To not want to go back to the doctor for this?

[willingandableto]

A couple of weeks ago I came out in what looked like a patch of eczema. I went to the doctor, got a steroid cream and was told to discontinue use 24 hours after it cleared up, and to go back in two weeks if it hadn’t.

It went, I stopped using the cream, all was well.

It’s now back, with what also looks like a heat rash and the skin on my arm is really sore to touch. All over my arm is painful, even my t-shirt brushing against it is sore. I also came out in a couple of patches on the back of my leg, but they cleared up quickly with the cream.

I just really can’t be bothered with the doctor. They’ll either prescribe a new cream or stick me on a waiting list to see dermatology which will take a year. I’ve tried google and AI and nothing seems to know what’s going on with my skin. AIBU to just want to heal it naturally?! I don’t want to waste more time with the doctor!

You could pop to see a pharmacist, they may be able to give you some advice or tell you that you do in fact need to see a Dr.

Is it mostly one sided?

Shingles is my query with that pain level on it chest area.

I wonder if you have two separate issues going on.

My DH has just been diagnosed with shingles
He thought it was eczema flare and got antibiotics but was shouting out in pain and he never ever complains. Plus we were away from home.
By the time we took him to A&E he had had the rash for a week his face was lopsided and we thought it was a stroke. It started with tingling lips but now he has Bells Palsy caused by shingles.
He is on v strong antiviral, steroids and pain relief now but the delay means he might not fully recover. He cannot move half of his face.
People in their 20s can get shingles
It is extremely painful.

You’d think AI would recognise shingles though.? In which case you would need anti virals. It is painful having had it recently for the second time.

Maybe try the steroids cream for longer if it’s just a rash and moisturise a lot in between. If you don’t want to go back to the GP I don’t know what else you can do. 🤷🏻‍♀️

you would not be wasting a doctor’s time for this. You have a health problem.

I think it's more her own time she's worried about wasting, it's a ridiculous time-consuming faff to get a GP appointment these days, at least where I am.

I don’t think it’s shingles as this does happen with my skin sometimes, it’s not agony as I can continue with my day to day life, but it’s uncomfortable on my arm.

I just really can’t be bothered with the doctor. I woke three towns over so it’s a half day off work, my work are funny about appointments anyway let alone for something like this. I’m also very young and healthy so I don’t think it’s shingles!

My daughter is 22 and healthy. She had shingles earlier this year.

See a pharmacist for advice. They may confirm you need to see a doctor.

Having shingles is nothing to do with being young and healthy

My child had shingles a few weeks ago. It’s the chicken pox virus that lies dormant in your body reactivating itself often due to stress or being run down. If you’ve had chicken pox you can develop shingles. It’s as simple as that.

It presents as a rash on one side of your body, often painful as if runs along a nerve path.

I’m not stressed or run down

I had that thought, too.

When I had shingles, I had the pain for a good while before the rash materialised.

It’s definitely not shingles.

The weird eczema like patch has spread to my inner thigh now, so I don’t think it’s anything fungal - if it was surely it wouldn’t spread to a place I never touch?!

I just had shingles too and the doctor initially thought insect bite and gave a steroid cream . thankfully I went back and managed to get antivirals. Read a guardian article yesterday about the unexplained rise of shingles particularly in women… it was horrible but took me a week to really know that’s what it was … it is easy to miss.

When you dry yourself with your towel it will spread fungus to other areas of skin. You need to have it reviewed by the sounds of it.

Oil of evening primroseapplied to the skin is effective.

It’s not a fungus. I’m a clean person, thank you.

Up to you KP. Definitely see a pharmacist. You saw the doctor and treatment was successful so why are you reluctant to see them again. Did you not finish the full course and now don’t want to tell them? Not good, but many people do that.

If you do need a new medication your doctor can prescribe if the pharmacist can’t. If you need hospital referral and there is a very long wait you need to get onto the waiting list (or if you are fortunate and pay maybe private).

Having a fungal infection doesn't mean you are not clean!!!
If you go to a pharmacy they will be able to advise you and give meds/cream if appropriate. They will also advise you if they think you should se the GP again.

You need to see a GP so you can get a referral to dermatology.

You have an unknown skin condition/issue which is spreading and has not been controlled by previous prescriptions.

Your automatic dismissal of shingles and fungal infection are not based on medical assessment. AI won't help, it is famously useless at this sort of thing.

A) I don’t want a referral to dermatology. I’m due to travel in 4 weeks and a pending referral will invalidate my insurance, B) it’s such a pain in the arse to see a GP. I work an hour from my home town so it’s half a day off work, by the time travel there and back is included.

OP you won't necessarily need a derm referral. GPs diagnose and manage plenty of skin conditions themselves. If you don't want to see a doctor, then don't. Not entirely sure what you are asking for.

For a skin condition, our GP would do an online consultation with photos.

If you are convinced it’s no big deal why are you posting on MN?

Lots of people have said to see a pharmacist. Are you going to do that? I understand about the time this stuff takes, but as the replies go on with the work and travel obstacles and the bizarre reaction about fungal/cleanliness, it does sound like you’re unreasonably stubborn and determined to do nothing while it spreads.

So I guess you’ll have to waste time getting medical help while travelling if you refuse to get it dealt with now.

You will be wasting their time with that attitude. Clean people get fungus ffs