Candida: need info re. sheath or film over the skin

My situation:
> 3 mos. Of disseminated multi-fungal infection
> first T. rubrum, then another my biologist husband thinks is Malassezia
> now: bloom of Candida
> not diabetic/immunocompromised: Lamictal seems to have set me up

2 dermatologists (hospital derm clinic) have Rx-ed topical steroids (.05% fluocinonide & .025% fluocinolone acetonide), which improve my Sx's, but have alarming effect: first time I put steroid ointment on my face the Candida seemed to spread in 2 min. from perioral area to all over my face—not “spread” as in ”grew,” but spread as in extended what I call its "sheath."

That SHEATH is the topic of my question. All of my legs, my hands, my forearms, & since applying the steroid ointment, all of my face--are covered w/ a semi-translucent, pale, pearlescent sheath, or film, of a different texture than my own skin--softer, more velvety, & slightly doughy/gummy in feel. The shorter, finer hairs are trapped under it, & it repels creams/gels/ointments, like it's a protective barrier. It's a pretty scary one, too, because it has thickened, day by day, to the point where I cannot tell what's going on underneath it.

What can you tell me about this sheath that Candida manufactures? Is it possible the steroid ointment encouraged it? Is there anything I can do about it? Is there anywhere I can read more about this phenomenon?

You may wonder, why don't I ask my dermatologists? Well, they say the steroids are the answer, 'cause everything that's happened is an allergic overreaction, w/ fungi as merely a superinfective sideshow (they haven't Rx'ed antifungals, local or systemic), They can't perceive the sheath-film on my skin, despite my friends saying I'm so white I'm unearthly, espec, my dead, vampiric hands, w/ white-white skin & prominent blue veins. It doesn't help much I'm a natural blonde, so the docs expect me to be pale. But I'm a Scandinavian blonde: in summer, my skin color is golden-tan. But now I look like a ghost!

Thanks, Dr. Rockoff.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I must confess that your story makes no medical sense at all, neither your description of symptoms (which correspond to no disease I nave ever seen or heard of) or your dermatologist' reactions (no dermatologist would ever prescribe a topical steroid for candida yeast--or what they agree is candida).  Also, no dermatologist would prescribe steroids for disseminated T. rubrum fungus infection--they would use oral antifungal pills and send you to an immunologist to see why you are immunosuppressed.  I'm not sure what you make either of your statement that your biologist husband thinks you have Malassezia.  What makes him think so?  Has he performed a culture?

In short, nothing about your description or interpretation resonates with anything in my experience or knowledge.  You'll have to deal with doctors in person on this, I think.

Dr. Rockoff

[JulieJ1955]

I suppose I should apologize for what was apparently a confusing description, but the clinical history I provided was only to provide context for my question about the pearly-white sheath or film on my skin (I don't know what's the correct medical term for it). 2K characters is very little space in which to give details of a complex multi-specialty case.

(1) "no dermatologist would ever prescribe a topical steroid for candida yeast" --> Could you please elaborate on this? As I explained, I'm *not* immunocompromised: I'm suffering through one of the all-too-common anti-convulsant hypersensitivity reaction syndromes caused by Lamictal (lamotrigine). Some people get hypersensitive to allergens like soap or perfume; others to fungi, including commensals. Steroids are the usual Tx approach. So why do you say this is the wrong thing to prescribe, & no dermatologist would ever Rx it? Frankly, you've got me pretty alarmed!

(2) "...your biologist husband thinks you have Malassezia.  What makes him think so?" --> golden-yellow fluorescence of lesions in UV light; examination of microscopic samples. His PhD. is in Botany & he has done research on mycorhizzha.

(3)  "your description of symptoms ... correspond to no disease I have ever seen or heard of" --> are you saying you've never heard of a sheath or film such as I describe? I just want to be clear.

Thanks again,

Fiona
  

[depressed330]

A related discussion, demodex mites in skin was started.