Overwalmed and mislead

When I was little during the winter months I would get really dry skin on my feet and right pointer finger. Over the passed twenty years something new would become dry during winter,ears,lips,nose,eyes. About Oct. of 1999 I started breaking out all over my face when I got hot. So I stopped wearing make-up, then the usual feet,and ect. came and never went away. Since then My face has been so bad at times I cant open my eyes or mouth w/out sever pain. I now have 24 spots on my arms and fingers most well over the size of a quarter.Very red, itchy,burning,warm, most round but not all. Its embarassing and really hard to live normal. I have tried Everything Cortizone 5 and 10,something for ringworm(a bad doctors answer)and honestly about 20 others. I dont have enough money to go to a specialist, So i'm not even sure if it's Eczema. Many people who had small cases suggested Aveeno-didn't work for me. I also have spots on my nipples very dry,very itchy, I thought it was all related but I read an artical on breast cancer and all the symptoms most dont notice.I have so now I'm really worried, Please help it's been almost 2 years now stright and I still get new spots. Creams only stop itching and take away redness for a day or two and then it's back. Then tiny red dots like prickly heat rash, Itches really bad, then the dots join into a circle or thick line. Please help!!! I can wear make-up, hairspray, jewerly,long sleves, I burn and get much dryer after showers, And I'm miserable outside,It always gets worse and it's always HOT,what's worse what I thought was eczema might be cancer.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Zoe:

It's very hard to follow your description.  What I can make of it sounds like eczema, which produces red, itchy spots that come and go.  Creams knock them down but not out.  They have nothing to do with cancer.  I don't know what you mean by "misled."  Who misled you?  I think you may want to look into both demratologic and psychological help, because skin problems can be annoying, but should not be overwhelming.  Please get help.  I'm sure that through your local health department you can access care you can afford.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff