Skin rash........Hey, I love you guys! Posted: 03-23-08 21:03pm
Wow, Ive just found this site and hearing
your stories really helps. I first
experienced the rash on my face when I
went to see a band when I was about 15 (I
think it was Golden Earring!) During the
gig I got really hot and I had also been
using an acne treatment lotion (that I
believe was later taken off of the market
and which at the time I felt had
contributed to the problem). After the gig
a friend asked me what was wrong, although
apart from a burning sensation I couldnt
see the problem. When I got home I found
that my face had come out in a horrible
rash and I just freaked out. I then seemed
to get through until my forties without a
really noticable outbreak.
During my forties I have taken on a more
responsible role in social work and have
found that I now quite often 'erupt' into
the rash. I realise that its stress and
self esteem related and I have virtually
cut out caffiene which definitely helps,
but the dreaded rash wont actually go
away. I have found that getting tired
brings it on, using a computer, social
anxiety and even sexual stimulation. Due
to it, I've been feeling like a social
outcast for some time. It has wrecked any
feelings of confidence that I once had and
I just want to hide away when its active
(which is now quite frequent). I am also
taking sertraline, (which has assisted in
the past with anxiety which is a major
contributory factor), but it's not a cure
and I would so really like to beat this!
I guess reading other people's stories has
made me aware that I also have to
recognise the fact that I have also
experienced social anxiety for years. The
daily stresses of life that most people
deal with really knock me out emotionally
and I often want to avoid it all. In my
twenties I briefly lived in a Buddhist
retreat centre and I still gravitate
towards those teachings. I think it was in
the centre that I realised that life could
be calmer and kinder and I remember that
even my skin looked healthier. I'm often
confused as to why I have still elected to
struggle out here 'in real the world', but
as I have, it would be cool to at least be
able to do it with some dignity, which I
feel this condition robs me of.
Some of your comments and stories mention
'wearing ones emotions on ones face
(blushing)'. This is the worst part, as it
just feels so damn obvious that I am
feeling stressed out, tired or even turned
on! I have used Benedryl Cream (for
allergies) for a while now and it has a
very quick affect although it doesnt last
for long and it tends to really dry the
skin. I think I'll try the product
mentioned by some of you (Derma
something?) and see how that goes. Maybe
acupuncture's also worth a try. Couldn't
we all just all move into a small town and
take it over and be blotchy together? Take
care , I'll let you kow how it goesXXX
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Missy08
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 2
Nervous Rash... Posted: 04-14-08 09:04am
Hi All,
I just wanted to update everyone and
hopefully provide a suggestion for some of
you. I had my wedding shower this past
weekend, and I took lorazepam for a couple
nights before bed, and then about a half
hour before the shower started (this was
my test for the wedding day) and I did not
get the rash at all! I was so happy.
There were so many people there and they
were all watching me open gifts and I had
to talk to a bunch of people I had never
met before, and I was not nervous, but
most importantly, I did not get red
blotches so I felt a lot less
self-conscious.
It is not something I will take all the
time, but I plan on taking it before the
wedding. Hope this helps!
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buntz
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 2 Location: , Australia
rashie mcrash Posted: 04-14-08 09:19am
Hi all,
Missy08 just in response to your reply - i
am being the typically worried pharmacist
here but I just wanted to ensure that you
were aware of the side effects of a
benzodiazepine such as lorazepam. They
have a very sedative effect and I am
worried that if you take it on your
wedding day then you might not enjoy
yourself (especially with a champagne or
two)!
On the other hand, speaking as someone who
has been suffering this condition for many
years I can definately sympathize with
wanting to take anything to control it.
Just remember that benzodiazepines
(although work well symptomatically) can
be highly addictive and can also cause
quite severe withdrawal symptoms.
I hope I haven't gotten too personal -
just worried =D
Hope you got some good gifts at the
shower!!
-Kate
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lemonlime
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 1
blotches Posted: 04-22-08 20:05pm
I am 19 years old, and i have gotten
blotches since middle school. It has
gotten so bad that I will get them when i
just talk to someone, or even think about
something that stresses me out. The red
blotches disappear within minutes. I try
not to let it interfere with my life;
however, it is very difficult when other
people watch red spots appear out of
nowhere on you and are unaware of what's
going on. When i go on interviews i will
usually tell the interviewers that i get
blotchy when nervous so they won't think
it's something more serious. I have
gotten to the point where i can predict
when i will get them; my heart will beat
fast, and my skin gets hot. They not only
are on my chest and neck, but my face too.
My fear is that it will be a major
roadblock to my future career as a
physician, or even getting into medical
school. I feel like it portrays me as
being insecure or not confident in myself.
