Any ideas what might cause a rash below my belly button?

[Gorgiena]

I seem to have developed a rash. It's in between my belly button and the top of my vulva. Nowhere else. It's kind of like a heat rash, not painful.

It's come from nowhere, is localised to there only, but is quite wide (wider than my bikini line on both sides). It's a bit blotchy towards the edges but covers more in the middle.

Does anyone have any ideas what it might be, or other things to look for to determine its cause? I can't think of any causes but it's never happened before. For context I am 34 and in otherwise good health with no skin issues.

Allergy to the metal on a zip fly? I had an awful rash near my belly button as a teen. I eventually worked out it was the cheap metal on a belt buckle!

I hadn't even thought of that! Maybe! I can't think of any new trousers I have worn recently, but could it be an old zip getting corroded or something I wonder.

Could it be fungal from a bit of sweat? I had awful under boob fungal rash during the summer. I had to caneston it.

I guess possibly. But I've never had this before and I've been no sweatier than normal! This is the weird thing, that it's emerged from nowhere with no other apparent changes.

Allergy to nickel on belt buckle or a metal button/ rivet on jeans? I have to tape a big plaster to my belly when I wear a certain pair of jeans as they always give me an itchy rash.

I was going to mention this as I have the same allergy.

Interesting. I hadnt thought of this til it was mentioned on here. Maybe it is that, but I don't think I have worn anything new or that I haven't worn in ages, and certainly not a new belt.

It's an odd one. I was looking at it when I was in the bathroom earlier. It's completely contained to that one area. Blotchy round the edges but more present in the middle. Not raised or bumpy, not painful. Just a change in the colour of my skin.

I was going to say nickel allergy too. Have your knickers got any dangly metal embellishments on them?

I am very sensitive to nickel and have noticed this several times with clothing!

I was going to say an allergy or it could just be from your clothes rubbing. I get it if use moisturiser under my arms and then do exercise.

I was going to say nickel - I've had that from metal skirt buttons being next to my skin.

I would suggest applying Sudocrem and making sure nothing metal touches it until it heals.

The other possibility is a fungal infection. Does it have an odour at all? If it's fungal it normally smells yeasty or ammonia-like. Daktarin or Canesten (get the athlete's foot Canesten) are good if it's fungal.

I used to get that from my clip on door key card for work. Was a nickel allergy. Fixed by always having to wear a vest top tucked into my knickers 🙈.

I also have a (presumed) nickel allergy and get a rash from cheap metal, or where the coating is wearing off. Belts, zips, clips and also if I'd folded, metal sunglasses and tucked them into the top of my blouse. Any direct skin contact!

OP- I'd try with an antifungal cream firstly, but you might need a soothing cream like sudocream till it clears.

Thanks everyone. No, there's no smell. I will see how it develops and bear in mind the nickel allergy possibility.
Nothing unusual about my knickers in terms of metal embellishments! And it extends outwards beyond them both up towards my belly button and to the side. It does seem at its most 'rash-y' in the central area though (although hard to really tell because of my pubic hair) so I do wonder if it's underwear related.
It's not getting any better but appears not to be getting any worse, which is something.

Take an antihistamine, it will just be ‘ one of those things’

could be viral DS always gets a rash when he comes down with something? Does it itch?

I got this from buckles and buttons when I was a teen/20s

pytting a couple of layers of clear nail polish on the button helped barrier my skin