Rash on 80 year old

[ajandjjmum]

My 80 year old Aunt has had an irritating rash for the last six months. The gp has tried taking her off certain drugs, to see if that will help. She was taken off Losartin a week ago, and has seen no improvement. She is using prescribed cream, but it really isn't helping much - her arms are bleeding from where she has been scratching in the night.

She is an active, lively person, but this is driving her to distraction. We are going to get an appointment with a dermatologist, but wondered if anyone has any ideas which may help sooth the discomfort.

She arrived her this morning, and says she's had enough!

Obviously you have checked that she isn't using detergent which is annoying her? It could be plain old contact dermatitis which can be awfully uncomfortable...is she using any cream on it? She could try oatmeal in the bath....you fill an old sock with dry oatmeal and attach to the tap so the water runs through it. If she can't get in the bath you could help her bathe her arms in it.

Wearing loose cotton clothing and trying some E45 for now is probably her safest bet till you know what it is.

Again- contact dermatitis- eczema? Has she not been prescribed a steroid cream to use? or moisturising lotions?

It sounds possibly like contact issues- new washing powder, allergy to latex (rubber gloves), synthetic clothing , dye in clothing, bedding, etc. Bed bugs? Dust mites? (does she change her bed linen often enough?)

OTC brands like Eucerin and Aveeno do very good lotions for calming and helping with eczema.

This might be way off the mark, but when my Dad was in his late 80's he got scabies (after a stay in hospital ) - have they tested for that? - She would need treatment on prescription, Dad had to have some sort of lotion that covered him and had to stay on all night, - he also had tablets I think for it.

If it is not that (and I only mention as my Dad had it and it is incredibly itchy and worth at least ruling out) then I have personally used dermol 500 lotion for dermatitis and it has been quite helpful.

Unbearable itchiness can also be a symptom of liver problems, and as you say of reaction to certain drugs (if it is a reaction to drugs it might take more than a week for her to get them out of her system)

Thank you all for your suggestions/help.

She saw a dermatologist yesterday, who is going to do a biopsy to try and establish what is causing the problem.

She's using Eucerin and that is stopping the itching, so she can at least sleep now.

Getting old is rubbish!