HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Is The Difference Between Brachial Dermatitis, Morgellons Disease And Neurogenic Dermatitis?

Posted on Tue, 15 Sep 2015

Question: do you think that there such a thing as neurogenic dermatitis, Morgellons, peripheral brachial dermatitis. I don't know, they compare Morgellons to delusions of parasitosis. I think the dermatologists send the patient to the psychiatrist and the psychiatrists send them to the neurologist or dermatologist. Bottom line no one has an answer and I don't know what to do. Please help. and do you think that stress alone could cause bumps eruption and many systemic changes

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Need more details to comment

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic

I can understand your concern to some extent but I need more details to comment with confidence. In general Morgellons and Delusional Parasitosis are more or less same conditions. I think you must be aware of the condition in detail also, in delusional parasotosis individuals have delusional beliefs about being infested by insects.

Brachial dermatitis is a different dermatological condition. Some times dermatologists when fails to find a particular cause for a condition, send patients to psychiatrists to rule our psychogenic causes. If you can provide me details about your symptoms like, onset, how they progressed, response to treatment, any aggravating or relieving factors etc then we can proceed further in making diagnosis.

Yes stress can cause weird sensations in skin and thus result in compulsive itching which might cause eruptions. But detailed evaluation is needed to confirm diagnosis.

Thanks, please provide me details and don't hesitate to ask again for more clarifications.

Take care

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

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

I tried steroid cream from the dermatologist, antibiotics and prednisone from another doctor nothing made it better. When I woke up in the morning they did look better so I would say rest made them better and the heat and sweating made them . I had the exterminator come out cuz sometimes they would be in groups of three and that's you know what I think of bed bugs do being a nurse and being in the hospital I asked every Dr I saw it's so frustrating it's been like two and a half years now and I can't figure out what is medically wrong with me

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Some psychiatric causes can be the possibilities.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking again and providing details

If we assume the lesions are due to delusional parasitises then first thing that comes in individuals mind is that he/she has infestation of insects and sensations of insects over skin are seen. In order to get relief from this sensations they try to scratch the skin which results in eruptions. You have no such ideas in brain so I don't think its delusional parasitosis.

Other possibility if we think from psychological point of view is psychogenic itching. In psychogenic itching individuals have compulsive itching. Some underlying anxiety is there which cause individuals to scratch the body areas which result in eruptions. Your symptoms improve in morning after sleep which can be pointing towards this possibility but before making the psychogenic cause one have to rule out all dermatological possibilities. Even if the cause is dermatological still some anti anxiety drugs especially SSRIs like Fluoxetine, Paroxetine etc can help. These medicines tend to reduce the compulsive like behaviour and thus result in improvement. Combination of dermatological and psychiatric treatment should yield best results.

Thanks, Hope this helps you. Still have more doubts please ask again. Take care

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

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (2 hours later)

yeah I was never it's easy I'll only touch them and scratched him because it was something that was not there usually in like a pimple you want to pop it. I think it is somewhat of a comfort measure for me but I have them all over my butt and I don't know what to do lol awkward. any suggestions? I didn't know there was like the psychological itching but they pretty much yeah do you have a name for everything. I think you're the closest out of everybody. now tell me how to get these scars off

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Combination of Fluoxetine or Paroxetine with derma medicines will help

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question

You have mentioned that its like a comfort measure for you and this might point towards some underlying anxiety. Some times under unconscious anxiety which individuals are not aware off they start showing such symptoms. In my opinion combination of dermatological treatment along with some anti anxiety drugs will help in quick recovery.

Drugs like Fluoxetine, Paroxetine etc can help to provide symptomatic relief and will help to reduce the symptoms. Both drugs help to reduce the weird sensation like feeling and you will feel better while on these drugs. Along with these drugs any good soothing agent can help. Application of lectocalamine lotion can help but it would be better to consult a dermatologist for such medicines. These medicines will help in providing soothing relief and overall the eruptions should reduce.

Thanks, Hope this helps. Still have more doubts please ask again. Take care

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

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