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Suggest Treatment For Painful And Itchy Blisters Above The Buttocks

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Posted on Sat, 7 Jun 2014
Question: Very embarrassing and painful, blisters, pain and itching at top of butt crack. Went to dr. Last Friday, said it was eczema, but looks worse now and is different. Gave steroid cream. Still bad.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Herpes Zoster:Oral Acyclovir

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your concern and I have looked at the picture.

I would keep a possibility of Herpes Zoster. It is not an Eczema. The picture you posted is classical representation of Herpes Zoster. Grouped discrete vesicles localized to a dermatome (S 5 Dermatome).

Herpes Zoster, is due to viral reactivation of the same virus which causes chicken pox(Varicella zoster virus) in childhood. This virus resides in the spinal ganglion and can travel down the nerve later in life (in old age, since the immunity wanes) to cause eruption of painful fluid filled vesicles, usually localized to a dermatome. The eruption is associated with pain and burning sensation.

Treatment is with oral antiviral like acyclovir 800mg 5 times a day for 7 days.

Topical steroids would be of no use, on the contrary steroids may flare it even more.

Oral painkillers e.g Ibuprofen, which is available OTC, help with the pain.

You could use an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily to prevent secondary bacterial infection.

Usually the eruption resolves within a week, on antiviral treatment but there can be post herpetic neuralgic pain that can persist for some time.

regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Painful And Itchy Blisters Above The Buttocks

Brief Answer: Herpes Zoster:Oral Acyclovir Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your concern and I have looked at the picture. I would keep a possibility of Herpes Zoster. It is not an Eczema. The picture you posted is classical representation of Herpes Zoster. Grouped discrete vesicles localized to a dermatome (S 5 Dermatome). Herpes Zoster, is due to viral reactivation of the same virus which causes chicken pox(Varicella zoster virus) in childhood. This virus resides in the spinal ganglion and can travel down the nerve later in life (in old age, since the immunity wanes) to cause eruption of painful fluid filled vesicles, usually localized to a dermatome. The eruption is associated with pain and burning sensation. Treatment is with oral antiviral like acyclovir 800mg 5 times a day for 7 days. Topical steroids would be of no use, on the contrary steroids may flare it even more. Oral painkillers e.g Ibuprofen, which is available OTC, help with the pain. You could use an OTC topical antibacterial e.g 2% mupirocin ointment, twice daily to prevent secondary bacterial infection. Usually the eruption resolves within a week, on antiviral treatment but there can be post herpetic neuralgic pain that can persist for some time. regards