Very sore skin - overweight - skin folds

[amaretti1999]

Hi
I'm asking advice for a friend who is too embarrassed to see the gp or pharmacist.

She is overweight by a few stone and the area under her tummy is really red, sore and itchy - presumably where the skin has rubbed together.

She's covering the whole area in sudocream but isn't getting much improvement.

Is there anything else she can do - weight loss obviously will help long term but for now she's really uncomfortable.

Thanks.

It sounds like she might have thrush - she could try some canestan cream. After it settles, she needs to make sure the skin there stays clean and try with talc.

Yep she needs canestan cream. If that doesn’t clear it up she’ll need medical advice.

She needs to wash gently , pat dry or better still use a hair dryer . Then if poss air the area by laying down with the area exposed as much as she can.
also a cornstarch talc ( Lanacane ) will help.
if it's really bad , it's probably due to a fungal infection so will need an appropriate cream to clear.

She needs to make sure she dries it really well after a shower so there's no moisture at all before she dresses. I have a slight overhang after have a my c section, it used to be worse before i lost weight after a year or so and that helped. But i know that telling someone who's overweight just to loose weight isnt helpful in the short term. Dry thoroughly, use some talc... if she is planning to lose weight it often comes off the tummy first so hopefully she would see a change quickly...

I think she may need medicated cream first to clear up any infection. Once that's clear I would recommend liquid talc.

Sounds like a fungal infection, but could be any sort of infection really so she really needs medical advice/treatment.

Would she ask at a pharmacy (many of them have a private area where she can talk to the pharmacist alone)? Or a nurse appt at her doctor's surgery might feel less daunting than a Dr.
In the meantime, keeping the area very clean and dry and applying a thin layer of vaseline might give her some relief, but she really really needs to get medical help before things get even worse.

It sounds fungal. Nystatin cream or powder if she can get it alternating with hydrocortisone cream. Clean it with hydrogen peroxide. When it clears up, use deodorant under the fold to keep it dry.

Canesten hydrocortisone using very sparingly to clear it, then once clear use medicated talc to stop it happening again.

It's usually poor hygiene that leads to this - I used to be a carer.

I get this occasionally. It's called intertrigo. Fortunately I've always been able to clear it with Sudocreme followed by a layer of medicated powder. I use Caldesene.
If it's been going on a while she might need to have it seen medically.

It's important to make sure the area is always thoroughly dried after showering and talc applied.

Let herself air dry as well as patting dry. Use creams above, when cleared up use liquid talc or moisturiser. Keep showering

Oh bless her- this is a really common problem with skin folds- and can flare up really quickly. Sudocreme should be a thin layer- so possibly she is putting on too much. As pp said, wash gently, pat dry- never rub- if it's caught early, a thin layer of cream usually with good hygiene will heal up really quickly- if it's on going- she could see if she could buy a fungal cream- the pharmacists are really helpful. Being really gentle with the area is important- if she lets it go and the skin splits it's harder to heal. When she gets whatever cream she gets it may be worth standing in front of a mirror and holding up her tummy with one hand so she can see where to apply fully.

Sounds like thrush. Get a medicated talcon powder to keep the area dry after shower and cannasten cream.

When it gets better she could try 3b cream and gold bond friction stick, they work well

Bless her, I have a fold after two sections and it used to get so red. Now I used a medicated powder from Boots with zero issues (I have to apply it daily) but before that I was prescribed a cream to clear it. And then I moved onto the powder (it's not talc so safe to use)

Unfair to say it’s poor hygiene. It’s obesity. And losing weight she’ll still probably have skin folds. Go to a GP and they’re so used to this issue. It happens to a lot of people eg can happen to skinny people with large breasts!!

as PP have said there are options good luck to your friend.

Why's talc not safe to use?

Conotrane works really as does mycil talc for athletes' foot.

Sounds like Intertrigo. Use plenty of talc after drying area with a hairdryer.

It sounds text book fungal skin infection. Pharmacist can advise ,daktacort,canestan are the common anti fungal cream . Use very sparingly and ensure the area is clean and dry before application. I personally would not recommend talc .

Canestan. I get it occasionally under my boobs.

I used to get this really really badly under my boobs. Someone suggested to use a soap free cleanser when washing along with the usual drying, Canestan cream ect.Total game changer.

Just cured myself of this (intertrigo) this way:

1. Canestan for a few days
2. Having applied canestan apply metanium
3. Switch from canestan to hydrocortisone
4. Apply metanium over the top

Mine is nearly clear after about 2 weeks

Oh and I highly recommend sulphur soap for in the shower

I had this issue and wash the area with hibiscrub and no longer have a problem.

This might sounds a bit weird, but I used to get this where my belly fat over hangs my c-section scar. I found bepanthen nappy rash cream cleared it up almost over night. Now, after showering and drying the area thoroughly, I fold up a tissue and tuck it in the fold along the scar, to soak up any sweat moisture during the day. Works a treat not had the problem in years. Might have to swap out the tissue during the day in really hot weather, but still works.