My wife has developed a skin rash which is continuously itchy,what can it be?

Question

My wife has developed a skin rash which becomes very itchy during the night. It's like a dry red blotchy rash which is on her back, front, bottom of neck, legs, arms, hands. Around the edge of her breasts it looks like she has had a sun tan and its a little flaky. The Doctor has prescribed cream which has helped certain areas heal like the hands when both palms got so bad they became covered in blisters. That has now gone away but the itchiness continues daily like everywhere else on the body. The Doctor has said he does not think it's eczema and has tryed to book an appointment with the NHS to see a Dermatologist, however the waiting list is 3mth,s. The itchiness is driving her crazy. She has even tryed cutting out some foods like fish, but does not seem to of worked. Does anyone have any suggestions

Answer 1

I suffer with Urticaria (Hives) which starts as an itch and the more I scratch the more it spreads and worse it gets, until my skin bleeds! I usually dont even know I am scratching until someone points it out! I use an over the counter Anti-Histamine daily which controls mine. Last year it stopped once the summer had finished but this year it seems to have continued into the winter but I would suggest trying a course of Anti-Histamines, mine took about a week to kick in originally.

Answer 2

There are many types of eczema. If the rash worsen at night it most likely is due to over heating etc. I have suffered with eczema most of my life and know it flares up at different times of the year or for a number of different reasons.
The blisters described sound like small water blisters and are just a factor of eczema. The creams prescribed will help just be sure not too use these too often as steroid creams thin the skin.
A change in diet may also help, perhaps tell your wife to try cutting dairy out of her diet for a short period to see if the rash goes down.
I have unfortunately never found a complete cure for eczema, but, making small changes help. Perhaps washing with unperfumed products, wearing washing up gloves when wiping down surfaces etc, not wearing overly tight clothes when the flare up is really bad.
Hope this helps...

Answer 3

"Red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.

Outbreaks of this sort are usually either viral or allergic.

Viral rash: While viral infections of the skin itself, like herpes or shingles (a cousin of chickenpox), are mostly localized to one part of the body, viral rashes are more often symmetrical and everywhere. Patients with such rashes may or may not have other viral symptoms like coughing, sneezing or an stomach upset (nausea). Viral rashes usually last a few days to a week and go way on their own.

Allergic drug rash: Most allergic drug rashes start within two weeks of taking a new medication, especially if the person has taken the drug before. It is very unlikely for medicine that has been prescribed for months or years to cause an allergic reaction. Because there is usually no specific test to prove whether a rash is allergic, doctors may recommend stopping a suspected drug to see what happens. If the rash doesn't disappear within five days of not taking the medication, allergy is unlikely.

Although foods, soaps, and detergents are often blamed for widespread rashes, they are rarely the culprit.

Other rashes

Hives (urticaria) are itchy, red welts that come and go on various parts of the body. Most hives are not allergic, run their course, and disappear as mysteriously as they came.

Because the term is vague, some people use "rash" to describe pimply outbreaks of acne or rosacea on the face.

What should you do if you have a rash?

Most rashes are not dangerous to a person or people in the vicinity (unless they are part of an infectious disease such as chickenpox). Many rashes last a while and get better on their own. It is therefore not unreasonable to treat symptoms like itchy and/or dry skin for a few days to see whether the condition gets milder and goes away.

Nonprescription (over-the-counter) remedies include:

* Anti-itch creams containing camphor, menthol, pramoxine, or diphenhydramine

* Antihistamines like diphenhydramine, chlortrimeton, or loratadine

* Moisturizing lotions


If these measures do not help, or if the rash persists or becomes more widespread, a visit to a general physician or dermatologist is advisable.

