Itchy knots under skin

[scorpio74944]

I've been experiencing painful, itchy knots on my arms and legs that turn to blisters. Even worse when I scratch them. It's the same experience I have when I get mosquito bites, but I have not been exposed to any insects or allergens. Anyone else ever have this problem? My doctor just gave me a steroid cream, but that doesn't help.

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Can you supply photos of the knots before you scratch them and after they turn to blisters? Also, what kind of blisters; fluid or blood filled?

[scorpio74944 in reply to AussieNeil]

This is the most recent. I have a couple of spots I can feel coming on, but you can't see them yet.

Most recent, minimal scratching, been using steroid cream.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi scorpio75944,

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I've had problems with my skin since 2006, and treatment for my CLL has usually made it worse, Ibrutinib was the worst and Venetoclax was 2nd.

Steroid creams only worked for a few days. I've had many dermatologists take biopsies and the pathologists that examine them rarely have a definitive diagnosis. They suggest psoriasis, eczema, drug reactions, etc.

A top research pathologist Dr Cynthia Magro at Weill Cornell NY Presbyterian weillcornell.org/cmagro has identified excessive T-cells and B-cells in the dermis layer of my skin, but the cause is not well understood.

We have found that photo therapy- a light box with narrow band UVB rays en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light... will reduce the excess cells and control the itch extremely well. Outpatient clinics are usually available where Psoriasis is treated.

The NIH has published statistics pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/174... says Cutaneous lesions occur in up to 25% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These can be caused by either cutaneous seeding by leukemic cells (leukemia cutis, LC) and other malignant diseases or nonmalignant disorders. Skin infiltration with B-lymphocyte CLL manifests as solitary, grouped, or generalized papules, plaques, nodules, or large tumors.

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Len

[scorpio74944 in reply to lankisterguy]

Thank you!

[hopefulbunny]

I find that using aloe vera helps with various skin problems.

[beenthere2X]

You might ask your doctor to switch you to Calquence (Acalabrutinib) or Brukinsa (Zanubrutinib). They are more targeted.