insect bites that wont heal

[EggMan]

Last summer (2010) I suddenly started getting insect bites on my arms and legs (arms- shirt sleeve down to hands /  legs- just above my knees down to my feet)

These bites itch like fire ant bites and when scratched look like I have been poked with a hot iron or like a cig. burn and stay red and itch for 6 months to a year.  I have seen this in 2 other people but it was 20 years ago and at a time in there life when they were in their last days of life (within a year).
I have used every OTC med and many prescriptions and get nothing except finally was prescribed a lotion that stops the itch.  The sores on my legs have finally healed but have left dark scars that look more like a small round bruise.
I have finally stopped getting bit on my legs being I only wear long pants outside but when its 104 its really hard to go out with long sleeves on and using bug spray is like testing them to find an area that I missed with the spray like the back of my neck or my forhead...

Anyone else have / had this problem ?  is this a certain insect or my body changing?

[wolfter]

My insect bites take longer to heal than they used to, but nothing like this long.  Could it possibly be some sort of immune suppression? 

[EggMan]

My insect bites take longer to heal than they used to, but nothing like this long.  Could it possibly be some sort of immune suppression? 

I do not know, insects don't normally bother me, I stay in the yard until 3am most of the time during the summer due to it being cool out and I have plenty to do that I can't when its just to damn hot.
anyway, my partner of over 20 years ago had this same problem but we lived 300 miles south of where I live now, he has since passed away many years ago,  another friend in that same area also had the same bites on his arms and legs and this was just before he passed away.

I have been to many doctors including ID docs that just look at them and say DUHHHHH, I don't know"  even a demotoligest said WTF!!!  I said skeeter bites and he said where? Africa???  all he did was give a cort. shot.

[weasel]

          It is a form of Impetigo . I get mine form   CHIGGARS  

            Those  purple sore looking spots go away ................

           Maybe 9 months to fade , NEVER leave a scar or a sign they were there !

           Right when my legs are all pretty and ready for viewing I get more  

           I started getting them when my status changed to AIDS several years ago .

           Don't seem to be affected by   VL. or   T-Cell count  ?

                                                         Weasel

    P.S. My first case of them were form Mosquito bites in Las Vegas .................

[EggMan]

         It is a form of Impetigo . I get mine form   CHIGGARS  

            Those  purple sore looking spots go away ................

           Maybe 9 months to fade , NEVER leave a scar or a sign they were there !

           Right when my legs are all pretty and ready for viewing I get more  

           I started getting them when my status changed to AIDS several years ago .

           Don't seem to be affected by   VL. or   T-Cell count  ?

                                                         Weasel

    P.S. My first case of them were form Mosquito bites in Las Vegas .................

Finally some information on this...THANX so muxh...

You say when your status went from HIV to AIDS but has nothing to do with VL or CD4...  that kinda don't make sense,  when a persons status goes to AIDS is when his/her CD4 drops, now back in the early 90s and possibly 80s there was a time when if CD4 was 500 or below, and then changed to 200...now of course it automatically considered AIDS when CD4 drops below 100.
My CD4 dropped below 100 10 years ago and then went back up and stayed at 250 and had been there without change no matter what I took or did, I have sice stopped meds (vacation) for the past 3 years and now my CD4 are below 100 but not far below and of course I have a VL but nothing scary like some people have when first tested and before they go on any meds.

I am guessing the way to keep the splotches away is to not get bit, I'm not sure what looks worse, my legs with splotches or my forarms with insect bites that look like I layed in a fire ant bed.

[Ann]

Weasel was saying that his bites or rash or whatever weren't affected by his VL or CD4 count, not his aids status.

[EggMan]

         It is a form of Impetigo . I get mine form   CHIGGARS  

            Those  purple sore looking spots go away ................

OK... You handsome Mr. Weasel,

We may have jumped the gun here,  after reading and posting I googled Impetigo and what I have looks nothing like the many types that are listed ... "NOTHING"!!!!

