To be so upset about this (see photo) *MNHQ adding content warning for fairly grim skin ailment*

Oh bless you, that looks sore.

You need to ask for a referral to a dermatologist. And be bloody firm about it.

I have psoriasis and it doesn't look anything like that (but I know there are lots of different kinds).

Oh OP, my sympathies, that looks so sore. I have no suggestions except to insist on a dermatology referral and keep going back to the GP. If you can pay to go privately I would x

I think a return to the Dr to ask for referral.

That said coconut oil and washing your hair and the area gently every day plus changing pillow slips and avoiding sugar is likely to really make you more comfortable.

Another natural solution but you could try oregano oil, tea tree and coconut oil or if you think it’s infected another option is hydrogen peroxide you’ll get it from your chemist. But I’d also be wanting a steroid cream

I have had similar raw patches behind my ears, in my case It's intermittent psoriasis. Anti-Dandruff shampoo rubbed in behind my ears clears it up. I have also found fusilic acid with hydrocortisone helps. Do you ever have scalp issues?

Sorry to clarify, I wash my hair with anti-dandruff shampoo and rub it behind my ears.

Have you asked a pharmacist for any recommendations? A health store might be able to help. Maybe try castor oil?

I also had an awful open rash weeping in 2 places that would not shift, I was prescribed betnovate cream. It doesn’t smell nice but it worked.

I wouldn't try the alternative concoctions suggested because, as you say, it's wet and hot. I can see how one poster got lucky with Chinese medicine because it would treat it with 'dry' and 'cold' ingredients - applying moist creams with stuff that could promote the breeding of bacteria is probably not a good idea.

Ideally, you need a swab doing. There has to be an underlying infection of some kind, but you need to know if it's bacterial, fungal, or whatever. the treatment plans are very different depending on what it is.

Go back to the docs and ask they either do the swab or get you referred to the hospital.

Get yourself some green clay off Amazon, apply a light coating with a soft brush and leave for a few days, I bet it clears up straight away!

sorry if i missed it but has this not been swabbed? my kid had something that looked similar to this it ended up taking a topical cream and 2 lots of antibiotics to be taken at the same time! it was awful and took weeks to sort it.

See a different GP and request an urgent dermatology referral. Non-healing skin things need to be seen by a specialist to have cancer ruled out so you should be able to get an urgent-pathway referral. I'm not saying this because I think it's cancer but because it needs ruling out and you need a skin specialist to diagnose this.

My own GP who is wonderful and very knowledgeable and well-respected said to me once that the hardest things to diagnose are skin things!

It was just acupuncture and herbs which I took with water each day - nothing actually put on the areas that were a problem.

You also need to be referred to the care of a wound-care specialist nurse. They can work wonders.

Agree that you don't want to be mucking around with weird stuff prior to a dermatologist. BUt unless the appoinemt is tomorrow you want to try and make it as comfortable as possivle
Yes medical grade Manuka honey can be very healing, the bees gather the nectar from a relative of tea tree, any honey becomes spreads le if warmed btw but don't heat it
There is purified honey called medihoney that comes in various forms, creams, hells, dressings etc, that is used by some hospitals if you are at all worried about using raw honey, some hospitals use it, it won't do any harm and might be soothing even if it does no good. It can help to dry oozing wounds ouwhile you're waiting to see a dermatologist obviously

And if you read Daisychained8's post directly after this one you will see that she did not imply that it could cure skin cancer

I'd go back to the GP. Make sure you have a list of what they have given you and when and can tell them the effect of each. You can see your notes on the NHS app, as can the GP but if you can summarise things for them it's more effective. Ask about suitable dressings while it's still so sore and wet. Ask for a referral and ask about private options.

In the meantime you don't want to upset it anymore so minimise jewellery, cosmetics and skincare in that area. Pick a shampoo that doesn't have SLS or parabens in it. I'm tempted to suggest the coconut solid shampoo from Grüum, solid shampoos don't need preservatives like liquid shampoos do so tend to be gentler.

A TVN (tissue viability nurse) isn’t going to get involved without a diagnosis.

@Brownhair3 what have you been given so far (actual meds) and have you asked for a dermatology referral?

In the meantime please don’t put some of these suggestions on your open, sore, weepy, possibly infected, unknown origin, skin condition. Some will do the square root of nothing and some could be downright harmful.

FWIW manuka honey can be great but also tends to make wet wounds wetter. Astringents such as vinegars could actually damage tissue growth so don’t use that either.

Have they taken a swab?

OP you need to see a dermatologist, you need a referral from your GP ASAP. You need to print off these photos (I also saw your previous thread) you cannot live like this, there is nothing more you yourself can do. I have to admit from the first thread I had never seen a scalp so sore looking, and I cannot believe you are still suffering with this. If you have to beg, borrow or steal the money (if private is an issue) please do. This is no way to live

Please return to Dr.

See a proper dermatologist. I had bad infection skin around my eyes. Tried so hard to treat it but nope. Year later I got a referral and she prescribed me some incredibly strong steroid cream and told me not to tell them it was for my eyes

Cleared it up. Not saying you need the same but they really know their stuff

She didn't say it cured skin cancer. There are a couple of skin lesions caused by sun damage which have the potential to develop into skin cancer if left untreated. These are called actinic keratoses and they look and feel as @Daisychained8 described.