topic Re: A rash in Wellness

A rash

151949 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:50:42 GMT

I have developed a raised red itchy rash on both my arms. At first I thought it was poison ivy since we live in the summer at our camp but it has been there for too long and has never developed into the blisters. I have tried everything I can think of - I tried desenex powder in case it was a yeast - nope - cortisone lotion - nope - I even tried antibiotic ointment in case it was bacterial- nope. I am at the end of my bag of tricks. Our insurance will pay for an emergency visit to a doctor while we are away from home but our co pay is high and this is not truly an emergency by any stretch of the imagination. I surely wish I could figure out what it is though. When i was a child I would get eczema from emotional situations and as my BIL has been very ill since we came home in May and passed away last week I am wondering if it is that. But I have not had that since I was a child.

Just venting here trying to figure it out.

Re: A rash

Kcubed — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:05:44 GMT

I was 27 and developed eczema for the first time in my life. My father had just passed away, and I think stress was the trigger. Do your arms feel dry? Does your skin feel a bit thick? Is the itching so bad that it feels that it is coming from the core of your body? If so it may be eczema. I have periods where I do not suffer, but when it starts, I have it for months. I hope that that is not the source of your problem because there is no cure. I have not even found anything that really helps me at all. I just have to wait it out. I feel like screaming when I feel a patch begin. I have been fighting a patch on my leg since April, and it is just now beginning to get a bit better. I wish you luck in finding out what is wrong, but if it is eczema, I doctor will not really help you. I just need new skin!!!!!

Re: A rash

151949 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:09:54 GMT

i have an appointment with the derm in Nov when we get home but I certainly hope it doesn't last that long.

I was stung by a bee several weeks ago so I am wondering if it is related to that. I take singular every night for my asthma - it is an antihistamine - so if it was allergy related that should take care of it. Asthma and now eczema - I seem to be revisiting my childhood in my old age.

Re: A rash

HonnyBrown — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:11:24 GMT

Could it be chiggers? Those buggers eat me alive and I get a bad rash, but near my ankles.

Re: A rash

151949 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:13:13 GMT

I don't know what chiggers are.

Re: A rash

151949 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:16:25 GMT

OK looked up chiggers - the rash does not look like that at all. But thanks for the suggestion.

Re: A rash

Kcubed — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:18:04 GMT

Asthma and eczema are often related.

Re: A rash

AspenGrove — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:20:57 GMT

This is a total shot in the dark, but your description sounds like what I had a few years ago: Tinea Versicolor. It's caused by an overgrowth of a yeast/fungus. Believe it or not, my doctor had me apply Selsun Blue (the antidandruff shampoo) to the raised rash daily for about a week. It worked wonders, but didn't take care of all of it, so she also gave me one dose of an oral drug which I took just one day. That knocked it out completely and it never came back. So, maybe try the shampoo? Just a thought.

Re: A rash

Shogirl — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:23:29 GMT

Just some random thoughts -

Do you spend much time in the sun? I'd say about 10 years ago I started developing what I call a 'sun' rash everytime I spent any time out in the sun. Prior to that, I never had an instance of it, so not sure why it started.

I've got allergies to many different things, and once I used some different detergent than my normal brand, and it gave me a rash on my forearms and torso. Once I stopped using it, the rash went away.

Re: A rash

curlywhitedog — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:59:03 GMT

Gosh, it sure does sound a lot like poison ivy. I've had more than my share of poison ivy rashes but not all of them developed into blisters. If you compare it to some Google images, does it match up?

I am plagued with summer hives so I well know the discomfort of the itching - hope you can figure this out before too much more time goes by.

Maria

Re: A rash

vermint — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:05:07 GMT

Tea tree oil or emu oil might help. I've had some luck with that when I get eczema breakouts (I've had it since I was a child, too, but it's much less frequent now).

