To think this may need more urgent attention now?? Medical issue

[Issue33]

DH is worrying me a bit. He's had a skin issue now for around 2 months. It's like his skin is on fire and it's getting worse. It's itchy all over, he said feels like things crawling over him and he has cracked and scabbed skin in large patches on his arms, legs, tummy and back.

He's been to the doctors twice who keep saying it's eczema (I've got eczema and it looks absolutely nothing like it but I appreciate I'm no doctor!).

He's tried steroid creams, steroid tablets, antibiotics... Nothing is touching it.

He's so miserable tonight, says he feels like he's burning everywhere (he doesn't have a temp though I checked).

Would I be unreasonable to suggest he gets this looked at more urgently now? Maybe even A&E? 111?! Anything! Or do we trust the GP that it's "just" eczema?

My ex had something like this. He was finally diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. (This was what Dennis Potter had.) Painful, itchy and debilitating. Might be worth doing some research and seeing what you think. Medication got it under control. He had creams for the psoriasis. Good luck with getting to the bottom of it.

My partner's skin used to do this. He has eczema and just thought it was that. I suggested he might be lactose intolerant so he tried lactose free foods. Made no difference. He read it could be a milk allergy as skin can react like that to dairy. He completely cut all dairy out and now he's fine.

Has he had covid?
I friend of mine had exactly those symptoms - initially thought it was something to do with their dog, spent hundreds on having the dog checked, house fumigated (twice).. still chronically itching... back and forth to the doctors getting creams/pills... nothing working ... Then finally paid to see a doc in London and it was a side effect from covid.....she was treated correctly and is now fine. The whole thing went on for months, drove her literally insane.

Actually I do. I have incurable cancer and have to cope with all that entails.
This is not an emergency. A&E is for accidents and emergencies not conditions that have been there for 2 months. A&E will not do a referral to dermatology, gp or walk in minor injuries will.
I bet you'd go to A&E with splinter in your finger!

I think whether it is an emergency depends. I went to A and E with intractable, global itching after not being able to sleep for two nights. I felt absolutely desperate: it was probably one of the worst experiences of my life. And I ended up being diagnosed with an autoimmune liver disease, unfortunately. My liver function was in a bad way, and I needed scans, investigations etc. Now admittedly, I had other symptoms (sickness, tiredness), and it came on very suddenly and wasn't a two month thing. But it's not the case that A and E will send you on your way.

If psoriasis, there is a fairly effective drug now for that. A mab I think. Worth checking out?

As a couple of previous posters have said it’s more than likely due to a reaction to the Covid vaccine particularly if it has developed since a booster jab.
A friend of mine had the exact same thing, was given all the same type of treatments by her GP with no relief. It drove her to distraction, especially at night. She eventually saw a dermatologist who instantly recognised it as Covid vaccine related and advised it would be self limiting, which it was, and it has now more or less completely resolved.

I've not RTFT but I follow a fitness instructor in Facebook (Eton Fitness- hopefully photo will attach ok) who had eczema with severe allergic reactions which presented like your husband's symptoms. She went on a very restricted diet to work through what affected her & is much better, might be worth checking out?

Probably not the same but my neighbour had a similar experience kept going to see a doctor and was always fobbed off. Rash eventually covered him head to toe. He demanded to see a skin specialist and some blood tests. It turned out to be skin cancer, curable with treatment but nasty.
Squeaky wheel gets oiled, don't give up. Get that blood test and see a skin specialist

I was just about to say it's maybe his liver

There's a pregnancy condition when the liver doesn't work properly and it causes crazy itching I had it and a few years later the itch started up and the go said I had to get bloods done ASAP. I'd get him to demand blood tests x

I have had many itching symptoms over the years - diagnosed with uticaria originally. The liver can cause itching so can kidney infection. Scabies very hard to see but can cause intense itching all over and is very easy to pass on or catch from others. Food allergies can cause itching. A recent bout of itching legs that was very intense was relieved by rubbing cucumber over - you need to squeeze the juice from the cucumber and rub it in and let it dry on your skin. Tried on someone else too and it worked - either way natural products like this might help bearing in mind many chemical based products can cause an itching reaction. Hope there is some relief of this nightmare but definitely insist on seeing a dermatologist if it does not go away but the waiting list is very long apparently.

Ask for a biopsy and to be tested for Pemphigus Foliaceous. I was diagnosed 7 years ago (after being diagnosed with Pemphigus Vulgaris) after suffering a skin problem misdiagnosed as neuro dermatitis for 20+ years. My PV consultant in London noticed my skin and asked if I'd been diagnosed so I told him the story .. he said we will need a biopsy of that, which proved it to be PF.
This is something that will probably not be thought of by GP's etc as it's rare. My GP was stunned when he was told the diagnosis and I've come across medical staff that have never heard of it too!
It's a rare auto immune disease that needs specialised treatment with steroids and/or immuno suppressant medication. I have been on methotrexate which didn't work for me and am now on mycophenalate and have everything crossed.
Get some Dermol500 and used instead of soap (I wash and shower with this). Also doublebase is a great soothing moisturizer too.
Good luck to everyone suffering and I hope this helps anyone who may have been misdiagnosed with excema or similar. 😊

Sounds more like an allergy, has he tried taking antihistamines?

OP's second post in the thread was this:-
"He's had antihistamines, he has hayfever so takes them regularly anyway!"

What's the point of eating lactose free foods if you're still drinking milk?

@Issue33 did the rash appear a few weeks after having a Covid vaccine?
I have had a similar horrible rash since 3 weeks after my 2nd vaccine. Eventually got to a dermatologist and heard how lots of people have had it after vaccine or covid (or both).
Mine was awful. Made worse cos I didn’t work out what it was until after 3rd vaccine dose. Now have it but under control with ‘potent’ steroid cream, antihistamines, and anti-inflammatories.
I’d suggest writing down the impact your DHs rash is having on his life, the things tried so far and take it to an urgent GP appointment. They may be reluctant to give ‘potent’ steroid cream but it’s worth a try. Also insist on a dermatology referral.

Because he thought he was lactose intolerant. After seeing no improvement in having lactose free foods he tried cutting out dairy completely and thats when his skin improved so it's clearly dairy.

Could be psoriasis but it needs proper diagnosis

but isn't lactose the sugar that is found in/originates from milk ?
so what would be the point in trying to avoid lactose if still drinking milk ?

I'm sensitive to wheat, I cut most out but not all it helps.
I think he needs to see a specialist but its damn hard to get any help at the moment. Ask for blood test for liver and a skin scrape to be tested, Then go from there.