items that promote the growth
of mold. In the house certain areas need to be cleaned more frequently
to deter mold including closets, bathrooms (particularly shower
stalls), places where fresh food is stored, refrigerator drip trays,
air conditioners, humidifiers and garbage pails. Mattresses should be
encased in a cover. House plants should be removed. Also investigate
for sources of hidden mold like the back of wallpaper or panelling,
the top of ceiling tiles and the underside of carpets. The link below
to mold guide explains the sources of mold, how to clean and prevent
it.

The variation in the dates.
This could be due to seasonal variations in diet, particularly
deficiency in vitamin C. Petechiae is one of the symptoms of
deficiency in vitamin C. You have indicated several episodes of
petechiae in the winter. This could be due to a lower intake of
vitamin C at that time. In the summer intake of vitamin C is usually
higher than the winter as uncooked salad vegetables and fruits are
usually eaten. In the winter hot meals are more common and cooking can
destroy vitamin C.

The recommended daily dose of 60mg per day is now thought by
researchers to be too low and should be raised to 200mg per day.
Researchers have also shown that there are health benefits of
consuming much more vitamin C and have suggested that 1000mg per day
should be consumed. The link to recommended doage of vitamin C gives
more details about this research. An intake of 200mg per day can be
achieved by eating 5 daily servings of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Some factors cause depletion of vitamin C including smoking, drinking
alcohol and stress. If any of these factors apply then an even higher
dose is needed.


The link to allergic rhinitis gives details about respiratory diseases
caused by allergies. One of the benefits of Vitamin C is that it
reduces reactions to allergies. It could therefore help you with your
allergy to mold.


<Additional links:>

<Environmentally triggered disorders.>
<http://www.aehf.com/articles/A19.htm>

<Vitamin C.>
<http://www.innvista.com/health/vitamins/c.htm>

<Recommended dosage of vitamin C.>
<http://vvv.com/healthnews/vitamin_C.html>

<Dermatitis>
<http://www.i-dermatitis.com/>

<Allergic rhinitis.>
<http://www.tafp.org/cme/Monographs/AllergicRhinitis.pdf>

<Vitamin C.>
<http://www.anyvitamins.com/vitamin-c-ascorbicacid-info.htm>

<Mold allergy.>
<http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/allergens/mold.htm>

<Mold guide.>
<http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html>


<Search strategy:>

<Mold allergy>
<://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=mold+allergy>

< sensitive skin  causes>
<://www.google.com/search?q=sensitive+skin++causes&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N>

<deficiency of vitamin c>
<://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=deficiency+of+vitamin+c>


<Hope this helps.>
Comments  
There are no comments at this time.

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully the Google Answers Terms of Service.

If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by emailing us at answers-support@google.com with the question ID listed above. Thank you.
Search Google Answers for
Google Answers  


Google Home - Answers FAQ - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy