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What Causes Swollen Itchy Spot In Hip Area?

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Posted on Mon, 19 Jan 2015
Question: I woke up this morning with a slightly swollen itchy spot on my hip area. I attached a picture. Can you tell me if it looks like something I should get checked out?
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Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Try some anti-fungal cream or ointment

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your question. This looks like you have developed a fungal infection on the skin. I suggest that you try some over the counter yeast treatments like lotrimin, miconazole or itraconazole for a week or so and it should go away.

It does not look like anything serious that you need to see a doctor for right away. If it does not resolve with the yeast treatment or if it gets more red, painful or develops pus then you should see a doctor.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Follow up: Dr. Kathy Robinson (4 hours later)
Ok. If it turns out to not be a fungal infection will the fungal treatment make it worse?
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Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No, not at all

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for that follow up question.

No the fungal cream is harmless and will not make it worse. The other thing it could be is a patch of hives (urticaria) and the treatment for that would be steroid cream like hydrocortisone. The steroid cream could make a fungal infection worse, so that is why I would start with the fungal cream first. It will not make anything worse.

Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Follow up: Dr. Kathy Robinson (8 minutes later)
Ok great thank you. I have a simila spot developing on the other hip area now. Its not as big but its red and itching as well. Does a fungal infection spread this way? r
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Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Depends on numerous factors

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

We all have yeast (fungus) on our skin all the time. It is not clear, why sometimes it becomes an infection and sometimes it just sits there and does not bother us. It could spread from one hip to the other if you scratched it then scratched the other hip. The reason I thought it looked fungal is that it seems to have what we call satellite lesions (small dots out from the main rash) and this is characteristic of yeast type rashes. It could also be an allergic reaction to something (like hives I mentioned earlier) but if it is itchy I still think yeast is the most likely. Unless those parts of your skin have been exposed to something directly that you are allergic to I'd still start with the yeast cream then move to a steroid cream if it is not better within a week.

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. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Kathy Robinson

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1989

Answered : 3535 Questions

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What Causes Swollen Itchy Spot In Hip Area?

Brief Answer: Try some anti-fungal cream or ointment Detailed Answer: Hello and thanks for your question. This looks like you have developed a fungal infection on the skin. I suggest that you try some over the counter yeast treatments like lotrimin, miconazole or itraconazole for a week or so and it should go away. It does not look like anything serious that you need to see a doctor for right away. If it does not resolve with the yeast treatment or if it gets more red, painful or develops pus then you should see a doctor.