Dermatologist Answers Online
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Itchy Skin, But No Known Cause | | | I'm asking on behalf of my boyfriend. Right now he's over in Korea and he has had this itch near his groin and abdomen area for over a month now. He saw a doctor there, but the doctor did not do any testing on it, they just gave him a prescription for TCA cream that treats dermatitis. He doesn't have any bumps, there were bumps at first but now they've gone away and no one else at his home has it. It's not spreading, but the TCA cream didn't make it worse yet it didn't help relieve the itching. It just itches. I'm a nursing/pre-med student and I'm just racking my brain as to what it could be. He tells me that its not dry skin. He does lotion every day after he takes a shower, but I just don't know what it could be. He thinks it's the smog over there, but it sounds more like an allergic reaction and because there's nothing in his routine that has changed, whatever was causing it would still be there. I know TCA is a better than OTC meds for it, but it's not helping at all. I also know itchy skin could be a sign of an underlying condition. He's coming to live with me in a month and I'm a diabetic so I'm always concerned with any little thing. Any advice you could give would be awesome!!
Thanks |
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Diagnosis | | | Have a few questions.
First, i got some dermatitis on legs, arms, and little on chest from allergic reaction to medicine i guess. Not sure. But that was 6 months ago. i am having a hard time tanning now in those spots. Dermatologist said it takes time for the pigment to come back? is that true? If so, can I take something to help that stuff out? I get red blotchy spots when i am in the sun or tan. Not an even dark tan like i use to get and I guess that is from my breaking out a while back???
Second, when i am in a nervous situation, my armpits sweat, i get flushed in the face. for example, every time i go to Dr. office, my armpits start sweating or if i meet with a client at work, they sweat. usually followed by flushing of face.
Also, when i exercise, my skin gets red rashy color. Blotchy red on arms and legs. Never use to happen. I have been to endocrinologist and several dermatologist and no definite answer. Probably not hormones. I quit taking proscar about 4 months ago. That is when my skin go worse. I also experience more freckles on face and body? Please let me know what might be going on? Also sensitive to sunlight and burn easy in face causing my face to be hot when i go in a hot environment. Please answer these questions. Thanks a lot |
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Skin Irritation | | | My boyfriend is in prison. He along with other inmates has a skin irritation. The nurse said it was their nerves. It is spreading. It hurts him. He had tried A&D Ointment on it and an antifungal creme. He said the anti-fungal creme made it hurt worse.
It starts out as small red pimple like bumps the it festers up. It really itches. I have seen it. It is on my boyfriend's hand. The location varies on other guys. I thought it could be the detergent but it is only on my boyfriend's one hand. There are quite a few places on his hand. In between his fingers etc. But the worst spot is between his thumb and index finger. To me it looks like half of a ring-worm. He said he has not picked at it. When it itches him really bad he goes to the sink and washes is while he scratches it. His biggest spot is different colors. Kind of like when you get the corner of a piece of paper wet with coffee or tea. Closer to the tip is lighter and where it first soaked up the coffee or tea is darker. That part of his hand is real red.
I am worried it may be staph. I looked online for pictures of staph but nothing compared to his hand. I know it would be hard to say without seeing it but could you give me any ideas? What could he have that hurts when he puts anti-fungal creme on it? |
| 169 |
Folliculitis | | | Can you tell me how to get rid of this "folliculitis" once and for all?
I have had recurring outbreaks of what dermatologists call folliculitis on my scalp off and on for almost 5 years (33 year old female). It seems to improve at times with antibiotic. It has been recommended that a prescription of female hormones could help.
It's very painful, itchy and comes at the most unpredictable times. I've spent thousands of dollar trying various antibiotics, scalp solutions/treatments/medications, etc. To no avail. It still keeps coming back.
Is there anything that masks itself like folliculitis but is something else? thanks. |
| 170 |
Perioral Dermitis/ Sensitive Skin | | | Hi.. I believe I have perioral dermitis. All my life I have always been really red around my nose and as I get older, I find that it is slowly spreading to a larger area, but always concentrated around my nose. A few months ago, I noticed little patches of red bumps forming around my chin and the corners of my mouth. First on one side, then spreading to the other. Now they also have a tendency to be itchy. I will be switching to a non-flouride toothpaste but I am also looking for a cleanser and moisturizer. My skin is very sensitive and dry. I am presently using Clarins milk cleanser but I find its a little oily and leaving clear patches of bumps on my upper cheeks. Can you please recommend some SLS free cleansers for me that will keep my skin clear as well as keep the perioral dermitis away? In terms of a moisturizer, I am using Yonka Creme 83 for sensitive skin, but please recommend something that might be better.. Paraben, parrafin, mistrate free.. I really need your help as I feel like its getting worse everyday. |
| 171 |
Redness Around The Nose | | | Hi,
I am a 19 year old female and I have really difficult facial skin. My skin is rather sensitive (particularly to fragrance), acne prone, I have a very uneven skin tone and dark circles.
