CHRONIC RASH

I HAVE HAD A RASH ON MY INNER THIGHS AND PUBIC REGION FOR 3 YEARS. IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY HEAT AND MOISTURE. SKIN TOUCHING SKIN CAUSES THE MOST IRRATATION. I HAVE TRIED EVERY OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCT AVAILABLE WITH NO RESULTS. I HAVE USED BACTROBAN, LOPROX,AND BETAMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE AND THEY ONLY SEEMED TO WORK FOR A FEW DAYS. THEY SEEM TO KEEP THE RASH UNDER CONTROL BUT IT NEVER CLEARS UP. IT IS NOT A FUNGUS AS A SCRAPING HAS BEEN TAKEN. I AM CURRENTLY TAKEING BIAXIN AND ALEGRA AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO HELP MUCH EITHER. I USED TO GET HEAT RASH WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD AND IT WAS ON MY NECK ONLY. I HAVE HAD HISTAMINE RELEASES THAT MADE MY FACE TURN VERY RED FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES , THAT HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND THEN NEVER AGAIN. THAT WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ONCE I HAD A HISTAMINE RELEASE THAT CAUSE SEVERE STOMACH PAIN. I LIVE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND HAVE BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE SO MY ENVIRONMENT HAS NEVER CHANGED. THIS RASH STARTED WHEN I TURNED 30, I AM NOW 33. THE RASH IS RED DOTS THAT WILL TURN INTO PUSTULES IF I DON'T USE OINTMENT TWICE A DAY. THERE IS NOT MUCH ITCHING. I USE POWDER AND CHANGE UNDERWEAR TWICE A DAY. LAST WEEK I NOTICED A VERY SMALL AMOUNT AND LIGHTER IN REDNESS OF THE RASH ON MY KNEES, SHINS AND ARMPITS. I HAVE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DERMATOLOGISTS, A GERNERAL PRACTITIONER, AN ALLERGIST AND EVEN MY WIFES OB/GYN. THE ALLERGIST SAID I WASN'T ALLERGIC TO ANYTHING. WHEN I WENT SKIING IN COLORADO IT DISAPERED WITHOUT MEDICATION OF ANY SORT. HOW DO I GET THIS UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE TO THE NORTH POLE?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Gilmore:

I'm afraid I can't add much to what you already know.  Perhpas the ebst way to deal with chafing is to keep the area powdered.  I would stay away from cortisone creams, because they have not helped and because they may redden the skin further.  If I were you, I would pay as little attention as possible to the redness, and just treat the itch with talcum powder and use of a light moisturizer to deal with itch.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[John Hooper]

I have had this happen too, and it is not pleseant, i have had an std test but had not been in sexual relations in 1 and 1/2 years so i was very sceptical.