What’s this rash on my husband? Driving me insane!

[Indoorvoicesbluey]

Fed up of his moaning.

he’s got a painful blister rash on the palm of his hand, his arm and now his elbow. He’s tried getting a doctors appointment but nothing until May. He’s been to the chemist and they have him steroid cream but it’s not getting better.

Just like the pox, they’re contagious until they scab. It’s not actually hard to pass it on.

A relative had lung cancer. They were visited by a relative with shingles, who didn’t say anything. Previous chemotherapy had eradicated any immunity to the virus from having chicken pox, they weren’t touched by them, they got chicken pox, developed a complication and died. So I’m cautious.

Sorry to hear about your relative. I didn't meant to minimise that is can be contagious, (not shingles to shingles, you can only pass on chicken pox from active shingles rash to someone who isn't immune to CP) and avoiding close contact with anyone vulnerable or pregnant would be advisable. I did avoid a pregnant colleague for this reason when I had an outbreak. But if the blisters are covered and hands are cleaned thoroughly after contact with blisters, it's not easy to transmit and there is no need for him to stay home.

If it's just painful, Shingles looks likely.

If it's also supremely itchy, this is how Pomphlyx looks when I get it. Esp the plam and wrist. I don't think I've ever got it on the elbow.

He’s still in pain. 500 calls later I’m in the clue and to the doctors. Iv rang 111 and they said to tel the receptionist he needs to be seen with 12 hours.

do you think he should take some time off work? He works in a small room as a signaller so they can’t afford for other people to catch it.

He is not infectious unless he rubs the fluid from the blisters over someone

Phone 111. They should be able to make a drs appointment for you

Shringles. He’s been given medication x

@Indoorvoicesbluey Sorry, he has my sympathies; it's a painful condition😪

The antivirals are most effective when given within 72 hours of first symptoms. I'm not sure how useful they'll be to him at this point, but probably worth a try.

I don't know his age, but if he's over 50 then I'd strongly recommend the Shingrix Vax once he's recovered from this bout. You can get shingles more than once and some people suffer repeated breakouts.

Definitely looks like herpes. Could be shingles, could be a whitlow gone wild etc Does he bite his nails? I'd also he checking hisyour genitals. By the time it gets to this stage not much will help. If he gets red lines (tracking) seek attention. Its contageous so depending on his job he might need to speak with HR/Occy Health

It'll follow nerve paths. I'm seconding shingles/herpes

You can and it doesn't have to be single sided (but it usually is)

People saying Scabies!?? It’s nothing like scabies

Sorry Dr @Poorlittlepoorgirl