Red armpit rash after wearing a shirt from salvation army store

[dream2heal]

I noticed a red rash under my armpit after using a used t-shirt.  The rash does not exactly itch, but there is a slight burning feeling and I seem to have the smell of someones elses BO.  How do I treat this condition, how do I disinfect the other second hand shirts I bought and do I need to disinfect the shirts I have worn since my rash.  Should I avoid buying used clothing in the future or is there a simple way of dealing with this situation.  I have been using a cream called Traumeel, which a is a do it all type of cream my mother uses for everything and Lamisil which has terbinafine hydrochloride cream 1%. What is my next move......

                         Thanks,
                           G

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Red armpit rashes are usually irritation rather than fungus or allergy.  This pops up for no reason.  I advise using 1% hydrocortisone (over-the-counter) and avoiding irritation for a few days. I don't think the fact that the shirt was used has any relevance, by the way.  If it doesn't clear up, ask a skin doctor to have a look.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[worriedone4life]

First of all, I hope you washed the article of clothing before you wore it.  You should wash any piece of clothing you buy in a store before you wear it, you never know who wore it or tried it on before you.  You can get a topical cream from your doctor called mentax which contains the antifungal agent, butenafine hydrochloride.  It is often used to treat ringworm and other similar skin conditions.  If you dont want to see your doctor or a dermatologist, a simple over the counter anti-fungal cream from your local pharmacist would do.  You can even try a cortizone topical cream.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your advice reflects conventional wisdom, but is not correct.

Dr. Rockoff

[FredZ]

I always wash washable clothing before I wear it, unless I know someone else that I trust washed the item(s). Yes, including brand new. Seems like common sense. A cup or so of common bleach in rinse water for a couple of minutes agitated, drain, spin, and then a complete rinse cycle.

I have no delusions that this sterilizes the clothing, but it probably disinfects it to some extent with respect to many common pathogenic microorganisms.

My $0.02

[nimixer]

I wash new and used clothing before wearing. But I am more preoccupied with chemicals on the clothes than I am about germs.  It's also possible that the salvation army may themselves have treated the clothing with disinfectant and that is what caused you to break out in a rash.

[Tomb]

HI,

I have the same problem but it has to do with MY deoderant. The deoderant caused me to have a red rash that burns and my underarms get sticky and smell. What should i do? Am i sick or is the an allergy? Plese Respond back

[Cookie27]

Here's a tip, I buy lots of clothing from Goodwill, Thrift, etc. and it is ALWAYS wise to wash not only with soap & bleach but I add 2 capfulls of "Murphy's Oil Soap", this will kill any living body lice or bug. I've was told this years ago by someone who worked in a thrift store, and its worked.  You ever notice how "itchy" you are when you come out of one of those stores, that's becuase they Don't wash anything and many of the items in that store carry lots of dust mites, body lice & other bugs.  I also suffer from an awful rash under both arms, it started with my left and now its on my right, I think its from borrowing my sisters razor, I never had this kind of rash until then, I'm going to try to 1% cortizone. I have been suffering for a month now and the only thing that seems to help me is talc powder, but that doesn't help in the summer with B.O.  
Thanks, Cookie

[ThriftyGal22]

A related discussion, sores on my scalp was started.