Ds has a strange rash, any ideas please?

[PatoBanton]

He is 10, and last week he seemed to have a slightly raised area on his neck that was itching - also a few small patches on his arms.

Looking very closely, it's like tiny clear to pale pink bumps, on his neck it forms a sort of raised area - on his arms it is little smaller areas.

He says it is itchy but not constantly - just now and then. He went on a school trip (we noticed it the night before) and got back yesterday and it is still there, not much worse but no better.

I was worried it might be scabies though I can't think where he would have caught that from, also it came up quite suddenly as far as I can tell, and there is pretty much none on his hands or fingers, it's on exposed areas (the back of his arm for instance, not inside elbows but on the outside of them) and I don't think it is eczema as he has never had eczema, though I could be wrong.

He also has a patch on one cheek as well. It's pretty pale but I want to know what is causing it. And of course the GP is shut.

He has been very anxious lately if that might have a bearing.

I think it looks a bit like 'prickly heat' but am not sure it fits the diagnosis.

Any thoughts? I will take him to the Dr on Monday but in the meantime would be interested to know if anyone has any idea.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Google pitiryasis rosea

[Gileswithachainsaw]

www.webmd.boots.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/pityriasis-rosea

Here's a link if you can't

[PatoBanton]

Hmm, it has elements of it - but it looks less red, iyswim - it is very pale, like the raised bumps are skin coloured almost.

Googling it that looks a bit like ringworm,

the thing ds has seems more irregular, it is tiny bumps, some in patches, rather than a red circle around an area if that makes sense?

But thankyou. I will keep it in mind.

[PatoBanton]

Actually looking at google it could feasibly be eczema - also looked at psoriasis but that is very red. This is much paler.

[PatoBanton]

Why can I google nothing without pictures of someone's knob coming up

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Ew ew ew

[PatoBanton]

I know. I think I'll go with eczema and stop looking!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Has he been stressed lately? These things can flare up when they are tired or stressed and run down

[PatoBanton]

Yes, very much so - school trip, (first time properly away) and exams and so on. I don't know if he's ever been more stressed!

Will see how it goes and probably take him to the GP in the week if it doesn't calm down.

Thanks again for your time on this, I appreciate it

[BeaWheesht]

A pharmacist would probably be able to diagnose

[PatoBanton]

Do you think? I might try that then. It would be easier. Thankyou.

[Taffeta]

It sounds like eczema. Have you recently switched your central heating on? My DS only gets it when the heating is on.

[PatoBanton]

Oh, yes we have. How peculiar.

My sister had bad eczema but I never did. Would that work in a genetic sort of way?

[Taffeta]

DS has it occasionally (he's almost 10) and no one in our family has ever had it. I have hayfever, not sure if that's relevant.

Diprobase, applied x 10 times per day (frequency of application vs strength of cream, it's v mild) clears his up.

[PatoBanton]

Oh thankyou for the tip. My mum uses diprobase instead of soap.

She said you buy it from the chemist - I'll ask them when we go in.

Thank goodness for MN.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Aveeno is also well rated for eczema. Available in boots

[Kasterborous]

Eczema does run in families, you are probably a carrier even though you haven't got it yourself.

Taffeta hayfever, eczema and asthma are all related, so that's probably why your DS has eczema.

[PatoBanton]

Hi again,

thankyou for all the tips. We saw a pharmacist today and she took one look and said eczema.

She said because he is having a flare up, and some is on his face I'll need a prescription from the GP.

I'm not sure what for though - don't fancy using a steroid on him but I know nothing about it really.

Just amazed that at 10yo he's suddenly got eczema - and the weird thing is, we had a cat till now, and she's only just gone, and I'd have thought that it would work the other way round!