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Suggest Treatment For Rashes On Neck, Chest And Shoulders
Question: I have a rash on my neck, chest and shoulders. went to clinic and was prescribed predjisone 40 mg per day for 7 days and Benedryl. I am on day 4 and my rash is even more itchy and has spread since I started the prednisone. I have tried several topical creams and they are not helping much. I have also used frozen peas which does help short term but not practical to bring to work . I was told the rash was allergic dermatitis but still trying to figure the cause. I believe I found a carpet beetle and am going to call an exterminator.
I have many allergies and asthma. How long should I wait before calling my allergist? This is keeping up all night.
I have many allergies and asthma. How long should I wait before calling my allergist? This is keeping up all night.
Brief Answer:
Please call your allergist right now or early morning or visit the ER
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It is important to talk to an allergist at the earliest as the rashes do not seem to slow their pace and are increasing in distribution and number. Benadryl is an anti allergy preparation containing antihistamines and prednisolone is a steroid which is anti inflammatory. 40 mg prednisolone is a high dose when taken orally and should have controlled any probable allergic eruption. However, if you have been allergic to carpet beetle in the past then it should also be thought of depending on the appearance of the rashes. Other than allergic dermatitis, viral rashes and contact dermatitis should also be considered. Please wear cotton clothes and change your clothes twice each day to prevent sweat formation which might cause more itching and discomfort.
You should at once call your doctor or visit the ER as the rashes can be due to a severe allergic reaction or some other type of dermatitis or a medical condition like viral rashes. This can be correctly diagnosed only after clinical examination.
Since you are prone to allergies, intake of any particular food or medication can also cause this type of rashes and this also is to be discussed with your allergist.
To reduce the itching you might apply calamine lotion over the rashes to produce a soothing effect and make you feel comfortable, till you meet your doctor.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please call your allergist right now or early morning or visit the ER
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It is important to talk to an allergist at the earliest as the rashes do not seem to slow their pace and are increasing in distribution and number. Benadryl is an anti allergy preparation containing antihistamines and prednisolone is a steroid which is anti inflammatory. 40 mg prednisolone is a high dose when taken orally and should have controlled any probable allergic eruption. However, if you have been allergic to carpet beetle in the past then it should also be thought of depending on the appearance of the rashes. Other than allergic dermatitis, viral rashes and contact dermatitis should also be considered. Please wear cotton clothes and change your clothes twice each day to prevent sweat formation which might cause more itching and discomfort.
You should at once call your doctor or visit the ER as the rashes can be due to a severe allergic reaction or some other type of dermatitis or a medical condition like viral rashes. This can be correctly diagnosed only after clinical examination.
Since you are prone to allergies, intake of any particular food or medication can also cause this type of rashes and this also is to be discussed with your allergist.
To reduce the itching you might apply calamine lotion over the rashes to produce a soothing effect and make you feel comfortable, till you meet your doctor.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX
A little more insight that just occurred to me.
About 3 days before the rash appeared, I noticed the muscles on top of my shoulders, back of neck (at the hairline) were sore and achy. I had slipped on ice earlier that morning and fell. Even though it was not a bad fall I assumed the muscle soreness was due to the fall. I had no real soreness anywhere else, even where my butt hit the pavement.
Now I am realizing the sore achy muscles are in most of the same places as the rash. As the rash has spread to the front of my throat and lower on my chest I am experiencing soreness in those places too. It's mostly an annoyance than real pain.
Is there any possibility the muscle soreness and rash are related in any way? Just curious.
I appreciate your recommendation and will be follow-up with my allergist. Thank you!
A little more insight that just occurred to me.
About 3 days before the rash appeared, I noticed the muscles on top of my shoulders, back of neck (at the hairline) were sore and achy. I had slipped on ice earlier that morning and fell. Even though it was not a bad fall I assumed the muscle soreness was due to the fall. I had no real soreness anywhere else, even where my butt hit the pavement.
Now I am realizing the sore achy muscles are in most of the same places as the rash. As the rash has spread to the front of my throat and lower on my chest I am experiencing soreness in those places too. It's mostly an annoyance than real pain.
Is there any possibility the muscle soreness and rash are related in any way? Just curious.
I appreciate your recommendation and will be follow-up with my allergist. Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
I would think of connecting the muscle soreness and rashes in the following ways. My thoughts are based on your query and keeping in mind the common medical causes.
1. It is possible that you applied an ointment on your sore muscles which caused a skin rash in those parts.
2. You were on bed rest following the injury and might have suffered insect bites or prickly heat rashes due to sweat formation.
There is a rare condition called dermatomyositis but it is a chronic and long term condition. It causes weakness in muscles and might be accompanied by rashes. It is not related to injury and therefore not applicable to you.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
I would think of connecting the muscle soreness and rashes in the following ways. My thoughts are based on your query and keeping in mind the common medical causes.