But what bothers me the most is that my nostrils are always really red. It looks like there are broken capillaries on my nostrils and I have plain redness around my nostrils as well. Sometimes there are tiny red bumps on my nostrils and sometimes they are red. My dermatologist told me it's seborrhoeic dermatitis, but it doesn't look like it to me and the treatment she prescribed didn't work (an anti-fungal cream). I never experience flaking. So what could this be? And how can I get rid of it? Can it be Rosacea? I don't have problems with flushing or broken capillaries on my cheeks though. |
| 172 |
Skin Rash | | | My skin rash pretty much started when I was in 7th-8th grade, approx. 14 yrs. old, I am 29 now. It started in my groin, specifically on my scrotum and the underside shaft of my penis, it itches very severely. It seems like when I scratch there seems to be dead skin coming off like it were dandruff. Anyway, I have been to several dermatologists and doctors, all have prescribed medicine, and none have worked. Maybe some worked momentarily, but the medicine would ware off. I had several skin biopsy’s, one of which actually detected an allergy. I went to an allergist, he said that I am allergic to something, so he gave me all skin tests, patch tests, ect, unfortunately found no cause.
Approx. 5 years ago, I got another rash on my feet (for about 2 years), which itched and had red bumps raised upon itching. This actually went away about, after I took over the counter Claritin suggested by a doctor, however my groin rash is still present. Now, approx. 1 year ago, underneath my left leg, where my knee bends, it itches severely also. In this area it seems like my skin breaks and cracks after itching.
I just do not know what is going on. Why do I have all of these rashes? I had several doctors tell me that the area in my groin (along my thighs) could be a fungus, but no one is quite sure why my scrotum or penis itches. No one even knew why my feet itched, but that went away. I was told by a couple of doctors that I have contact dermatitis.
I would like to know if you have any recommendations, any person/place I may inquire about to receive more info or help, supplements/drugs I should take, maybe I have a deficiency in something, or any help; what you think may be going on?
Just so you know, I have changed my soap to sensitive skin soap, even tried skin moisturizers and organic skin therapy soap (like oatmeal based, aloe or sulfur). Also, I changed my detergents to sensitive skin detergents, even tried various baby detergents, and have tried the non-use of dryer softeners. In addition, I lately, for the past 6 months have been using a shower filter to take out any possible contaminants and chlorine. Lastly, I changed my diet to have 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day for about the last 2 weeks, and I have been eating from all of the food groups, mostly organic, for about the past 6 months.
Nothing seems to work. I am very thankful that my feet rash went away, God knows I am. I can't believe a simple over the counter drug like Claritin solved that problem; I should have tried that drug sooner. If anything, I am more concerned about the area in my groin that I had for about 11 years, this itches usually at night. If I can stop this I would be very happy.
At your convenience, please provide me with some of your insight and advice. Anything would be beneficial. You may read this on the air, but I don't know if I will be able to listen to it at the time you give your answers. Can you please email me? If not, please tell me when you're going to read this on the air and I will do my best to listen.
Sincerely,
Ted (AKA Rash Man) |
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Rash For Over 6 Months | | | Ok, for the past 6 months, I have had a rash on my stomach/abdominal region just below my belly button and even partially in the belly button, I have seen a doc once for it when I had mono once, and the rash has re appeared over the years especially after having Mono, Usually given prednisone, and it's gone away, this time it hasn't and my doc at the time said maybe it's eczema, gave me a few creams to use on it, And didn't go away, things like allergy medications are useless over the years anymore for it as well, Now the same style rash is forming on my back just below my shoulder blade, I get itchy all over at night if I scratch at it which I cant seem to not, it gets all blistery like oozing and bleeds. and cant seem to find the sources causing it, at the same time my skin on my face has been getting really oily been getting many white pustules forming with an oily build up and a hard white substance in the pimples, and even skin peeling off my back when showering, when I use my nails and scratch my back when wet. Does any of this sound relevant to the rash and what might it be? I have yet to find a doctor who can pin point my rash to something of anything worthwhile. And it is honestly driving me up the wall, I have tried every skin product changed eating habits for a while, and even tried every soap out there Please help if you can, I am not expecting any miracles, but also right now I have no health insurance if there is any way of finding something that will do the trick I will try it to get rid of it... |
| 174 |
Dry Irritated Skin. Help! | | | Hi,
I ruined my skin with steroids. I used my boyfriend's cream for itching on my cheeks. To make matters worse, I've used Vaseline in combination with the .5% steroid cream. I stopped 6 months ago but my cheeks are still reddish, dry, and irritated.
