Multiple Symptoms. Help!

First, I've been documenting whats happening with this sore spot on my tongue. Its been coming and going since the end of December now. Basically it starts as a small spot with a semi whiting border on the tip of my tongue. Then it expands daily for about two weeks until it disappears and then it does the same thing over again. It feels like a dull numb pain. Kind of like what your tongue may feel like after you burned it the day before. Some days it looks redder than others. Picture provided is about 4 days in to the most recent bouts of it.When googleing image looks most like strawberry tongue or geographic tongue.

Then about a week or so ago every time I shower I've noticed my left shoulder gets really red. Sort of like a sun burn. Today it was even larger and spread a bit to my chest and down my arm but about an hour after it had faded. While it was red it did radiate a bit of heat but it doesnt really itch or anything.

I went to a gp and they put me on some super strength anti-biotic (for other random symptoms)...you know the usual uh huh, uh huh, when in doubt throw someone on an anti-biotic type deals without doing any tests. So I left pretty disappointed in the medical community once again.

The persistent tongue thing is my main concern. I generally don't like to go to the doctors and usually just wait things out but when it continues like this I think it's time to seek advice from specialists (which I can't afford being a broke college kid).

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms the rash on shoulders sounds like hives, dermatitis or urticaria. Wash the areas several times with fresh water and do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and  for mild-moderate symptoms a weak steroid may be used.

Sores on the tongue can be caused by allergic reactions, oral herpes simplex virus infection, canker sores, tuberculosis, bacterial infections, or early-stage syphilis. Sores can also be caused by allergies or other immune system disorders. Most likely these sores sound like due to an allergic reaction  and it can cause hives also.

If the symptoms persist inspite of the above mentioned treatment then please get it evaluated from a dermatologist for these other causes.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.