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!

That makes no sense. The body does not take energy from ‘bad cells’. Damaged cells are engulfed through phagocytosis. They do not provide glucose for ATP (energy) production.

With my autoimmune issues that flared up last june, rheumatoid arthritis also became a huge issue in my fingers, toes, wrist, hip, knees and shoulders. Quite shocking.

For me, fasting, an anti inflammatory diet, good olive oil daily, avoiding histamine foods, cutting out sugar, eating only once a day has been transformative.

It has cost me nothing, yet I have never looked nor felt better.

Above everything I have firmly taken control of my health too.

I would suggest to start eating just once a day, it really makes a difference, not least to sleep quality as all food is long digested by bed time.

@SignGrudgeBluebook - as I mentioned in an earlier post, the Urgent Care doctor did give me antibiotics.

@karinahh - thank you. Unfortunately at the moment I'm turning to food more than ever due to the stress. Had started to cut back a bit too. When this is under control I'll be taking a look at my health overall.

Unless you have extensive experience of fasting, you would do well to try it. You would change your mind. Fasting is an incredible healer.

I think the OP has a bacterial infection.

OP, my Mum has skin Lupus and it doesn't just effect the face. My Mum occasionally gets Lupus on her face but usually it's her arms, legs and body. It's definitely worth looking into as a possibility.

I have Lupus and it very rarely is on my face. Usually arms trunk and legs.

I know! I'm was a comfort eater for 25 years.....since having children 🤔.....like a lot of women.

For me, I was in so much pain and discomfort, on steroids that gave me the rage😬🤯, pure desperation fuelled me to make the changes.

Really wishing you well.

@Megsdaughter - Thank you - I will be keeping lupus on my list of possibilities.

Collected anti fungal tablets from pharmacy yesterday and have started them. Dermatologist said to start with them whilst waiting for blood tests and skin biopsy. Am SO hoping they work.

My, fairly similar, rash started improving within a couple of days of starting some heavy duty antifungals. So keeping my fingers crossed for you OP, itching is so intrusive a feeling!

@Ineffable23 - that's a good word to describe how it feels; intrusive. It's really hard to focus on anything else when the itching is so all consuming.

It's so good to hear that your rash started to improve with antifungals - I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself here but...the itching is definitely less today, And the rash MAY be slightly less...vibrant. Have only had 2 of the tablets so far though, so let's see how it goes!

Today was the first day I didn't NEED an antihistamine!

Ah I'm crossing everything for you @PunishmentRoundupWithJoon . I think bit needing to take an antihistamine feels like a very promising sign.

You can't think about anything else when its at its worst. I was trying to explain to the GP that it wasn't technically an emergency but also that it was taking all my self control not to just claw my own skin off and they took pity on me and saw me within a couple of hours.

Hope you get your skin biopsy soon, as you really need that to identify a cause, but that the antifungals do benefit you.

@anyolddinosaur - thank you. Am hoping the appointment comes soon; am rather annoyed that the GP didn't send me for blood tests two weeks ago as I could then have just presented the results to the dermatologist. From what the derm said, it's basic stuff like full blood count and hba1c, plus liver function.

GP even said I couldn't have oral antifungals until I'd had a liver test. That clearly wasn't true!

I was going to suggest liver function test. Glad you got them ordered eventually

Have you taken any new medication? My itching was caused by a drug reaction

@VividDeer - no, no new medication that I can think of. Or new vitamins or....new anything really.

Oh, the only thing I can think of is that I've been taking a vitamin c and zinc supplement for a while and wonder if I've overloaded on zinc? It was in the form of a gummy and they tasted like wine gums so may have.

Just had a thought - in the interest of exploring every avenue, I checked the back of the squash I've been having more often lately to encourage me to drink more water. There's an allergen in bold and it's Sodium Metabisulphite.

This squash recently went from normal strength to 'quadruple strength' so wondering if that has made a difference.

Looking this up, it seems it can cause rashes. However, how can it cause the rash in the areas it's in but nothing around my mouth? It's obviously not a contact dermatitis type of thing.

Yes, I'm clutching at more straws here. Does anyone know anything about this additive and has anyone else had a reaction to it?

https://www.allergyuk.org/resources/sulphites-and-airway-symptoms-factsheet/

Mild rash is listed as a potential. The only way to know is to eliminate squash and see if the rash goes.

two weeks off the squash and see if it helps. Mostly allergens leave your body in about 2 days but the effect doesnt always stop that fast.

@anyolddinosaur - yes, am definitely off that now. Ironically, on Monday I thought the rash was a TAD better then had squash in the afternoon and it went crazy later that evening. Obviously, could be coincidence but does make me wonder.

Am talking to the dermatologist on Saturday so will ask her what she thinks then.

Hi, just wondering how you got on with the dermatologist? Suffering with a rash for 3 months myself!

@adelemd - I had a phone consultation with the dermatologist and she prescribed oral anti fungals (itraconazole) for 4 weeks. I have a face to face appointment on 15th June. The rash has subsided a lot, as has the itching, though in the last two days there's been a flare up of the left armpit so not sure what's going on there.

I was knocking back the antihistamines like they were sweets, the itching was so dreadful and now I don't need any, so a huge difference.

What's your rash like? Is it something you've had before or new? I feel for you as these things can make life a misery. First port of all, the GP, then if they can't help, ask for a referral perhaps?