There are many, many other types of rashes that we have not covered in this article. So it is doubly important, if you have any questions about the cause or treatment of a rash to contact your doctor. This article is really just as the title indicates: "Rash 101 - Introduction to Common Skin Rashes."
http://www.medicinenet.com/rash/page2.htm#rash3
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003220.htm
http://www.healthcentral.com/ency/408/003220.html

Answer 4

I'm not a doctor or dermatologist but it SOUNDS like psoriasis to me. I've suffered for ten years but without seeing it wouldn't like to say for sure. To relieve the itching try and get hold of some emulsifying ointment. This has the texture of lard but keeps the skin supple (to stop it cracking) and relieves the itching.
There are no active ingredients in it so it is perfectly safe to use even if you are not sure of the diagnosis. So if it is an allergic reaction emulsifying ointment won't make it worse.
If you can afford to go private for one initial consultation then I don't think it costs all that much and may be worth it to ease the itching. If it is psoriasis the itching is terrible as it is not relieved by scratching and seems to come from deep within the skin, also it can bleed very easily which then leaves you prone to infection.
Good luck, I hope you find out soon and get appropriate treatment.

Answer 5

I'm hearing more and more about these unusual rashes, and I'm thinking it could be environmentally connected.

I also have a rash that is itchy at times, and I use calamine lotion, sometimes rubbing alcohol.

It hasn't spread much, but it's been around since summer, and I believe it had to do with a poisonous plant I touched.

I hope your wife gets better. Soon. It's starting to look like winter. Unusually long and damp summers might be a cause.

Answer 6

You can find a good natural remedy for your eczema here http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=556 .

A few more tips: topical medicines or ointments can be used to treat eczema, which are usually recommended or authorized by dermatologists and skin care experts. However, while these cures are available, you need to remember that prevention is still the best way to protect oneself from this skin condition. Make sure to keep your skin hydrated, maintain daily body hygiene, and avoid using skin products that are harsh on your skin. A good lifestyle can also prevent the onset of this skin condition. Always remember to take care of yourself, and avoid getting yourself into stressful situations. Develop this habit, and you'll be successful in averting this very common skin condition. It may be hard to do, but with a little discipline, persistence, and will power, you will be able to handle it well.
Bye Bye

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I have had a similar rash since July. My kids have occasionally had something that looks like a mild case of chicken pox. Two days ago my son slept in my bed, and now he has an extreme case. My husband is not affected. Our family has been prescribed mid range topical steriods and been labeled, "atopic dermatitis" sufferers. Given the night onset, I am now investigating parasites such as mites and or an allergic reaction to mites/ dust mites. I'm glad to hear your doctor is offering help. We have been to allergists and dematologists with multiple perscriptions, but no long term solution. I am now using baby oil, hot showers, benadryl, and claritin(a.m.) just to get through the night. This has provided some relief.

Answer 9

Cut out all dairy, wheat, sugar and anything processed from the diet, use only non-biological washing powder and wear only natural fibres. Ensure that bedding is kept clean and that this also is cleaned using steam or non-biological products. Wear gloves when using any chemicals for cleaning or anything and if you have a pet kick it outside and keep it out. Clean all of the carpets and furnishings to get rid of any irritants or pet hair with a steam cleaner or the like. Bathe every day in water that has tea tree and lavender oils added to it (mix five drops of each in an eggcup full of milk to emulsify them with the bathwater, and only mix with the bath water when you are finished pouring it as otherwise they may evaporate) and wash using any of the great products for very sensitive skins like emulsifying lotion or E45 etc. Ask your pharmacist for guidance with this. Also ask the pharmacist about healing creams to apply after bathing - calendula is a great ointment for this kind of irritation and I know there are also some great medicated ointments to stop itching. I'm one of the unfortunate types who is prone to skin rashes also and I know how uncomfortable and frustrating it can be - Cut everything out and then re-introduce each item slowly, one at a time, and you may discover the trigger. My trigger is emotional stress and also some dietary intolerances. Tell your wife I feel for her!!!

Answer 10

try replacing your laundry soap with laundry soda. It doesnt leave a residue on your clothes. I doubt its the cause but it might help with the irritation.

This is kinda weird and uncomfortable but she cant scratch....either use the prescribed cream or vasiline. Get her to put a thin coat over her entire body (or wherever is infected) and wrap her in saran wrap. Stick some of thaose cheap mittens on her hands too if she has fingernails. And get her to sleep like that. Not too sexy but it helps. She will need a shower in the morning to get rid of the grease though.lol.

good luck.