LambriniBobInIsleworthISeesYa ·
01/01/2026 21:26
Hello all
I understand that Mumsnet is not a doctor’s surgery, but I am just canvassing opinion here in the hope that somebody knows what this is, just on the basis of that they’ve had it too or that they’re a medic and recognise it.
Had this now about eight weeks, it sprung up during a flu-like illness (although I’ve had the flu vaccine). Was diagnosed with shingles by a pharmacist on the basis that I had been very itchy elsewhere, but no other marks like this on my body. Treated with antivirals but it’s done bugger all for this.
It comes and goes in terms of itchiness and what it looks like…. Sometimes it’s bright reddish like this, sometimes it’s less livid. It is sometimes itchy and and when that happens it often feels dry and I whack a bit of moisturiser on it. I’d describe it as a bit scaly at this stage.
Showed it to a GP when I was there the other day for something else. She couldn’t have cared less and told me to put some of the eczema cream on it that I’m prescribed for eczema that I sometimes get behind my knees.
If it’s relevant, I am diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, have a lot of the markers for long Covid (I’ve had it 18 times in six years) and have recurrent infections (mostly upper respiratory but some bladder, ears and teeth) and some weird stuff going on with my blood (high platelets, problems absorbing iron and excessive white blood cells) as well as problems absorbing vitamin B12, folate and folic acid.
There’s a history of skin cancer on both sides of my family - my Dad and my Grandfather on my Mum’s side- both had basal cell carcinomas and I know that they can appear as scaly bits that appear not to heal, although both of theirs presented quite differently and I don’t know if skin cancer has a genetic element. I’m very pale and have never spent excessive time in the sun.
Any insights would be really helpful. Obviously I’m uploading a photo but it’ll take a minute to be approved. Thanks in advance.