Boots nor Superdrug couldn't diagnose this, maybe one of you can?

[chatenoire]

I've got this rash that doesn't go away even after finishing the treatment. (It comes and goes). It spread to my face at times and right now I can feel how half my face is getting dry and my eye is throbbing. Have called 111 hoping I'll get seen but not hopeful.

No, I tend to take ibuprofen over paracetamol but I haven't taken any for a few months. However, that would be a vote to the allergic reaction theory. Random fact, you're the second person who's told me they have a paracetamol allergy within a week!

Have you had your hair coloured recently?
Do you put perfume behind your ears?
A new dry shampoo?
Have you been particularly sweaty recently?
Any dangly earrings?

Just throwing some ideas out there. I get polymorphic light eruption only on my neck and a random patch on my chest that looks similar, but only when it's been really sunny, which it hasn't, so I doubt that (unless you happen to have been somewhere really sunny?!).

I had eczema on my eyelids about 2 years ago. No idea what caused it but it made my eye lids terribly itchy. I used La Roche Posay products on it after being prescribed a hydrocortizone ointment (obviously trying the prescribed medication first - which didn't have much effect on it to be honest). I originally thought it was down to me switching to a different shampoo but now I put it all down to those small, individually different but underlyingly connected peri-menopause ailments that we can get.

If you're in your late 30's or early 40's (no idea of your age @chatenoire) but it could be driven by hormones, those pesky hormones!

Is the rash on the side you sleep on?

Do you go to bed with damp hair?

I used to have a similar looking rash on my eyelids and nipples. It responded a little to hydrocortisone creams and antihistamines but never fully went away. It vanished when I stopped eating gluten.

I turn 40 this week. Originally I did think it was perimenopause knocking on the door as my skin has overall gone drier.

I did get my hair done a few days (maybe a week?) before I first noticed it happening. So maybe?

I did change shampoos around the same time.

I sweat A LOT always have, but I've always been very active (I had to stop because of the rash).

I thought I was unique! 😀I think it's relatively uncommon.

I concur that it looks like an allergic reaction perhaps. I have had bouts of hives and contact dermatitis and it could be either.

The only antihistamine that does anything for my skin allergies is acrivastine which you can buy OTC as Benadryl Allergy Relief.

If it was urticaria you'd need a very high dose of fexofenadine, i can't remember dose, but I had it twice a few yrs back and it took a few different gps and one mildly scary moment to get the right dose. For me it was during the pandemic when my gp surgery signed up to using a private online gp service. It was s tremendous service, so much better, I could always get an appt on the day, and i think i had 3 or 4 before or was sorted. I will use them again in a similar situation.

I got something like this on my neck and then my face and eyes. It was a sort of dermatitis. Mine was caused by an allergy to wool and other fabrics with certain fibres in it. It became a sort of mix of dermatitis and mild rosacea - it gets worse in the sun so I have to wear sunscreen all the time. Certain hair products made it worse- mostly styling ones. It came out of nowhere. Took me months to work out what it was. Azealic acid helped me but certain fabrics will set it off again. I am perimenopausal. It is a massive pita

Shingles

I think doctor. I had something similar for yonks, kept flaring up around my eyes and mouth. I assumed it was eczema and kept piling on E45. It was eventually diagnosed as a fungal infection and canister sorted me out. Yours may be something different, but ask a doctor.

Not always. They can occur in patches.

I'm sorry to disagree, but I have had shingles twice and it didn't look anything like that, or sound anything like that. I have also nursed my husband through it three times, and again it never looked or sounded like that.

Also, without being given a specific antiviral at, or very soon after it's start, the patient with Shingles will be in very great pain. I had mine the first time before there was an antiviral drug given for it. I was given very strong painkiller injections for the pain.

Second GP has already said it's just dry skin. First GP said it was Lichen Sclerosus .

Online dermatologists could not diagnose. (Boots said I needed an in person appointment with a dermatologist and ask for a referral with my GP).

I’ve had a very similar issue with the skin around my eyes. Go back to the GP and push hard for a referral to a dermatologist who can give you patch tests to try and find out what is causing the issue.

If it’s acrylates you need to know as this can have implications for dental work, bone replacements if ever needed etc.

What did you end up being allergic to?

From the position, it could definitely be a shampoo allergy.

I get eczema OP. I got this shampoo recently. Smells horrid but really really works. Pharmacist recommended it.

https://www.chemist-4-u.com/capasal-therapeutic-shampoo-250ml?gclid=CjwKCAjwmrqzBhAoEiwAXVpgovMhQHmmFhTMt2bdJW-IgXpKgsSccnWw09VSe56WicSi1AnHFr5WBoChTMQAvDD_BwE

It’s not shingles! It looks nothing like it, is in the wrong distribution and doesn’t come
and go in that way

Generally they follow the nerves. Can still be in patches

Not always.

Psoriasis.
Have exactly the same thing in the same places..plus others. Hard to shift, needs plenty of very neutral moisturiser such as "double base".
Often comes on because of stress. Occasionally gets bad and needs steroids to be manageable.

I have eczema and have flared up so badly recently the GP doubled my antihistamine and gave me shower gel and double base body cream. Rash still there (it's only been 4 days) but I've stopped itching in two days.
Call the GP and go see him.
I had already eliminated for the last 3 months all perfume soaps/body wash/ laundry detergent and fabric softener, with no effect.

I also have a recurring skin rash and an excellent GP with a particular interest in skin. He tried a few different things he but it was when he prescribed Fexofenadine 180mg tablets that I finally got it under better control.
One thing to note about Fexofenadine- always take it with water and not with apple or orange or other fruit juices.