What mine look like is a skeeter bite that of course has been scratched  due to severe itching like I have never had before...I mean severe that last for the at least the first 3 days after getting bit and I have the bloody sheets and pillows to prove it...(nothing worse then being asleep and during the night scratching and bleeding and material just keeps soaking up the blood) I have ruined many shirts already by without thinking scratching and then bleeding all over a shirt sleeve.
so after 6 months to a year of these just looking like a skeeter bite they finally heal "very slowly" and turn dark pink then a blueish purpleby the time the actual sore has healed.
Now here is the weirdness of the bites....  some of these (maybe most) look like the insect couldn't get enough and bit me 4 to 7 times in a straight row,   like he moved over 1/4 inch and bit again and again.
I have a row of "scars" across the top of my foot where skin was bare ( I wear sandels) and there are 6
of these like someone dotted me with a thick purple magic marker in the outline of my sandel strap,
these are a pinkish/reddish purple and not like a cancer type dark purple spot.

If someone can help me to post pictures here (not trying to be graphic or nasty) but trying to only find info and also help any others that have or had this problem.  ***PLEASE PM me...

[EggMan]

Weasel was saying that his bites or rash or whatever weren't affected by his VL or CD4 count, not his aids status.

re-read...  He says that VL and or CD4 does not make a difference on getting these but after being diagnoised AIDs is when he got them

[Assurbanipal]

Eggman

Are you certain these are bites?  Perhaps a visit to a dermatologist with experience in HIV would be helpful.  The one I saw was very helpful on the potential big issues ...and reassuring on the potential small ones too.

Good luck with this
A

[drewm]

I get mosquito bites on my legs mostly, seems they prefer to be bottom feeders unless stirred up. The bites do seem to itch more than pre dx and are harder to get rid of but they do go away.

[EggMan]

Eggman

Are you certain these are bites?  Perhaps a visit to a dermatologist with experience in HIV would be helpful.  The one I saw was very helpful on the potential big issues ...and reassuring on the potential small ones too.

Good luck with this
A

I have actually swatted the skeeter off my arm when feeling his sting and hier bite turn into what I have...
If this were not insects I don't think they would be from my shirt sleeve down, and just above the knees down when I wear shorts...  I go outside to take care of my animals (farm animals) and come in with at least one new bite daily...yes, they are insect bites. I put spray all over my arms, feet and even walk through some to go in my face or spread it with my hands on my forhead but if I miss a area like the back of my neck then I get bit....
(not to be funny but...  its like a new US GOV weapon...search and seek missile and I mean one tiny inch of space that don't have spray on me will be found)
I have worked outside all my life and spend many nights in the yard during summer months due to it being cooler and normally work in shorts and no shirt but this all changed last mid summer.
I have been to a Dermalologist that was fefered by a ID doc, and when the referrel was being made it was noted there was a immune system issue.  I will keep searching for answers and more docs...maybe one day find out what is going on.

[EggMan]

I get mosquito bites on my legs mostly, seems they prefer to be bottom feeders unless stirred up. The bites do seem to itch more than pre dx and are harder to get rid of but they do go away.

Mine go away to...but leave a scar looking discolored area the same size as the bite was when it healed, it it was a bad bite and got bigger then its about the size of a dime, if it was just a bite that didn't get scratched much then its the size of a pea but some of the insect bites and I am sure they are skeeters stay looking the same while being a sore and some look like the flesh is being eaten away from around the initial bite...there is a moskeeter out there that is not only biting and sucking blood but putting something back into my body.
The Demo. doc gave me a Cort. shot to help with the itching and only recomended a OTC lotion sold at about $12. called Sarna, 7oz pump type bottle of lotion for dry skin, insect bites, poison ivy/oak and sunburn...smells like the old lady that you pass in the gro store that hasn't showered in over a year and sprays something on her to hide it but takes the breath out of anyone that passes her...  yes, I have to run away.  it is cooling so I imagine it would feel good on a sunburn and the doc said if kepts in the fridge it would feel even better on any hot spots on the skin...this is a "Steroid Free Lotion"

The other lotion I have is by prescription called LAC LOTION which contains 12% Lactric Acid and yes it can burn like someone stuck a hot match to you but only for a few seconds and it does stop the itch and I believe it is what has helped in these healing esp. being they are not being scratched constantly but still leaves the scars.