Is it common to have severe swelling with a rash or skin lesions. They are only on the hands and leg

My friend won't go to the hospital. He is in severe pain. The sores are on his hands and lower legs. The hands look alot better than they did a few days ago. But there are still sores there. They are a little swollen. The lower legs are frightening. The sores are all over the lower legs and feet. They are so swollen they are huge. He is in alot of pain. I thought it was some kind of staph infection, but I called the emergency room and the physcian there said it was very unlikely that that would occur only on the hands and feet. He said it was much more likely that this was an allergic reaction. I am afraid it is something much more serious than that. I hope I am wrong. His wife said that he has had heart problems in the past. He is drinking way too much alcohol. She said at least a twelve pack of beer a day. And he started doing this about two weeks ago. Then all of this started a week later. He was in a facility and was unable to drink previous to that, or I am sure he would have. Thank you.