Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Rash on legs/hairline/chest/upper back
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Rash on legs/hairline/chest/upper back
by phy6girl, Apr 15, 2007 12:00AM
Hello - About a week ago I developed different rashes over lots of my body. My scalp and hairline/eyebrows/creases behind ears/inside ears developed a sort of red, scaly rash that doesn't particularly itch that I thought might have been seborrheic dermatitis - I have been using a 2% ketoconazole shampoo, plus a cream (same active at 2% also) which didn't do a thing. Then I tried some OTC hydrocortisone to try and calm the redness and that didn't help either.
At the same time I developed a pimply sort of follicular thing on my chest, upper back and thighs, and to a lesser extent on lower legs/tummy. They were also not particularly itchy but if I did scratch them the skin on the top came right off and became little scabs. I didn't do anything to try and treat these.
Then it occurred to me that the whole thing might be a big candida overgrowth, because I also developed a vaginal yeast infection at the same time - and I had consumed a good amount of soft drinks and sugar that week which is not typical for me (I can't think of anything else that changed). I've been taking lots of probiotics since and have curtailed almost all sugar/white flours from my diet. None of this seems to be clearing up. Oh and I am not allergic to anything I know of.
Thanks.
At the same time I developed a pimply sort of follicular thing on my chest, upper back and thighs, and to a lesser extent on lower legs/tummy. They were also not particularly itchy but if I did scratch them the skin on the top came right off and became little scabs. I didn't do anything to try and treat these.
Then it occurred to me that the whole thing might be a big candida overgrowth, because I also developed a vaginal yeast infection at the same time - and I had consumed a good amount of soft drinks and sugar that week which is not typical for me (I can't think of anything else that changed). I've been taking lots of probiotics since and have curtailed almost all sugar/white flours from my diet. None of this seems to be clearing up. Oh and I am not allergic to anything I know of.
Thanks.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Apr 16, 2007 12:00AM
, Apr 16, 2007 12:00AM
I can't really tell from your description with any certainty. The scalp and ear and hairline rash does sound like seborrhea. It's therefore possible that the body rash is a form of psoriasis, which can be related in some cases, or perhaps eczema. An overall yeast infection is not the least bit likely. You'll need to see a doctor in person about this one, for both diagnosis and treatment.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
