To be this upset?

[koalaoala85]

Have had a horrible fungal skin infection since July. It started as a small patch on my stomach before spreading all across my stomach and sides, down the inside of my thighs, backs of my legs and buttocks.

I seem to spend my life constantly doing washing, hoovering and washing my hands- anything to avoid spreading it to my husband and toddler. It’s really got me down.

I’m finally on some medication from the doctors which is helping but I’ve come to the realisation that it won’t be clear before we go on a family holiday to Center Parcs soon. I won’t be able to take my little one swimming and will have to explain to my extended family why.

I know none of this is the end of the world, it’s just all making me so sad all the time. AUBU to be this sad? Anyone got any magical cures? I really hate it.

I don’t think GPs are great at diagnosing and treating skin complaints. You really do need a dermatologist. If you can afford it, get a private appointment (or you will be waiting for months)! Then take the private prescription to gp and ask them to convert to nhs.

Disaster! Google seems to suggest that nowhere sells Selsun now. Everywhere is either out of stock or it doesn’t exist. Anyone had any recent luck buying it? And where did you get it from?

Would something like this help (assuming it's not contagious). It won't fix the problem but could enable swimming.

This was the top result on long leg swimsuit so sure you could find one that suits you.
www.simplyswim.com/products/halocline-abstract-kneesuit-black-and-blue?gclid=Cj0KCQiA28nfBRCDARIsANc5BFDY7nkwUTkBUHJ5NMSjuqhLxw2GqYr_UyfOzPS5_gI7nCrPm7DdHS4aAt4PEALw_wcB&variant=44850732492&ef_id=Cj0KCQiA28nfBRCDARIsANc5BFDY7nkwUTkBUHJ5NMSjuqhLxw2GqYr_UyfOzPS5_gI7nCrPm7DdHS4aAt4PEALw_wcB:G:s

If any of you chuckling goat fans are in Glos I have loads going spare. Didn’t suit dog and I’m not allowed it!!

@koalaoala85 I had ptiryasis versicolor. Was given terbinafine. Was then told by another gp that terbinafine will do sod all. I was given an oral itraconazole tablet which cleared it right up. It took a while for my skin to go back to a normal colour but it got rid of the infection. I was also advised to use ketoconazole shampoo on my skin every so often to prevent it coming back. It took me lots of perseverance and lots of research but I eventually found something that worked for me!

I suggest a second opinion and advice from a dermatologist or skincare specialist (the gp who helped me specialised in skin conditions)

Best of luck!

Also you can buy ketoconazole OTC. It's brilliant for anything fungal.

Is it itchy? I had a speeding rash that started as a patch on my arm, and then stomach, back and neck. No matter what I did, it got worse. I was very depressed over it. Went to my allergist and it turns out it was contact dermatitis. We never identified to what exactly. After a couple of weeks with hydrocortisone cream, my skin is much better and no longer open/oozing. Still doesn’t look 100% but she said it can take month to completely heal.

Daktarin cleared mine up

Betty that's gross !

The lack of hygiene at my friends? Yep! (Funnily enough we aren't friends now!!)

I've had something like what you describe, in my early 20s, was a nightmare, so unsightly though otherwise benign (no itching). Wasn't told by GP it was contagious to others. Anti fungal tablets did nothing, just time, took a couple of weeks. GP suggested sunbeds, or sun exposure but given it was middle of winter at the time, and it did seem to accelerate the fading of it. My son had a really awful fungal nappy rash, temporarily damaged the pigment of his skin even, caneston 1% steroid cream really helped recovery.

This sounds like psoriasis.

Can you take a photo of an area, or google psoriasis to check? I have it and mine used to be like that. It improved slightly when I was taking vitamin D supplements, it used to be really red and sore. I use alphosyl shampoo for my scalp. It helps a lot.

I wouldn't explain to family why I wasn't swimming. I might be tempted to say I'm on a period to some family members and "do you really need to ask why a woman might not be able to go swimming?" with a raised eyebrow to others.

You can get Selsun online.

We got it on prescription, could you ask your GP, take in some evidence,
Can find you a link I’m sure

I have this.
Not fungal, but spreads like fuck.

I'm really intrigued by these, as I have ptiriosis versicolour and was given clotrimazole cream for it but it never fixed it. It goes away in the summer on my arms and comes back every winter, but my tummy stays funny all year round. People suggesting head and shoulders - are you suggesting using it as a body wash?

Selsun honestly if you can get it, it really works. Use it like a soap/body wash yes

This is clearly not me, but it looks a lot like this photo. After failing to get Selsun anywhere (apparently there’s a manufacturing issue), I’ve been using Head and Shoulders Clinically Proven which has selenium sulphide in- sadly not at the same concentration as Selsun. No improvement as yet...

@koalaoala85 that's psoriasis. It's also an absolute bastard for flaring up during times of stress. Alphosyl shampoo for your scalp, and ask your doctor about a referral for PUVA.

My pityriasis rosacea wasn't as joined up as that, it was in separate patches, but otherwise similar.

You can get it on amazon

I had something similar many years ago- after 8 months of treatment by the GP I finally got a skin sample taken. Turns out it was a very, very rare (but harmless) skin condition- that only UV treatment would clear up.
After a couple of months on medical sun beds, it was all gone! It also spread like crazy (started on my lower back and then spread right up, round my front up my neck and over my arms)
It’s worth asking for a proper skin sample to be cut out and sent away (rather than just a scraping)
I hope you get it sorted soon- it’s horrible trying lots of things that don’t work and horrible not knowing if you are contagious or not!