Rash driving me utterly mad - any ideas what it might be as I await referral to dermatology??

[PunishmentRoundupWithJoon]

I have a rash and it's driving me crazy. It started around armpits and has now spread down arms, past elbow and it also on my side, over ribs and on my back.

First GP said it was fungal, gave Canesten HC. That didn't work but did sting when applied. Went to Urgent Care last week as utterly desperate and doctor prescribed steroids as rash was inflamed and spongy.

Saw a GP yesterday for follow up after Urgent Care and she was clueless. She took photos and said she would submit them to dermatology for 'urgent review'.

I have been taking 3 180mg Fexofenadine every day (Urgent Care doc said it was ok, given intensity of itching) but I swear they are making barely any difference. I am using Eurax, Germolene (for anaesthetic effect) and Vagisil (for lidocaine) and the itching is still making me want to scratch my skin off.

Does anyone have any ideas what this might be? It's hot to the touch, and i can feel it burning even as I sit here.

Yes, I am "asking strangers on the internet"! Though not as an alternative to seeking medical treatment.

I'm wondering if it's infected, though surely 2nd GP would have suggested this?

I feel well enough in myself, just utterly frenzied with the itch.

Thanks in advance!

Does your skin mark or raise in sore bump where touched? If so it could be dermatographia. I’ve got this and it is incredibly itchy.

@skiprun - not not at the moment. I've had something like that in the past where weals come up from a light touch but it's not frequently, and not happening right now.
@anyolddinosaur - haven't used anything under arms for ages. its not even directly under the pit, but kind of around the outside of armpit. The worst of it is now from shoulder down arm to elbow,

I had a hideously itchy rash that spread and spread. I took fluconazole with no success. The GP put me on Terbinafine for a month which kicked it into touch. Would be good to see photos, but mine was red and almost a bit scaley and just so itchy I would have clawed my own skin off if it would have helped. I found an incredibly hot shower (almost scaldingly hot) would stop the itching for a bit, like it overwhelmed the nerve cells amongst. I'd take strong oral antihistamines as well - get some fexofenadine from the chemists.

That’s quite harsh if you’re sensitive. Does it feel like it’s stripping your head?!? And on fire? Plus itch.
Capasol is so much kinder and nicer to your head you should try it.

Hopefully it will all settle for you. Yes defo id change your washing powder to non bio fairy or what ever you pick.

It’s not nice - itchy - drives you bonkers! Hope the dr can help 🤞it took me years of consultants / creams / steroids the outcome - no soap, no dairy, washing powder changes now it’s all settled but it was horrendous so I really feel for you OP especially the constant itch especially in the night.

If you can I’d personally avoid steroids if you can as they bleached my skin in areas and left patches of lighter skin so not the best.

Good luck!

@needtochangesmokealarm Thank you, yes, it's maddening!

Will definitely try to avoid steroids - was just a 5 day course the doc gave me to settle the inflammation. The Nizoral is for fungal issues so seemed sensible to try, no didn't cause any further issues with the skin ( but didn't help either!).

Sorry to hear you've been through the same (or worse), it really does get you down. Anyway, hopefully I'll hear soon from the dermatologist.

@Ineffable23 - yes, am on fexofenadine, 3 x 180 mg per day, but even they don't help that much.

Will really try to get the photos from my GP records online later, feeling bit knackered now and like I need a lie down!

If fungal creams aren’t working try a steroid one - eumovate over the counter. I’m so itchy most of the time with allergies and it’s awful so I’m sending sympathy.

Did anyone check you for Scarlett fever? I had a rash like that with SF, burning pain, steroids cream made it worse. A and E doc diagnosed it.

I feel your pain: I have dermatitis as an allergic reaction to antibiotics. I'm currently taking fexofenadine and cetirizene and painkillers otherwise I'd have been driven bonkers by now.

I got betnovate (I think) scalp lotion and bog standard hydrocortisone 1% cream from the GP along with zerobase cream which kind of helps but its a work in progress.

