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Q: Symmetrical Rash

asked by: laurabelle24 on February 13th, 2009

New User

I am perplexed by a rash I have. I have a history of excema (as a child) but I had no symptoms of it after childhood, through my teens, and into my early 20s. Now I am 24, and for about 2 years I have had a slowly spreading rash that looks very different from the excema I remember as a child. No open sores or weeping, it is just a very itchy, dry, scaly and a puffy/inflamed patch. This first appeared as a circular, slightly dryer, itchy patch on my right ankle, maybe the size of a quarter. It is now the size of a baseball, still mostly circular in shape. Then it spread to my left ankle after about a year, starting in the exact same manner, a non-serious dry patch of skin that has now spread to about the size of a tennis ball.

Additionally, the pinky fingers on each of my hands have a similar scaly, dry, puffy condition. They flake, they look swolle, and itch.

So now I have a strange symmetry going on, and doctors just keep telling me its genetic, its excema, there is nothing I can do about it. I have used steroid creams, which clears it up, and the rash immediately starts to pop up in other normally unaffected areas (like my arms). Discontinuation of the steroid creams allows the rash to return in its "usual" places (ankles and little fingers) and then all else is fine.

Any ideas???

Users who thank laurabelle24 for this post: shaggydrew

Replies(11)

nooglo

replied on February 25th, 2009

New User

Hi there,

I too have very very similar condition as you. I also have a history of excema as a child only.

I have had this problem for about a year. It starts for me as a very red single spot, which itches even more than I remember excema itching. It's symmetrical in it's progress around the the body. Always being slightly worse on one side. I have it on both ankles, inner forearms, inner biceps, underarms, hips and outer calfs - basically in all the places where i DIDN'T get excema. It doesn't look or feel like excema and itches a lot more.

Doctors also gave me steroid cream, which help with the itching, clears up a bit, then comes back even worse.

I am also 24, it started when I was 23.

So sorry I can't give you an yideas what it is, but given the history and what you have described, it sounds like we may have something very similar, if not the same.

Paul

laurabelle24

replied on February 26th, 2009

New User

Paul- wow, I have never heard of anyone having anything similar, but it is good to hear that at least someone has experienced this and is also looking for answers. Just put some more steroid cream on the other day because I kind of lost it and gave in. I wonder if it is dietary? Do you have any problems with certain foods you know of? What does the sun do for your rashes? I know in the summer, mine nearly cleared up entirely with sun exposure. But I live in the midwest and that's just impossible for 6 months out of the year.

nooglo

replied on February 26th, 2009

New User

Hello again,

How does yours start and progress, does it start as a spot/lump or more like a rash? Are you taking any current medications? I take mirtazapine but the problems started before then.

I actually have to be careful in the sun as my chest and back suffer from solar dermatitis, but I think that's a seperate issue as I live in the uk so not a great deal ammount of sun here ha!

shaggydrew

replied on March 8th, 2009

New User

Hey guys, what ya'll are describing i have been going through for about 9 years now. Started around 17 for me. During the winter time it flares like crazy and summer it goes away almost. My arms still give me trouble. My legs, thighs, hands, arms, hips have them. My face, back, and torso don't. Ive been to the doctor numerous times. Have had biopsies done and they cant tell me anything. They just give me stroid creams. After researching years all i can come up with is nummular eczema. The symptoms sound really close. Hopefully this will help.

grandma6

replied on March 16th, 2009

New User

symmetrical rash

I have been experiencing something similar. My rash is itchy but not inflamed. It is located in front of both ears, on both sides of my head and a patch about the size of a quarter on both sides by my rib cage. I have been using Hydrocortisone OTC cream which gives temproary relief.....next comes a DR's appointment.

Jo3

replied on April 3rd, 2009

New User

So Crazy...

I have read everything here and it's the same as everyone else. I've also got steroid ointment or cream which sorta helps but comes back in another random places. Either in one place or symmetrical. I too have one side worse than the other. Mine usually comes during cold days or when winter comes. I'm glad I'm not the only one and this definitely makes me feel better. For me it started in 2007, I was 21. I find it odd that most of us have it around the same age.

kimzyyay

replied on May 21st, 2009

New User

omg

i am 22. my rash started when i was 20. i just found out this week that i have celiac disease! which is what was causing the symmetrical rash. try not eating gluten for a week, i bet your rash will clear up Smile

yayayay

pinky84

replied on August 2nd, 2009

New User

I can't believe how im also going through something so similar.. had eczema as a child but has caused me no real problems as i gre up. Now at 24 this summer i have come out with this symmetrical itchy rash which is different to eczema i remember. My pinky fingers also are inflammed puffy and itchy. Doc's keep giving me antihistamines and steroid creams.. reaching the end of my tether! if anyone finds cause/cure please post.

itchyankles

replied on August 5th, 2009

New User

I have something similar... dry itchy inflamed patches that move symmetrically around my body. they start small and then get really big and settle in each new location for about a year at a time. when i was 20 - 24 i had symmetrical red spots on my arms, that i thought were from an incident with film developing chemicals (i 'fixed' myself by accident) then at 27 my hands flared up on the palms and fingers - i thought it was poison ivy at first... the doctors say it looks like psoriasis but that it shouldn't be itchy (?)i'm now 31 and its on my ankles pretty bad. it's worked it's way down. I don't know what it is but it must be an indicator of something else i think at this point.
Neem oil helps it, but it stinks so bad!! theres a cream called Dermasone that really helps if you can get it. and ALSO those latex free fast heraling bandages - they seal water out and they look like a fat flap of skin that you stick on... cover the area completely with those for about a week a a time. These are the things that have helped me, but they haven't cured a thing Sad

good luck and let me know if there's anything else i can try Smile

itchyankles

replied on August 5th, 2009

New User

*that's supposed to say; fast healing bandages - not heraling.

Iripino

replied on September 9th, 2009

New User

could be Gluten-related

I had an inflamed rash flare up this weekend that is symmetrical on both hands. I have been following a gluten free diet for a few weeks suspecting that I have a gluten sensitivity. I ended up eating meals that friends cooked with lots of wheat/gluten products . It might help others out there.

Good luck!

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