Re: A rash

151949 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:33:10 GMT

On 8/14/2014 AspenGrove said:
This is a total shot in the dark, but your description sounds like what I had a few years ago: Tinea Versicolor. It's caused by an overgrowth of a yeast/fungus. Believe it or not, my doctor had me apply Selsun Blue (the antidandruff shampoo) to the raised rash daily for about a week. It worked wonders, but didn't take care of all of it, so she also gave me one dose of an oral drug which I took just one day. That knocked it out completely and it never came back. So, maybe try the shampoo? Just a thought.

That looks exactly like it - I will try the selsun blue. thank you. and thank you for the link.

Re: A rash

151949 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:34:27 GMT

On 8/14/2014 Shogirl said:
Just some random thoughts -

Do you spend much time in the sun? I'd say about 10 years ago I started developing what I call a 'sun' rash everytime I spent any time out in the sun. Prior to that, I never had an instance of it, so not sure why it started.

I've got allergies to many different things, and once I used some different detergent than my normal brand, and it gave me a rash on my forearms and torso. Once I stopped using it, the rash went away.

SUN you say - I haven't seen more than a few hours of sun since we got to Pittsburgh last May - the weather has been just terrible here.

Re: A rash

151949 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:34:56 GMT

On 8/14/2014 kcubed said:
Asthma and eczema are often related.

yes, I know.

Re: A rash

AspenGrove — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:43:33 GMT

On 8/14/2014 happy housewife said:
On 8/14/2014 AspenGrove said:
This is a total shot in the dark, but your description sounds like what I had a few years ago: Tinea Versicolor. It's caused by an overgrowth of a yeast/fungus. Believe it or not, my doctor had me apply Selsun Blue (the antidandruff shampoo) to the raised rash daily for about a week. It worked wonders, but didn't take care of all of it, so she also gave me one dose of an oral drug which I took just one day. That knocked it out completely and it never came back. So, maybe try the shampoo? Just a thought.

That looks exactly like it - I will try the selsun blue. thank you. and thank you for the link.

You're very welcome. Hope you get relief immediately from it as I did. Also, read the ingredients carefully on the site I linked to. I recall my doctor telling me to read the Selsun labels to make sure I was buying the right one. I think there were 2 or 3 different versions of the shampoo and only one had the active ingredients to stop/clear tinea versicolor. Other dandruff shampoos, as shown on the site, will also help if you get the ones with the correct active ingredients. And finally, as instructed by my doc: after you apply it to the rash area, let it stay on for 10 or 15 minutes before you wash it off.

Re: A rash

ROMARY — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 15:37:20 GMT

Strong laundry detergent could be the problem. Maybe you should visit a local pharmacist, ask him what has worked on other folks who have had the same rash...............

Re: A rash

ROMARY — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 15:38:50 GMT

Regarding the correct S. shampoo...........the pharmacist might know which one.

Re: A rash

cater — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 18:39:28 GMT

HH just read about your rash and want to tell you the cream that they recommend on that site called Ketoconazole is absolutely wonderful. When I went to the doctor for a check up he noticed I had a irritation under my one breast. He insisted that I get this prescription filled I did and it works wonders on any skin break out. With my medical coverage it costs me $30. at Sam's club. I would go back to him just to have another prescription for this cream I think this would really help you. Maybe with your type of coverage it would be less expensive. For me it is worth every dollar I paid. Hope you find something that helps. Your right the weather here has been one for the books this summer. I think about you where you are at every day when it is either rain or cold. We have used our deck hardly at all. Can't sit out at night it is to chilly.

Re: A rash

BORN AGAIN — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 18:52:16 GMT

Put some Calamine lotion on it. The PINK one. The pink one has drying agents in it. It will hold you over till you get it checked out.

Re: A rash

Nightowlz — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:18:35 GMT

Tea Tree Oil should work. It has antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial antiseptic, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral properties. It's good to have on hand for all kinds of uses. I always use it when I get a rash, cuts, scrapes etc. I would not be without it. It's also supposed to kill MRSA.