Rapidly spreading skin infection under arm. Help. (Photo warning)

[Nc809173]

Hi all

I have seen the GP twice.
5 days ago I had this rash under my arm. Went to pharmacy who advised GP. The GP rang me and prescribed antibiotic cream which did nothing and it has spread even further and gotten worse. I went to the see the GP today who only glanced at it. He did however give me oral antibiotics and more antibiotic cream, he didn't know what it actually was though.

My concern is this; since this morning (I photographed it) it has spread upwards and downwards and I think on my arm too. I also now have a 'spot' on my side, near where my bra sits.

There is no tracking of redness but this rash thing is definitely spreading. I feel pretty rotten and run down too.

I have started ABs and put cream on. My question is, do I wait and see and take the medication or do I go back before? It's the spreading that's worrying me.

Sorry for the photos. I included the before from 5 days ago.

Thanks all

Yes it can - If it's ocular shingles. Axillary shingles is a completely different dermatome so that would not be possible.

Have you had chicken pox as a child op? You can only get shingles if you've already had cp. The virus reactivates. Does it sting?

Looks like you have Shingles OP.
I would drop everything and go to hospital now. Don’t listen to others and go and get medical urgent advice. My friend’s concerns were dismissed and she’s still suffering from pain after getting shingles 5 years on. Don’t let them fob you off.

A bit of research online shows that because the rash is:

• Clustered and red, with small fluid-filled bumps or blisters.(although it’s not yet!) but it’s clustered and red
• Unilateral (only on one side of your body).
• In a dermatomal pattern — following a nerve path from your armpit to side.
• The pain, spread, and the new spot near the bra line are also consistent with shingles.
• Even if the classic blisters haven't fully developed yet, this could be the early vesicular phase.

all means it’s a big possibility it’s shingles.

If your red eyes are part of the same viral process (i.e., shingles affecting the ophthalmic nerve), that's an urgent situation. Even if the rash is not on your face, any eye involvement should be taken seriously with shingles.

What You Should Do Now:

1. Call your doctor or go to urgent care today — ideally within 72 hours of rash appearing.
2. Antivirals like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir work best if started early.
3. Avoid contact with vulnerable people:
4. Especially pregnant women, babies, or anyone immunocompromised — they can get chickenpox from your shingles.
5. Keep the rash clean and dry.
6. Wear loose clothing to avoid irritation.

Measles?

Do you have any other symptoms? Fever, white spots in mouth, diarrhea...?

I would stop the biologics meds because you Ned your immune system up and running !!!
im surprised your gp didn’t advise this and resume once it has cleared up x

Really does look like shingles OP, ive had a dose of it and my rash was nowhere near as bad as yours. Get to A and E lovely xx

Never do that unless the consultant specifically advises you to stop them - it increases the risk of developing antibodies against the biologics if you stop and start them.

First thing I thought was shingles , I would get that seen ASAP and I don't say that often. I loathe NHS direct ,they can be so helpful, my experience of them is diabolical.

Someone I once worked with had mange and it looked a lot like that.

When I had shingles it looked exactly like that, in exactly that place, before it blistered.

I am sorry you have had poor GP advice. I'd be minded to go to A&E tonight unless you can afford to see a GP privately tomorrow.

I think its shingles too. I'd go to A+E . Shingles in your eyes is no picnic +you might need anti viral meds. Antibiotics won't help.Hope you feel better very soon

Have you been using a hot tub recently OP? If so it could be foliculitis as a pp suggested and will need antibiotics.

Definitely needs to be seen, ask for a different GP if necessary.

Edited to say I get that the majority view is shingles, just offering an alternative view based on recent experience.

This.

OP, you should get seen asap because of your meds but please don't worry about vision loss. It won't spread from your torso to your eye.

And don't worry about infecting other people. They would have to have direct skin contact with the blister fluid to catch chicken pox from you.

I had shingles a few months ago and it looked like this. It was very painful though.

It looks like shingles to me. You need to ask GP to test it and get some Aciclovir prescribed asap if it is. I get recurring shingles and it looks exactly like this – GP also wasn't interested initially. It will also explain why you're feeling really run down.

It seems to be unlikely to be ophthalmic shingles as the rash is on OP's arms. When I had it, the rash was on my forehead, many on one side, and the eye on the side looked disgusting. Wikipedia seems to confirm that a forehead rash is the norm for ophthalmic shingles.

Our pharmacist says they treat shingles, so that seems like a good shout and a way to avoid a very long wait in A&E.

Please get seen OP. If it is shingles it can get very nasty and time is of the essence to start treatment. My mum and close friend have both had it and both felt so ill.

I’m immunocompromised and would be going to a&e with that plus a suspicion of shingles
people go for way less

Shingles in your eyes need to be seen asap. I had shingles with Hutchinson's sign (patch of shingles on side of nose) and red eyes. I was sent to a&e by the walk-in on a weekend to see opthalmologist as it can damage your vision.

I wondered if it could be shingles, scabies or follicle thing. I hope you get it sorted

Is it current medical protocol that treatment is offered for non-facial shingles? I had it about 15 years ago and I was told the only reason I was offered treatment was specifically because it was around my eye. Otherwise they said they'd have let it run its course.

My eyeballs themselves weren't red, but the blisters were all around the socket, on one side of my forehead and in my ear.

This lady is immunocompromised.

The antiviral medication for shingles not expensive to buy privately (we are talking under £5 for the whole course) the long lasting pain from the nerve damage that any unlucky sod out there might get from shingles will be horrific and everlasting and cost the nhs hundreds of pounds to numb the pain down every time there’s a flare up.

Put your foot down and ask for the antivirals or get a private prescription asap. Your body will be forever thankful to you!