To this this might not be eczema?

[jezlifecoach]

Hi, I’m hoping someone can help me as I’m currently waiting for a dermatology appointment and I’m at my wits in.
im mid 30s and never had any major health issues. A few years ago I started to get an eczema rash on my upper inner arm and armpit area. I saw a few doctors and they all told me to use steroid cream which calmed it down quite a lot. It’s been coming back now and then - not really sure what’s triggering it.
anyway, about two weeks ago I started to get a rash on my neck and chest and on my shoulders too. I thought it was my necklace so stopped wearing it but it hasn’t healed. I thought it was stress but went on a mini break and it got worse. I’ve tried anti fungal and hydrocortisone cream for a week now and it’s not made much of an impact. While I’m worried about that I’ve had a rash come on my stomach side. (The same side as my arm and armpit eczema) the itch is driving me crazy. I’ve never had it on my stomach or neck / chest before so am wondering if it’s something else. I’ve attached a pic so you can see it all in its glory! My chest and stomach are reaching a point where clothes are uncomfortable. Please advise if you can! Thank you x

Just to add that I’ve recently had to stop using toothpaste that is minty because it was drying out my lips! There is a product called limonene in it that many people can be allergic too. I switched to another toothpaste without it and my lips have cleared up.

Not in anyway medical, but it definitely looks more allergy than eczema.

Oh that looks really sore. Have you tried oat baths? Those can really help soothing just about anything eczema-y
Look up Candida overgrowth as well, that can cause all sorts of allergies to flare up and can be helped to an extent with diet.

Maybe check if your laundry detergent has changed formula and make sure your washing machine is rinsing properly as well and run a cleaning thing through at 90 in case there's any buildup in there causing irritation

Could it be scabies

scabies

Are you trying an anti histamine?

I tried it for a week when I was away on holiday but it didn’t make a difference so stopped using it. Am wondering if it’s the limonene as it’s also in the laundry detergent I use too. If it’s not a contact thing then I literally have no idea

Have you had any other tests at all?

im wondering about PCOS/diabetes because of the areas where the rash started - armpits and neck specifically.

a common sign of insulin resistance in women is darkened velvety skin on armpits, creases around neck, groin and inner thighs. This can often also be scaly and itchy, thrush is also more common and other fungal infections, particularly in moist areas of the body due to high sugar levels. In addition insulin resistance/diabetes leads to generally dry skin (you mention dry lips) it’s one of the reasons we have to be on top of foot care to prevent dry cracked heels which can lead to infections.

Do you notice that flare ups link to hormones, ie in or around your period?

Also, can you describe what your moisturising/skin care routine has been while treating the eczema? It could be that you are not being consistent enough with that so the eczema is not fully going away.

My DD had it bad till she was about 9yo behind her knees, and in the elbow bend. She would scratch till it bled and we’d have to bandage her up so she didn’t skin herself in her sleep. When it flared it meant that we would need to be very very very on top of it to get it back down and if we didn’t catch it quick enough it would be a nightmare to shift.

• luke warm oat baths or showers with oat based wash products and limited to every other day maximum to prevent drying out her skin
• zerobase or cetraban thick ointment 3 or 4 times a day to keep the rash from drying out and getting itchy.
• no scratching at all
• cotton/bamboo loose clothing that would limit sweating and allow air flow
• hydrocortisone when it got bad for at least 7 days and don’t stop when it’s starting to look a bit better, stop when it’s actually better and gone.