This started out when I was 16. (I am now 31.) I've had red spots for all this time, to differing degrees. Sometimes they seem much worse then others.

My symptoms sometimes include itching, but nothing at all severe. Mostly I deal with slightly raised red spots, almost like blisters. The blister will eventually break it not picked at. Either way, it will scab over. If picked at it will ooze a clear liquid and eventually bleed if messed with enough. Some get quite large at maybe 1/2" diameter but most are 1/8" or so. Some seem to look like track marks. Some last longer then others.

When I first came down with it, in about 1986, I went to the Doctor and was told I had scabies. I went through the series of cleaning and lotions but nothing seemed to help.

Finally, I was referred to a dermatologist who did a punch biopsy of one of the spots on my torso. Her diagnosis was PLEVA, also known as Mucha Habermann's Disease or Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, a little known about skin disorder. She was almost excited to see this and told me how they learn about this sort of disease and are told they will probably never encounter it. It also means that little or no research is done about it.

I was given an antibiotic to take and sent on my merry way. Unfortunately the anitbiotic didn't help. I was told that using special light therepy might help but never pursued this. I had tried tanning rooms before and after this and did notice improvement. However, it didn't seem wise to take such chances with skin cancer, not to mention the photo-aging I would be subjecting myself to.

About a month later was a some sort of Dermatology Conference at UC Irvine's Medical Center in Anaheim. My dermatologist requested I attend so that other doctors might see the disorder. I went and had several groups of doctors appear in shifts at the doctor's office with their notebooks. I recall them saying very little more then "very interesting" and "hmmmm" sort of stuff.

Since then, I've noticed the different looking hairs. Mostly found on my torso, but also on forearms in areas, are white hairs which are pulled out without any sort of pain at all. The end that was in my skin seems thicker then the tip of the hair. Some of the hairs seem to split on the end. I've pondered if this is what some people have referred to as feathers are feathery. I'm unsure myself. However, I do think they are related.

When viewing my red spots, in all the various stages, they don't seem to have any sort of these hairs in them. I suspect they are somehow related though.

Strangely, these spots completely went away with both of my pregnancies. Other then being prego, the main lifestyle change at the time was stopping drinking Diet Coke and so much coffee. (So much being about a pot a day.) I also recently figured out that (of course) I wasn't using tampons at the time either.

No one else in my family has come down with this. Although both of my children have an allergy to Orange and Grapefruit juice which makes a bright red rash flush across their cheeks in minutes and this lasts at least a day. I doubt this has any relation to my skin stuff.

Here are what my spots look like. Sometimes they are larger - and sometimes smaller. They seem to vary in appearance.

• PLEVA- also known as Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis Acuta or Mucha Habermann's Disease.
• PLC - Pityriasis Lichenoides Chronica

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