Help With Possible Diagnosis Please

[soybean]

Dear Forum,

I have this rash along my right waistline that I need help identifying. I went to a doctor and she could not diagnose it. The rash shown in the picture has been on me for more than 2 months. I have around two new spots below the abdomen.

Doctor ruled out shingles, cancer, allergies, and a few others which I don't remember.

Rash itches sometimes and seem to appear/grow slowly near the area (new spot a month from each other).

I applied Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream 2x/d for 1 week and it did not seem to improve the rash.

I've gotten bitten by a bug during a hike around 1/2 a year ago, thought it was a tick, and was prescribed an antibiotic for precaution. (just throwing out possible causes)

Any help will be appreciated!

[soybean]

If it is an allergy, shouldn't the rash occur else where too? If I was to be allergic to my clothes/detergent, the rash should occur in areas where the clothes is rubbing/in contact with. Can someone confirm this? Thanks!

[soybean]

What other symptoms did you have?

There is no pain at the area, just an occasional itch/weird sensation, usually at night. Not really bother some.

[str8pndu]

I had shingles last year and it started in the same place...started on my side and spread around to my back and stomache...looked just like that too!!!

[i_am_who_i_am]

Could it be an alergy? If it is you could be reexposing yourself everyday if you dont know what it is. And maybe that would be why the rash continues.

[soybean]

Update:

I haven't gone to see a dermatologist yet, but am planning to within the next two months. The rash has spread once again, now towards the groin area. It looks like a strip going diagonally towards the groin. Could there be a possibility that it is shingles, considering the rash looks like it is appearing in a section of a dermatome?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be pityriasis rosea. Pityriasis rosea is a common human skin disease which presents as numerous patches of pink or red oval rash. The rash may be accompanied by low-grade headache, fever, nausea and fatigue and itching. Topical and oral steroids are needed. Water, sweat, and soap may cause irritation and should be avoided in the disease. Topical zinc oxide and calamine lotion are useful for pruritus.
I would suggest you to consult a dermatologist and get this possibility evaluated as without examination confirmation  of a diagnosis is tough. Hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries. Warm regards.

[soybean]

Thanks so much for the possible diagnosis! Very helpful.

More responses are welcome! :D

[etalia]

Here's another forum that a doctor responded to on this website.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dermatology/red-rash-on-torso/show/241020

[etalia]

Another website for the Pityriasis Rosea
http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/pityriasis_rosea.html

[etalia]

Found this one as well.  How ironic if this was it.

Christmas tree rash (pityriasis rosea)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-rash/SN00016&slide=3

[etalia]

My daughter use to get some wierd rashes when she was younger.  This looks similiar.

One rash my daughter got use to blister when treated and dressed.  It actually made the rash worse.  Doctor said it was a kind of herpes rash.  Best way to treat it was to keep it exposed to air and as much direct sunlight as possible.  Chicken Pox is a kind of herpes and does not clear out of the system.  Once you have it, you've got it forever.  Her herpes from the Chicken Pox which presented itself years later in one spot of her body.  Once treated and healed it never reactivated again.

Another was a strange 'Rosacea' rash on her torso.  Yours look kind of like what she had.  It started in the middle as horizontal strips, then spread up/down from there.  Doctor showed me a book that had her rash listed with pictures.  There are apparently many forms of Rosacea.  For this one there was no treatment.  Like a cold, she had to wait for it to run its course and clear up on it's own.  A couple of months later it was  pretty well gone and never came back.

I found these websites about Rosacea that may be of help.  The later suggests an oppressed immune system that needs to be boosted and detoxifying the system.  Both appear to suggest finding out what may be triggering the rash and avoiding it, as well as changing diet and certain life habits to control it.

National Rosacea Society
http://www.rosacea.org/patients/faq.php

Healthy-Skin-Guide
http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/rosacea-a-symptom-of-lupus.html

Not a doctor.  Hope this helps.