To just rip my skin off?

[TootYourOwnHorn]

But seriously, this rash is driving me potty. I've had it flare up before and was prescribed steroids and antifungals. The antifungals did nothing and the steroids made it worse. What is it? It's so itchy and keeps me up at night, I can't wear a bra. Nothing seems to be giving me any relief with it. It's on top of my breasts and I haven't been sweaty so don't think it's a sweat rash.

When I developed what eventually grew to a full body rash that made me want to flay my skin off, it was the start of adult onset allergies. I was suddenly allergic to products I had been using for years. The first steroid and anti-itch creams I was given also happened to contain ingredients I turned out to be allergic to which is why they made the rash worse, not better.

the solution for me was ultimately allergy testing and then avoidance plus medication. There were many steps along the way. Thankfully my GP gave up quickly and sent me to dermatology because there was absolutely nothing the GP could have accomplished.

To stop the itching blow your hair dryer on it using the hot setting. Take the hairdryer away just as you feel it getting too hot. It sounds really strange but years ago I had a very similar rash and was told it was folliculitis. Nothing helped bar the hairdryer method. Once you get the technique right the relief is immense and actually quite a nice feeling!!

I know you're probably overwhelmed with recommendations but I've had flare ups of itchy skin for years (think I have food intolerances but not sure of everything that triggers it so it can feel random).

Antihistamines (Sainsbury's own Cetirizine ones) help and my partner gave me this cream which really helps when it's bad. I think he got it cheaply off Amazon. I'm usually hesitant to use anything unnatural on my skin but I've caved, and it says it's safe for babies so it's probably very gentle...

I know what it's like to be driven mad by itching, so I feel for you. It won't always be like this 🧡

Thanks all!
@kittycloud and @BringMeSunshineAllDayLong I haven't tried changing washing powders etc. but I will.

@ineedtostopbeingdramaticfirst I don't think it's heat rash, just because it started before it was even warm and it's been going on for too long (I think). But I think antihistamines should help with the itching anyway hopefully.

@Ponderingwindow I wonder if that's why the steroid made it worse. I'll ask for a different one! Then if that doesn't help a referral! Thanks

@Plump82 wow you would think that would do the opposite! I'll give it a go, thank you.

@ItsSerious ah thank you, I'm happy to be overwhelmed because I'm trying it all at this stage. I've got a Sainsburys around the corner so will grab those in the morning! And I'll try the cream too, thank you. Roll on finding some relief.

Also just a little update, I got some Eurax cream from the chemist earlier and that seems to be helping quite significantly, fingers crossed it continues, and I'm still trying all the other options too. I'll have no idea which one works but I'll deal with that next time.

I've had this exact thing, it was heat rash. I think for me suncream made it worse by blocking my skin

Your skin looks just like my DHs does very often we've never worked out what causes it but he has been told to take antihistamines twice a day not once. I think it's various allergies with him, he seems to get it a lot after being in the garden, but sometimes without being in the garden. I feel for him and you!

@ManagedMove I thought it might be an allergic reaction. I think it's contact dermatitis. Hope your husband is getting some relief with the antihistamine

Thank you. I hope yours goes and does not come back!

@ManagedMove thank you! Me too

I'd advise caution on how many things you're trying at once, tempting as it may seem

Surf is evil stuff!!

Take Piriton regularly and see if it helps also antihistamine cream.

I have the exact same thing in the same place! It only happens in the beginning of summer/spring when it starts to warm up. It does ease eventually. I also suffer from quite serve eczema so I have always presumed it was just eczema.

@OneTC that is true, I'll do it one at a time instead of getting ahead of myself. I'll give each one a few days.

@My3loves I do get eczema too but haven't had a flare up in a while. This is itchier somehow but perhaps that's just because of where it is. Could potentially be due to the change in weather. You could well be right.

Did a doctor or someone say it was okay to take them twice a day? I sometimes have to and I keep worrying that it's going to kill me one day! They're the one-a-day ones...

@TootYourOwnHorn I hope you find some relief very soon 🙏🙏🙏

The liquid Piriton is better as you can take it 4x a day.

@ItsSerious thank you!

@TootYourOwnHorn yes the doctor said, although I didn't know that about Piriton, that sounds promising!

@ItsSerious don't worry about the occasional twice a day antihistamine, my husband was on obscene doses one year and he's fine!

Thank you. It is disconcerting how much it can vary and the lack of a pattern is quite hard for autistic me 🙄 Hearing that your husband had one particularly bad year is kind of reassuring!

That looks sore and miserable. It might be a laundry detergent allergy.

I had something similar years ago and I changed the laundry detergent to Tide (I don't think you can get it now) as well as bathing with E45 and then baby oil. I had to re wash all my laundry. I then used Fairy. I now buy the cheapest unscented laundry detergent, use less than you are supposed to and I get on with it.

In a fit of madness I bought scented laundry conditioner once and my word, straight back to square one.

Recommend Eurax. It is the absolute BEST for itching. I used bottles of the stuff when I had obstetric cholestasis, one of the itchiest conditions known to woman kind.

also good is pine tar soap (use cool water, lather up, leave on for two minutes, rinse off).

I get this rash in the same place every spring/summer. Taking fexofenadine (a strong antihistamine) and slathering it in sudocrem (which I keep in the fridge for extra relief) clears it quickly when it flares.

@user1471538283 it really is. I feel like washing everything in just water just in case it is that. I'm happy to buy cheaper detergent though so that's a win 

@Icannoteven it seems to be doing the trick, I've kept it in the fridge so it's nice and cold too. It says 2-3 times a day so that what I've been doing but wondering if I could get away with more. It's definitely less itchy and angry so fingers crossed it keeps improving. I'll get some of that soap too, I'll just use that in future.

@RomeoMcFlourish it may well have been this time last year the last flare up was. I can't remember. If so it must be environmental allergies, wonder if it's linked to hayfever.

I'm pleased your getting on ok with Eurax,as I said Lanacane is another to try as it has an topical anaesthetic in it. I've just recovered from my third bout of Shingles so if anyone on here is suffering with that both these creams are worth buying for the itching.