1. It is possible that you applied an ointment on your sore muscles which caused a skin rash in those parts.
2. You were on bed rest following the injury and might have suffered insect bites or prickly heat rashes due to sweat formation.
There is a rare condition called dermatomyositis but it is a chronic and long term condition. It causes weakness in muscles and might be accompanied by rashes. It is not related to injury and therefore not applicable to you.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi again,
I followed your advise and went to the doctor. It is definitely viral.
Shingles...
Thanks for all of your assistance.
I followed your advise and went to the doctor. It is definitely viral.
Shingles...
Thanks for all of your assistance.
Brief Answer:
Wish you a quick recovery
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Its good that you consulted your doctor immediately and got your diagnosis confirmed. Shingles is a condition involving reactivation of viruses at nerve endings and can start in many ways. The fall on ice earlier that day and subsequent muscle soreness misled you to believe that it was possibly a sore muscle after a fall. That is the reason I thought you should see your doctor immediately and get a confirmation.
Hope it is still within 3 days of the rash so that you can start taking oral antiviral medications like acyclovir.
I too had shingles recently and would like to share my experience so that you might know what to expect in the course of this condition and take proper care of yourself.
This Christmas, I started my vacation with a strange kind of discomfort and bloating sensation over the left side of my lower abdomen. At first, being a doctor myself, I thought it could be something like a stomach infection and started taking antibiotics to keep me safe. In about 5 days time I first felt some rashes in the back and within a few hours they increased in number and soon were all over the abdomen on left side like a band. Having seen patients of Shingles, I knew what had started and took a quick opinion from my dermatologist friend and it was confirmed, I had shingles indeed, at a much younger age that it usually happens.
I took the antiviral medication acyclovir for shingles. This is an antiviral medication and should be taken within 72 hours of appearance of rashes. I took it for 5 days and felt comfortable. It is to be noted that this medication will not have any control over your rashes if 3 days are over since the first rashes were visible.
The pain and internal inflammation was there for almost 3 weeks after the rashes appeared and the skin over my abdomen is still sensitive and pains with tingling at times. Even after 6 weeks, I am still unable to have a sound sleep due to the increased sensitivity over the skin in the area of rashes.
I usually keep myself busy at work and forget the discomfort during the day. Sleep is still bit disturbed because of the slight burning pain and discomfort but it is improving in the last couple of weeks.
In conclusion, the symptoms you are facing is due to the shingles and might trouble you for sometime. You may choose to take pain relief medications as prescribed by your doctor. This discomfort will improve slowly with time and might take about 2 to 4 months. The nerves require few weeks to get back to normal. I am sure you will feel fully functional in the coming days.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Wish you a quick recovery
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Its good that you consulted your doctor immediately and got your diagnosis confirmed. Shingles is a condition involving reactivation of viruses at nerve endings and can start in many ways. The fall on ice earlier that day and subsequent muscle soreness misled you to believe that it was possibly a sore muscle after a fall. That is the reason I thought you should see your doctor immediately and get a confirmation.
Hope it is still within 3 days of the rash so that you can start taking oral antiviral medications like acyclovir.
I too had shingles recently and would like to share my experience so that you might know what to expect in the course of this condition and take proper care of yourself.
This Christmas, I started my vacation with a strange kind of discomfort and bloating sensation over the left side of my lower abdomen. At first, being a doctor myself, I thought it could be something like a stomach infection and started taking antibiotics to keep me safe. In about 5 days time I first felt some rashes in the back and within a few hours they increased in number and soon were all over the abdomen on left side like a band. Having seen patients of Shingles, I knew what had started and took a quick opinion from my dermatologist friend and it was confirmed, I had shingles indeed, at a much younger age that it usually happens.
I took the antiviral medication acyclovir for shingles. This is an antiviral medication and should be taken within 72 hours of appearance of rashes. I took it for 5 days and felt comfortable. It is to be noted that this medication will not have any control over your rashes if 3 days are over since the first rashes were visible.
The pain and internal inflammation was there for almost 3 weeks after the rashes appeared and the skin over my abdomen is still sensitive and pains with tingling at times. Even after 6 weeks, I am still unable to have a sound sleep due to the increased sensitivity over the skin in the area of rashes.
I usually keep myself busy at work and forget the discomfort during the day. Sleep is still bit disturbed because of the slight burning pain and discomfort but it is improving in the last couple of weeks.
In conclusion, the symptoms you are facing is due to the shingles and might trouble you for sometime. You may choose to take pain relief medications as prescribed by your doctor. This discomfort will improve slowly with time and might take about 2 to 4 months. The nerves require few weeks to get back to normal. I am sure you will feel fully functional in the coming days.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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