I'm also using DermaX shampoo which helps with the itch but not the rash.

I really feel for you, it's a miserable place to be. 💐

Ps get some blue line bandage to cover your arms. The tightness helps a bit with the scratching.

@ItchyandScratchyRUs - will look into the blue line bandage, thank you. You're so right - it's miserable! Taking so many antihistamines now that even though they are the non-drowsy ones, I'm feeling drowsy.

Do the painkillers help with the itch? Or is it because your skin is now painful from the scratching?

@Meowee -no one mentioned scarlet fever - I don't feel particularly ill with this rash, no fever or anything.

@TeenLifeMum - sympathy is gratefully received 😍I'm even considering returning to Urgent Care later just to ask if they think it's infected. They're going to have me down as a malingerer!!

I didn’t have a rash but had all over intense itching that turned out to be iron deficiency anaemia. Maybe some blood tests to rule this or any other deficiencies out? For the itch - it helps to cool it down. I got some cold compress type things that you keep in the freezer. Just putting that on the skin ( not directly of course) helped to soothe it a lot.

Its a bit of both I think. Ibuprofen seems to settle the itch better than paracetamol but there's a limit to what you can take.

Just btw my nails are very short too because I can't leave well alone especially when I'm super sensitive 😬

I'm so tired of this I could cry. It's depressing that the options are so limited.

@ItchyandScratchyRUs - I feel for you, it's awful that you're having to deal with this long term. Mine is relatively recent but I know, having had eczema in the past, that it's a nightmare.

One thing that has helped massively with itching is a certain kind of hairbrush. I call it my scratchy. It doesn't damage the skin the way nails do and it covers a larger area. Has to be the right kind though, and there's only one that's ever been suitable for me. The majority are too harsh.

@lund - thank you. I take iron supplements for anaemia, have done for a long time. Last time I had a test my levels were quite reasonable, and there were no concerns.

I have one of those cool packs that stay in the freezer - have been using that, though it warms up quickly! May try a different type.

Are you sure it's not a sweat rash that's spread? I am prone to these and will get them every summer unless I'm super on top of things - I have to wear baby powder everyday if I don't want soreness and an itch. It's the only thing that works.

@tiramisugelato - no, definitely not a sweat rash. As it happens, I don't get sweat rashes (famous last words!) as I don't seem to be a big sweater - apart from my face. It's on places that wouldn't be sweaty anyway on me, like my side and back. And a sweat rash wouldn't be this remorselessly itchy and would probably respond to antihistamines.

Why do you think sweat rashes aren't itchy?

When I've had them, they've kept me awake at night and caused me to bleed because I couldn't leave them alone. They've also never responded to anti-histamines or topical medication. The only solution has been to keep them dry and aired out.

ETA they also spread - once you start scratching the bacteria will get under your nails and cause the rash to spread.

Have any lines formed?

Fun fact: you can double up on fexnofenadine, Claritin and Benadryl. Fexno is not steroids though, it’s an anti histamine. Did they actually give you steroids? I had a horrible reaction to a body lotion and I had to take oral steroids for several days.

@tiramisugelato - sorry, it;s not that I think they wouldn't be itchy, but on me I doubt I would sweat enough to cause such a reaction. I have no doubt they are dreadful, but I don't really sweat apart from face. Obviously at the height of summer I sweat more but lately, definitely not.

Fair enough. You honestly don't need to sweat much to get them, all it takes is a tiny bit of irritation and friction and voila. I've developed them in a matter of hours before.

@Happyhappyday -yes, the doc gave me a 5 day course of steroids. Finished on Tuesday.

Am definitely doubling up on antihistamines!! More than!

@tiramisugelato - Yes, I've seen sweat rashes and they do look awful. I feel for you having those. To scratch till you bleed too! It's a nightmare, isn't it? I suppose I should think myself lucky that I don't get that sweaty... that's all I need...