I am planning on going to a dermatologist
to find out exactly what this condition is
called. I have accomplished quite a few
feats despite it all, for example, I was
the president of my high school student
body, which required me speaking in front
of people countless times. I'd like to
point out that every single time i spoke
in front of people i had blotches. I just
chose not to let them prevent me from what
i was trying to accomplish. I know i am
not alone in this, but it's definitely an
obstacle i am working on overcoming in my
life.
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shawnamatopoeia
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 1
red LEGS, too Posted: 06-13-08 23:21pm
I experience the same red blotchy face,
neck, and ears in stressfull situations,
but I also get extremeley red and blotchy
legs in even mild heat. Above about 75
derees, I have to wear pants to hide the
awful looking rash. It is very obvious and
was once even very ignorantly asked if I
had cancer. I am 16 and I live in
California, and during the summer all of
my friends wear shorts and skirts and I
stay inside or wear pants and can't go to
the waterparks or paintballing or anything
exciting because I turn into a red
cheetah! It is truly miserable. Anyone who
knows ANY way to help me please let me
know. I plan on talking to my doctor (who
has been absolutely no help in this
matter) about beta-blockers, as these seem
to be the only suggestion here that seems
to have helped numerous people, but I
would really rather not go to such extreme
measures. PLEASE HELP ME
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Rnicole5
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1
. Posted: 08-17-08 16:52pm
I'm fourteen years old, and tomorrow I
start high school. I have been breaking
out in this rash since the beginning of
eighth grade. It makes me hot, and I can
feel it coming on. It is red splotches,
but they are not raised and they do not
itch. I get them when I'm nervous, upset,
mad, when it's hot outside.. pretty much
anytime. They start on my chest, and
spread up my neck. Sometimes to the sides
of my face and down my arms. I can say it
has changed my life, and definatley not in
a positive way. The first time I ever
broke out was during Science class. I
really didn't think anything of it, until
I started breaking out every single day.
Finally, I went to the nurse and she and
my science teacher both thought I was
allergic to something in the room. They
thought it might help if I moved to the
back of the room, by myself. At first this
worked, I was less nervous. But then I
started breaking out again. It started
getting worse, and I started breaking out
in every single class nearly everyday. I
would go to the nurse and she would give
me some allergy medicine. I started
looking up my symptoms up on the computer,
when I found nervous rash, ect.. Things
like that. I started talking to a doctor,
who put me on anti-depressants. They
didn't work. I was breaking out everyday.
I got so nervous and so embarassed I enver
wanted to go to school. I remember the
nurse would sometimes have to send me home
because I would break out and cry because
I didn't want to go back to class. I feel
embarassed and awkward everyday. I even
got this rash sometimes over the summer. I
went to my freshman orientation, and I
broke out again but not as bad. I'm
extremely nervous that this year will be
exactly like the next. I want to find
something to help or even cure this, but I
know there might not be such a thing. This
might just be something I have to deal
with for the rest of my life...Thinking
about that is scary. If you have any
advice or anything helpful please reply!!
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bleem411
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 1
Totally Understand Posted: 08-30-08 18:59pm
I can't remember not having this rash. I
just spent a half hour at my little
sisters wedding explaining to people that
this happens when I'm Emo. The wedding
videographer actually asked if he could
touch it but asked first if it was
contagious. It seems to be only in the
common areas that women gain fat. Neck,
chest, shoulders but then it's across my
back but this time where my last sunburn
was and on my face. There is no way to
hide emotions when you have this. I've
never played poker but I don't imagine I
would be able to hide having a loosing
hand. I don't get this with my boyfriend
unless I'm emo. It's always when I'm emo
but I also get it when I'm frustrated,
angry, embarrassed, hot, anxious or
nervous. I was diagnosed with GAD when I
was a teenager. But sleep deprevation
definetly makes it harder to keep under
control. I think antihistimines sound like
they would help this because histamines
cause rashes when I have allergic
reactions. But I'm allergic to those so I
don't have that luxury. Fortunately my
sister is aware and replied to people that
asked with well she does this when she
gets nervous, it's expected. I'm breaking
out right now just thinking about it. Does
anyone know if those of Norweigian decent
are more likely to inherit this badge of
emo rashes? I once dated someone that got
the same rashes and he was from Denmark.
Same general region of the world.... He
would put lotion on and nothing else. I
used to get this heat type rash with
certain water but it covered my body from
head to toe after taking a shower. Seems
like this is normal for some people but
why is that and is it from GAD or is a
genetic predisposition. BTW - My sister is
not of norweigian decent.
