Rash that is spreading

My 8 year old daughter has a patchey red rash that started around her mouth and has spread to her forearms. It has come and gone for at least the last 2 months.  I took her to the dr. when it first started, but the medicine did not make it go away.  Some days it looks worse than others. The rash itches most of the time, but causes her pain due to rubbing it.  Dr. thought it might be an allergy, but I cannot determine what it might be.  Any suggestions?

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

This could be eczema, allergic rash, folliculitis. You need to wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites.

Apply calamine lotion at the site of the lesions and see if it helps. You could take some oral antihistamine medications like cetrizine or loratadine. You need to maintain a good personal hygiene . Wear lose comfortable clothes. Wash all your linen and towels etc with a disinfectant solution.

Anti-itch drugs, often antihistamine, may reduce the itch during a flare up of eczema, and the reduced scratching in turn reduces damage and irritation to the skin.

For mild-moderate cases a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone or desonide), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

Let us know if you need any further information.

It would be advisable to consult a skin specialist for the symptoms and a proper clinical examination.

Let us know if you need any other information and post us on how she is doing.

Regards.