Rash getting worse...allergy? Eczema? Virus? Photo to help!

[linspins]

My dd has had a rash now for almost weeks. It started as a few red spots around her neck and shoulders, like stinging nettle. I thought possibly allergic reaction, so did pharmacist, so I gave her loratidine antihistimine for a week. It got worse, spreading down her arms, chest, back and getting worse on shoulders. It intensely itchy, and feels rough. We have seen the GP who gave her a different antihistamine. That was two days ago and now it's redder and itchier than ever, and spreading. The rash is weeping in the worse places, and very painful now. My dd (10) is trying not to scratch but it's so hard.
We are not a family prone to allergies, eczema etc, and I've never seen a rash like this. Any ideas? Should I take her back to the GP? I'm worried it's infected now.

[BrutusMcDogface]

That does look like my dd's eczema to be honest. The third picture with the blisters looks worrying, though; like impetigo or blistering eczema. She needs to see a doctor!

[BrutusMcDogface]

I mean, again! I know she's already seen one. Maybe a different one? Poor girl

[Chocwocdoodah]

Looks a bit like urticaria which is basically an allergic reaction to something. My DS got urticaria as a reacation to a virus. Only thing is it didn't itch. Does your DD have any other symptoms? A rough rash is also a symptom of scarlet fever but I think your DD would feel poorly with that.
Of course I am no expert though!

[linspins]

Yeah, it's the third pic that worrying me. It's slightly damp like it's weeping. Would eczema come out of nowhere? Usually she's a healthy child, and doesn't have skin or food allergies. Can eczema be triggered by something?
I'm going to phone GP out of hours first thing tomorrow. To make it worse, the antihistamine is making her feel tired and unwell too!

[Gingernaut]

The photo of her back shows lighter stripes over her shoulder blades and up her neck.

Is there a garment she wears that follows that pattern?

[linspins]

Chocwoc, she's feeling ok apart from this, but the extreme itching is overshadowing everything, and the antihistamine is making her tired too. The rash is sandpaper like, but GP didn't seem to think scarlet fever, as no other symptoms of that.
She was unwell a few weeks ago, with a high temperature, cough, and sick feeling, listless and no appetite for a week or so. Rarely has time off schoolboy did for that. I wonder if this is somehow a continuation of that...

[linspins]

Gingernaut, I think this might be a pattern of where she can reach to itch!

[linspins]

I've been wracking my brain to think of anything different she's touched, worn, eaten etc, but it's very difficult as there are so many variables. Nothing major has changed, like washing powder etc.

[Chocwocdoodah]

It could be linspins. When my DS got urticaria it was after he'd been ill not during. Kids' bodies can do weird things! The weeping could be where she's scratched it and it's got irritated. I know what it's like to worry yourself stupid over something like this so if you are, why not call 111 - they might be able to get you seen or get a Dr to call you tonight. X

[Gingernaut]

Ahh.

[linspins]

Dd has just dropped off to sleep, so assuming nothing major happens in the night, I will phone early tomorrow to get another appointment. I am dearly hoping she doesn't get scabs on it because she's a picker, and we will then have an awful battle to help her stop picking spots and scabs, to avoid scars.
Gp said to keep it moisturised, but anything try on it stings her and seems to make it angry. Poor pickle.

[picklemepopcorn]

Do you have any hydrocortisone? This looks really familiar but I can't think what.

[picklemepopcorn]

Is it sun? Did she catch the sun on her shoulders or get very hot?

[linspins]

Pickle, probably not sun, as it's been building up over two weeks. Heat makes it worse though, so no hot baths for her.
She scratches more at night if she gets to warm, but wakes if she's too cold, so it's a bit of a balancing act.

[Chocwocdoodah]

Again, absolutely no expert whatsoever but it seems weird your GP told you to keep a weeping rash moisturised. I'm not surprised it stings!

Let us know how you get on.

[picklemepopcorn]

I've remembered! My son had it around his hairline when we lived in a hot humid country. It resolved with hydrocortisone. It's a sort of vicious circle of heat and sweat and itching. Like prickly heat. Try anything cooling- lotion which has been in the fridge, calamine, chilled aloe gel. And hydrocortisone.

[linspins]

Chocwoc, it's wasn't weeping when we saw GP two days ago, that only started today. Can't believe how much it's spreading. Urgh!
I've been googling urticaria but that seems to come and go much quicker, and respond to antihistamine. No good comes of googling though. However, off to google eczema.

[outputgap]

That does look like eczema but I'm always worried about telling other people they've got eczema, because it could always be a viral rash or something that you shouldn't be putting steroids on.

The crusty bit might be infected. If a doctor says it is indeed eczema, you will need fucidin or even oral antibiotics.

Is it definitely not scarlet fever, given that she's been unwell?

[DoItTooJulia]

Which antihistamine did the GP prescribe? My ds gets very random 'attacks' of hives and we had to experiment to find the best antihistamine. In his case cetirizine was the best.

If it is hives, calamine lotion can help as can cool flannels. Do you have any chamomile tea bags?

And do you have any aveeno?

Also oats in a tepid bath can help soothe the skin.

It's about all you can do till you get to the ooh GP.

[FallenSky]

DD has eczema and when it flares up it looks very similar. There's also something called Pityriasis Rosea which could potentially fit as I believe it comes after a virus and you mention your DD was unwell a little while ago.

Looks so uncomfortable, poor girl. Hope she starts to feel better soon

[Chocwocdoodah]

Oooh yes heat rash is a good suggestion. Friend gets it really bad, it lasts ages and any kind of cream stings like hell.

Yes no good will come of Googling - we all know that but we all do it and aren't satisfied til we've found the most debilitating/deadly illness

But please try not to worry. It's very likely to be something that's easily treated.

[FreshsatsumaforDd]

Eczema can look exactly like the third picture unfortunately. It can bubble up, as it were, out of nowhere.

Ds had eczema just like photo 3 and it was very itchy. The standard treatment is to stop using any soap and give moisurising baths, we used Balneum, and aqueous cream instead of soap then to apply moisturiser in thick layers with or without hydrocortisone cream. We liked Diprobase but others like Aveeno.

The creams were all prescribed by the GP although we did also have a consultation with a dermatologist who confirmed that it was eczema.
Use a very mild washing powder, with little scent such as Filetti or rinse clothes several times. Dairy was a problem for Ds. Even a drop on his skin would make it go red and bubble up.

I hope that you can find a solution for your Dd.

[Natsku]

That looks a lot like the eczema that DD used to get, especially the 3rd pic. Looks like it might be infected so its definitely worth going back to the doctor to check as it might need antibiotic treatment.

By the way, when DD had really bad eczema and steroid cream wasn't helping we tried Protopic which worked wonderfully and quite quickly.

[Natsku]

And creams sting a lot on eczema unfortunately but you just have to stress that she needs the cream even though it stings, but definitely check with the doctor to make sure you're using the right cream.

[LovingLola]

Could it be Erythema?