Beer or milk thistle reaction?

[RCP]

Dear Dr.

In December I got a strange rash (red patches) on my body the started on my shoulders and upper back and spread down the sides of my back and down onto  my chest.  About a month later, after I moved, it totally went away.

Then a couple of weeks ago it came back again.  I noticed it after I drank a  beer and I started feeling itchy.  I haven't had any beer since but it was continuing to get worse.  The only thing that I could think that I did differently after moving was to use a different laundry detergent, and to start taking milk thistle capsules that I got at a health food store and heard were good for your liver.

I rewashed all my clothes, in Arm and Hammer detergent and started taking the milk thistle again, and almost immediately I started to improve and once again I am clearing up.  Is it possible that the milk thistle, or changing my detergent is the reason?  And I'm a little nervous about drinking beer.

The red patches occured mainly on my upper body but I also got some on my arms and legs the second time.

[ry]

I have a Severe case of Eczema and tried milk thristle too, but I think my case is beyond that.  When I consume beer, the next day my body would swell up and my patches of would flare up the next day and won't calm down for days.  If milk thristle works for you.... great...and don't drink too much in one sitting...those patches might stay like mine..
Sincerely,
Ry

[RCP]

I've been to a dermatologist twice.  She initially thought that it was caused by a virus.  But it came, went away, then came back again.

You're right I don't think that the detergent or the milk thistle was what made the difference.  I figured out what had made me better.  I had loaded up on acidopholis to get rid of canker sores in my mouth.  

Whatever this is that I have if I take a bunch of acidopholis I get almost immediate results.  It will almost completely clear in about an hour after taking the acidopholis.  I tried stopping the acidopholis and it came back so I'm taking it again and keeping myself clear.  I don't have a clue why this is working, but it works like a miracle for me.

Richard

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Hard to sya without seeing the rash, of course.  But your description best fits eczema, which produces red, itchy patches that are also scaly.  These come and go at varying intervals, often for no particular reason.  Detergents and supplements hardly ever correlate with outbreaks in a consistent fashion.

My advice is therefore to leave your routine (washing, vitamins, beer) unchanged, and to seek medical attention from a skin doctor.  One visit should clarify things.  If you can, take a couple of pictures along to the office of the rash at its most vivid.  That will help the doctor diagnose and treat you better.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff