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?

I second pharmacist too they are really good. I think you would know if it was eczema.

You're right, it is. But some products don't have lactose or are very low in it - hard cheeses, yoghurt/kefir/skyr, for example, plus the ones where lactase has been added (like lactofree milk). So somebody lactose intolerant could still conceivably have milk and other dairy products

Cows Milk Protein Allergy, however, can't be got around without avoiding all items made with cow's milk. Goat or Ewe's milk, though, might be OK. If they don't also have lactose intolerance or an allergy to other dairy proteins.

It's why people might ask for lactofree milk but eat cheese, especially proper feta or pecorino (not from cows' milk) or might have parmesan on pasta but not have mozzarella or a milkshake.

I'd go to a different GP and beg for a blood test.

You've seen the gp twice, if still unhappy ask to see a different gp and if still unhappy ask to be referred, if then no joy I'd call 111.

Skin problems can be very numerous.
I had a partner who suffered terribly from itching. She went to a Homopathic practitioner (I personally don't endorse them) and was subjected to a variety of tests.
The practitioner nailed it. She was allergic to bananas, she had been eating one a day.

Has he had covid? A friend of mine was left with just this, burning skin all over after. They can’t really treat it, say it will go away - horrible though :(

Definitely get bloods done to rule out anything internal. My friends daughter had intense itching (but not the redness) and it came up as lymphoma. Not saying that’s what this is, obviously but if the docs are only looking at the external and diagnosing eczema….

Get a full blood count/work up. Guaranteed it’s nothing but at least it’s been investigated.
I’m not trying to scare you so please don’t take it the wrong way or @me

Mine is my liver, I have Primary Biliary Cholangitis ... when the itch is really bad (as in I could take a fork to my skin, I don't though),, I take fexofenadine, it's a strong antihistamine but only on prescription

I wish your hubby luck x

My daughter had this burning sensation and it turned out to be eczema combined with a fungal infection. She was being treated for eczema but no Dr had looked at her skin for over a year but once one had seen it she was given anti fungal cream. This improved the burning sensation but she still suffers with bad eczema.

My mum had similar. Was diagnosed with chronic regional pain syndrome. Look it up to see if any similarities. It’s agony

He wasnt still drinking milk, he had lactose free milk and all foods. And after no improvement cut milk out completely. So it wasnt lactose it was actually milk.

Has anyone suggested cellulitis? It is incredibly painful, has grown men in tears. I've seen especially bad cases in hospital.

If you can scrape money together, see a dermatologist privately. The wait lists for NHS dermatologists are > 1 year, and sounds like he hasn't seen a dermatologist yet.

Check out Skin Doctor on telly. Those patients must get reduced rates for agreeing to broadcast their stories.

Have you considered servicing your mattress? It may ease the itchiness, dust might can cause this reaction.

Any updates OP? I do feel for your husband, my psoriasis is at its worse this week, so itchy with the high pollen count.

This is me really! I had the most terrible itch, which got worse and worse. Started being "healthier" adding more lactose-free milk to my coffee/tea which I thought was harmless, but got worse every day. More agony & more weight meant I tried to compensate by using more milk instead of sugar! Then I had a whole glass of lactose-free milk -after being tested for everything under the sun and more for months- and spent the morning in the loo! My hands started itching, the itch spread and by evening, my feet where on fire like never before.
Stopped the dairy and was fine after a while but it did take a while tbh, then I had ONE bloody slice of cheese and my stomach was on fire in like 5 minutes and my feet/hands were bright red and burning and I felt like I had sth crawling on them by the time I went to bed.
The more dairy I have, though it's particularly clear with milk, the stronger/faster reaction but it still takes a while. With things that have just a wee bit of milk at breakfast sometimes I only start feeling sick the next day and then that sickness lingers for days which made it almost impossible to figure out what it was for so long.