To ask people what this is. (Pics included, a bit gross.)

[user1491678180]

Over the past 6 months, I have had this ongoing weird rash, on my back (between the shoulders,) on my upper arms, and at the back of my neck. It's horrid, and seems to be worse than normal 'spots.' The doctor didn't seem to know what it was and just gave me hydro-cortizone, which has done naff-all.

From the pics I have attached, does anyone have a clue what it is? (There is more than this on my arms and back; these are just a few examples!)

Thank you.

I would also like to add that it is very itchy and quite sore. And I am a female in my late 40's.

Impetigo?

What kind of doctor did you go to?? A dermatologist should be able to diagnose and treat this properly.

Your GP should refer you to a dermatologist

@Tired17

Hey thanks for that. I just looked it up, and it does indeed look and seem like impetigo! You would think the doctor would have picked THAT up.

Only thing is, it has been with me on and off for half a year or so, and isn't going, and it's only meant to last a few weeks at the most. Maybe it's because it has not been treated and dealt with.

I will look into treatments, and maybe see the pharmacist. I will also book another appointment with the GP, (a different one!) and see if they think it is impetigo.

Thanks again.

@Aquamarine it was a normal GP. Maybe if I go to another GP, I can ask to be referred to a skin specialist. Thank you too. And thanks to @JustGettingStarted

Do you both think also, that it looks like impetigo?

You need to see a dermatologist, as said upthread. GP should refer if you ask.

I thought the middle pic was your nipple
It does look like Impitigo to me, no expert but similar to cold sore blisters. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon OP.

My son has something similar that comes and goes but I cannot remember what it is called.

It looks a bit like the pictures of Molluscum contagiosum

LOL @Sandysmam it does look a bit like a nipple on the pic in the middle doesn't it? It is definitely one of the spots/blisters close up though.

You think it's impetigo too? And @BalloonSlayer thanks for your suggestion too. Looks like I best see if I can be referred to a skin specialist as @SealSong suggested too.

My experience is that if impetigo isn't treated with antibiotics it spreads rapidly and turns into vast swathes of pussy goo. For that reason, I'm not convinced you have impetigo. It looks too contained and not gross enough. I have no actual medical. training though so may be wrong. (My only knowledge is gained from battling ongoing impetigo in various kids aver a 12 month period.)

Pussy goo? Ewwwww

Thanks for sharing @Neolara!

I will get it checked by the GP next week!!!

Folliculitis?

Whatever it is, maybe try washing it with hibiscrub for a couple of weeks. It may well help. Certainly won't hurt.

You may be reacting to your hair conditioner. Apparently it leaves a residue on the skin and cause problems on the back.

Can’t tell you what it is, but definitely does not look like impetigo (red, blistery, weepy, spreads), or folliculitis (like a small boil around a hair follicle) or molluscum. The location of your spots would suggest something in shampoo/conditioner- it’s probably worth checking for methylisothiazolinone/Methychloroisothiazolinone. Other than that, push for a referral to dermatology.

Impetigo, folliculitis, whatever, are all versions of staph (staphylococcus aureae). You need antibiotics.

You would think a gp would pick it up but I had an irritated patch on my leg. Go told me it was ring worm!!!! Wtf? He gave me some cream but it go worse so I saw another GP. It was the start of my battle with eczema, I said ‘I was told it was ringworm!’ He scoffed ‘who told you that?’ ‘Dr Hall in the next room!’

Could it be guttate psoriasis? I had this 20 years ago, but over every inch of my body. It's linked to a throats infection. Wasn't painful, bit itchy, took forever to go. Doctor recommended having a course of sunbeds - shows you how long ago it was!

Occasionally I would get little patches of it reappearing over the next 10 years when stressed. No scars though, thankfully.

I had similar and zineryt got rid of it. Mine didn't itch but they looked like spots but oh lordy if you tried to squeeze one... terrible pain and nothing comes out!

I don't think its impetigo either. I've had that and I turned into a weeping crusty thing in the space of a week!

Dd1 has molluscum right now, has been rumbling on for nearly a year. When we saw pediatrician he said characteristic feature was an umbilical shape eg a belly button in the middle the spot! Said most likely picked it up from swimming and that we just have to wait it out (spots gradually clear by themselves).

Not sure yours is molluscum, dds are more raised and tend to be in areas like armpit or groin

That does not look like Impetigo. Impetigo is incredibly contagious and has a yellowy golden colour to it. It would tend to spread rather than keep to tiny individual bits. Yy to a dermatologist.

I've had ringworm too and it was nothing like this. I'm just unlucky with skin. I now have vitiligo

I had something which looked similar and it was called Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA). I self diagnosed with Google as had a long wait to see the dermatologist, even though GP was good and referred me quickly. The dermatologist confirmed that it was this.

I found the various creams the GP prescribed not much help, only to soothe when it was sore. The best cure was sunshine. It has gone away now 18 months after I first got it, leaving me with scarring and uneven skin tone.

Like others said, get your GP to refer you to a dermatologist.