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Suggest Remedies For A Burning Rash On The Ankle

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Posted on Fri, 29 Jul 2016
Question: Rash on my ankle feels like a burn, could be ivy or sumac
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Questions for you to help me answer you better.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

That's a nasty rash. Unless I am not able to see it in this picture, it doesn't look like it has the blistering of poison ivy or poison sumac or specific areas of contact. Your rash looks more homogenous, and hemorrhagic.

Is the rash exceedingly itchy?

Are you having any other symptoms (fever, joint ache)?

How long have you had this rash, and is it spreading?

Did it come on after being exposed to something in particular?

Thanks - information to follow after I hear back from you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (5 minutes later)
It started yesterday after cleaning my pool filter in my bare feet in the yard, it was blistery, now just red and burning to the touch other than that I feel fine, its not spreading. I dont think I got bit but I did get some chemicals from the filter on me but odd that it could do something in just 1 area?

Another possibility Or could it be heat rash, I wear insulated work boots at work and my feet have been cooking past few days and that ankle rubs on my boot??
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (49 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Some thoughts on this.

Detailed Answer:
It may be a chemical dermatitis from the pool chemicals. I don't think it is a heat rash (doesn't have the individual papules one would see from that, and also is too round and well circumscribed). Another possibility is cellulitis (an infection of the soft tissue) because it looks deeper than most contact dermatitises, and is well circumscribed with a definite border, but usually cellulitis is not this purplish and cellulitis spreads.

Given the severity of it's appearance, and that I am not 100% sure of what it is from, I recommend you go in to urgent. There they can get a better feel for the depth of the inflammation. If the burning is bad, an oral corticosteroid might be needed. If not, a steroid cream (in a higher percent concentration than you can buy without prescription) would be helpful for the severity of inflammation. If it is spreading at all, then an antibiotic (for possible cellulitis) would be needed. If it is weeping at all, put cold moist gauze on it.

I am sorry I don't have an exact answer in this case. But I do think it needs attention at this point.


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. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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Suggest Remedies For A Burning Rash On The Ankle

Brief Answer: Questions for you to help me answer you better. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, That's a nasty rash. Unless I am not able to see it in this picture, it doesn't look like it has the blistering of poison ivy or poison sumac or specific areas of contact. Your rash looks more homogenous, and hemorrhagic. Is the rash exceedingly itchy? Are you having any other symptoms (fever, joint ache)? How long have you had this rash, and is it spreading? Did it come on after being exposed to something in particular? Thanks - information to follow after I hear back from you.