What the FUCK is wrong with my skin

[Cheesypasta1]

Posted about this before but can’t seem to find the thread and I’ve namechanged since.

So I have an area of skin on my scalp that won’t heal up. It’s sometimes crusty, but then the crusts come off and it leaves a red, raw, weepy wound. It starts to heal by crusting again, then the crusts come off and it all starts all over again. It’s wet and oozes and my surrounding hair ends up in sticky clumps because it’s a big wet open wound. It’s really nippy and nothing seems to be healing it.

I’ve had lots of different steroid creams, various antibiotics, topical antifungals and antifungal tablets. The latter helped at first and it went away thankfully as, but now it’s come back in the exact same area of my head. I’m so upset it’s back, I thought we had finally got rid of it

It looks like a weepy, raw wound. It’s around 2 inches wide and probably about 2 inches high. It’s spread a bit round the nearby area but not all over my head.

Has anyone else had this? What helped?

Go back to your gp, I have psoriasis and its an absolute pain , it's mostly under control but its trial and error to get stuff that works . I use a shampoo by alfaparf semi Di lino rebalanced dandruff. It cleared my psoriasis but I still have patches that crop up . I've had foliculitis before and took strong antibiotics for it and it cleared. I wouldn't let it go , it looks very sore and is causing you distress

@NigellaLawdaughter

I remember your first thread -- I think this is it? It has some good info on it, either way.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4399110-Infected-skin-not-clearing-up

I wish I had some answers for you.
I hope it heals soon.

Yes that was my thread! Thanks so much for finding it, I couldn’t remember my old name change!

I wish it had got better since making that thread! It did for a short while then flared up all over again

That looks sore, Im going through something similar but a different part of my body. I've recently been to a private dermatologist and have been diagnosed with contact dermatitis. I'm going to have patch allergy testing to see what's causing it.
Perhaps yours is caused by contact with something too, maybe your hair products are flaring it up?
I've tried different lotions and potions, steroid cream doesn't touch mine... I've just ordered stinky stuff, maybe try that? Also bio oil has helped mine a tiny tiny bit.

How many times have you seen your GP and chased up the dermatology referral? A year is a very long time.

@GingersHaveSoulsToo

Psoriasis - you describe what I have exactly and that is what it is. Constant cycle of itchy scab and the scab comes off, then sore and weeping. It is technically plaque psoriasis - a complete pain to put solution on as it comes up in patches all over!

I agree. I have that on my scalp - at the moment in the nape of my neck. Itches like fuck and oozes (gross!!). I have ArganOrganics Shampoo for Scalp Psoriasis. It's incredibly expensive but when I get a breakout I use it every day until the bottle is empty. Usually I don't need to buy another but occasionally I do.

I paid £230 for a consultation with a dermatologist, any tests cost extra, then the cost of prescribed medication, but then if you know what’s needed sometimes GP can prescribe. Obviously not affordable for lots of people.

@GingersHaveSoulsToo

Psoriasis - you describe what I have exactly and that is what it is. Constant cycle of itchy scab and the scab comes off, then sore and weeping. It is technically plaque psoriasis - a complete pain to put solution on as it comes up in patches all over!

I have this too. I get patches in similar places. My scalp just breaks down randomly.

I've had it for 50 years and been through every preparation known to man via medicine.

Stress triggers mine, but what makes it itch like fury is me getting too hot at night and my scalp sweats. It took me decades to realise because by the morning my hair is dry. But in the middle of the night if I'm hot my hair can be slightly damp. I think the salts in the sweat irritate.

No creams, lotions or ointment has ever made a difference.

Having tried every medicated cold tar and other shampoo on the market, I religiously use Pantene clear shampoo. It's the only one that doesn't flare it. I think it's all the silicone in it, somehow it's soothing to my scalp.

The other solution I've found is to clip my nails too short to scratch. This sometimes can break the cycle.

I have bought some guitar fingertip protectors (don't laugh) - they're silicon slipcovers for fingertips. They do help even if it's just to make me stop because I actually can't scratch. I can still type etc but if you get them wet or sweaty they slip off. They have helped though. My other alternative is finger plasters over the tips.

Mine is stress triggered, and I have stress related epilepsy as well. I'm hoping my stress levels will reduce with retirement in December.

Oh bless you OP. Are you able to pay for a private dermatology consultation?

As @Newhorizon21 has said, ask about cancer, this will probably put a rocket up the GP.

You shouldn't have to but it is relatively easy to get a private derm app, and I think I paid around £180 for mine but I'm so glad I did, but I know that isn't open to everyone. My GP fulfilled the private prescription.

I have seborrheic dermatitis which sounds very similar. My dr gives me Nizoral, and when it's bad, you can leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing. I've used it on my face before, to clear it up, too. Mine is under control, but as a child my scalp used to bleed and weep.

BUT please badger your GP for proper help, because there are so many skin disorders it could be anything.

It's plaque psoriasis. Use dead sea salt in your bath and light therapy lamp and you should see an instant difference.