I tried many many moisturizers but they hurt my skin. I tried natural things like vitamin e and olive oil but its still dry. my skin is weird. I have to constantly leave on a shiny film of either vitamin E or Vaseline to prevent dryness. The minute I wash it away, my skin starts drying and i see wrinkles on my face. I'm in my 20s and last year i was wrinkle free. i don't know what to do. I stopped hanging out with my friends and I'm afraid to go out because my skin is so horrible.
Also all my pores are blocked. When i look in the closely in the mirror i can see it. i know its from the excessive oils and Vaseline that i apply to my face 24/7 but if i take it off, my skin is so dry and wrinkly. What do i do? how do i make my skin look like how it used to? this is so depressing. i always hide my face now. i go to class with sunglasses to cover up the shininess from the Vaseline.
I went to a dermatologist and explained to him. all he did was tell me to use lotion and Vaseline. no help at all!!! I'm a student and I'm so poor. each visit costs me $100 so i cant afford to come back and get bad advice again. Can you help me? this is ruining my life. i have no one to help me. |
| 175 |
Rashes | | | I have very sensitive skin. I have had rashes caused by cats, dry cleaning, new clothes, and cosmetics. Over the last few years, I have a recurring rash that starts as a little itch and soon gets much worse. Except for once when the whole ordeal occurred above and around my left eye, the itching always starts about halfway up my neck, on the right side, but then that goes away and it’s my right collarbone that itches and then the rash starts on my chest (on the right), below my collarbone and spreads up my neck, sometimes to my chin and to the center of my neck, covering a large area and leaving me quite disfigured for some time.
The progression is always itching followed by little pink spots, then more itching with bigger pink spots. The spots then spread, covering more area, causing minor swelling. These spots become little clear bumps over the gradually darkening and spreading patch. The itching continues while the now reddish patch covers larger area, followed by the tiny clear bumps. These little bumps begin to ooze clear, sticky liquid while the rash continues to spread. Finally, the whole area scales over with a large pinkish bumpy, crusty surface that is not as itchy but with some added stinging and soreness. The bumps and crustiness go away leaving a reddish-pink discoloration covering in their place, but feels normal to the touch and does not itch or hurt. This then gradually fades away over the next week or so.
It takes somewhere in the neighborhood of three weeks from the start of the itching for the discoloration to be gone. The rashes are somewhat infrequent… once or twice a year, usually. However, I had the worst rash I’ve ever had last August/September and one is starting now, so they seem to be gaining in frequency. I don’t use perfumes; I wash my clothes in dye-free, fragrance free detergents; I haven’t changed lotions, shampoos, soaps, or cosmetics; I haven’t bought any new clothes; I don’t use dry cleaners; I don’t have pets.
At the advice of doctors and pharmacists, I have tried numerous combinations of medications (liquid Zyrtec, benadryl pills, sprays, and creams, and calamine lotion, topical hydrocortisones, and prednisone bubble packs. Of these, the hydrocortisone briefly relieves the itching (so briefly that it isn’t worth the stickiness and mess of application, and, although I am not positive of this, seems to make the rash spread when applied). When prescribed, Prednisone has cleared away the cat and clothing rashes, but due to side effects of extended and recurring use, doctors have been reluctant to prescribe it to me. I haven’t seen a doctor the last three times I have had the rashes because of insurance coverage and tiring of trial and error diagnosis through treatments that don’t work. One example of this is when the rash occurred over my eye. An emergency room physician called it an allergic reaction and prescribed antihistamines. After this did nothing for the itching or the rash, as directed I saw another physician. He, in turn, prescribed hydrocortisone and referred me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist walked into the room said, “You have shingles, there’s nothing you can do about it now. If you had known that’s what it was a couple weeks ago, you could have taken an anti-viral medication to shorten the duration.” All of these diagnoses were made based on the appearance of the rash at the time. I have had a subsequent rash with the same symptoms and progression diagnosed as allergic dermatitis, and again, the antihistamines did nothing to help with the itching, spreading, or duration of the rash.
In order to avoid irritation and possible spreading, I avoid clothing that irritates the affected area, use baby wash when I shower (I do this anyway, because of my sensitive skin), and do not use towels after I bathe. I am at a loss as to what might be causing this. The only pattern seems to be that the rash sometimes occurs a few days to a week after a stressful period in my life, such as after I lost my job (but more than a week after the stress had subsided and I had found a new job). Please help! |
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