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Red, Itchy, Freckle Like Rash On Ankles, Shins. Taken Piriton, Aqueous Cream. No Relief. Reason, Treatment?
Hi i am a male in his early forties and over the last few months have developed a red freckley rash athat is slightly raised from the skin on my ankles and shins it is quite itchy,the pharmasist thought it may be a heat rash and told me to take piriton and also to apply a auqeous cream,this gives some cool relief but seeems to also aggravate it as it becomes more itchy ?
Thu, 2 Aug 2012
Hello
I would be pleased to answer your question
Thank you for the information. Your history is suggestive of a condition known as Neurodermatitis.
Neurodermatitis is a condition where the nerves in any area of the body become hypersensitive and fire under normal conditions to produce a sensation of itching. The primary problem is itching and any skin rash, redness or excoriation is secondary to the scratching. The skin may look absolutely normal. The sites can be very localized as in your case.
This leads to an 'itch scratch cycle'. As in the more one scratches the more the area itches and so on. The first step in treatment is to break this cycle by giving relief from itching and instructing the patient to avoid scratching as much as possible.
Here is what will help:
1. Clobetasol propionate cream + Mupirocin cream: Mix and apply over the affected area on the right shoulder twice a day for 14 days then switch to Fluticasone propionate cream once at night for 2-4 weeks. In the groin/upper inner thigh use Fluticasone in place of Clobetasol from the beginning. The specialist to see will be a dermatologist and he or she can prescribe these for you. Nothing over the counter will help much, the only product with some benefit is 1% Cortizone cream.
2. Tab Claritin 10 mg twice a day for 14 days, then once a day for 6-8 weeks. Initially the dose can be increased to 2 tablets taken twice a day if there is insufficient relief in itching.
3. Sarna sensitive lotion can be used 2-3 times a day to give further relief from itching. This can be continued even when the above creams have been stopped.
4. Avoid scratching the affected areas as much as possible. This is most important. Whenever it is not bearable soak a towel in ice cold water and keep it on the affected areas or apply the Sarna sensitive lotion.
Lastly keep the affected areas as well moisturized as possible with a moisturizer of your choice.
NOTE: 1% Cortizone cream, Claritin and Sarna lotion can be bought without a prescription.
Please feel free to ask if you have any queries.
I would be pleased to answer your question
Thank you for the information. Your history is suggestive of a condition known as Neurodermatitis.
Neurodermatitis is a condition where the nerves in any area of the body become hypersensitive and fire under normal conditions to produce a sensation of itching. The primary problem is itching and any skin rash, redness or excoriation is secondary to the scratching. The skin may look absolutely normal. The sites can be very localized as in your case.
This leads to an 'itch scratch cycle'. As in the more one scratches the more the area itches and so on. The first step in treatment is to break this cycle by giving relief from itching and instructing the patient to avoid scratching as much as possible.
Here is what will help:
1. Clobetasol propionate cream + Mupirocin cream: Mix and apply over the affected area on the right shoulder twice a day for 14 days then switch to Fluticasone propionate cream once at night for 2-4 weeks. In the groin/upper inner thigh use Fluticasone in place of Clobetasol from the beginning. The specialist to see will be a dermatologist and he or she can prescribe these for you. Nothing over the counter will help much, the only product with some benefit is 1% Cortizone cream.
2. Tab Claritin 10 mg twice a day for 14 days, then once a day for 6-8 weeks. Initially the dose can be increased to 2 tablets taken twice a day if there is insufficient relief in itching.
3. Sarna sensitive lotion can be used 2-3 times a day to give further relief from itching. This can be continued even when the above creams have been stopped.
4. Avoid scratching the affected areas as much as possible. This is most important. Whenever it is not bearable soak a towel in ice cold water and keep it on the affected areas or apply the Sarna sensitive lotion.
Lastly keep the affected areas as well moisturized as possible with a moisturizer of your choice.
NOTE: 1% Cortizone cream, Claritin and Sarna lotion can be bought without a prescription.
Please feel free to ask if you have any queries.
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Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
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