Small spots on arm/back/chest

[DCRob]

I apologise because I don't entirely know where this should go.

Some background. I've been travelling around asia for around 10 months, in the first three months I managed to sun burn myself quite badly on my arms, neck and face resulting in my staying indoors for two days. I burnt myself a little a couple more times after that but usually this was o.k by the next day. Since then I've been pretty careful, I don't cover my arms but I do wear sunscreen and a hat if I'm out for more than an hour.

Anyway about two months ago now I noticed I started to get some red spots on the back of my arms they vary in size from 3-6mm across are red./pink and I would guess most had a small spot of puss on the top. A few I squeezed too hard would develop into little lumps which were quite noticable. Smaller versions of what I presume were the same thing started to develop all over my fingers/hands they lasted for about 3 weeks and then went completely, at the same time however I got a very red and and angry series of red spots on my back, genitals which I think was a fungal infection, this has since cleared up with some lamisil and air conditioned rooms.

The spots on my arms are still there, but much less so on my right arm, where I currently have only one, previously I had many, on my left I can count at least 5 most if not all seem to be coming up under hair follicles.

I still do have a random smattering of small pink spots across my back and a few on my chest which are persistent because I guess I unconsciously pick at them.

I have fair skin, which has always been prone for getting spots, I've always had the occasional spot on my back or chest but these are persistant and have been here for a while now.

I'm not sure if these are down to the very hot and humid conditions I was living in back in cambodia, I wasn't in an air conned room for almost two months which is when all this developed, and I was in conditions where my skin was rarely dry, once I did get to aircon in bangkok it seemed to improve things alot. The ones on my arms are definitly healing but they do so very slowly, the ones on my chest also seem to heal but very slowly also, does anyone know what it might be? I am again in non air conned rooms but it;s substantially less humid here in Chiang Mai so I'm not noticing them as much but they are still there.

[DCRob]

I don't think it's any of the above, I googled pictures of each and none looked quite like what I have.

Closest I've been able to find so far are like these althouth at the moment they seem to be slowly healing.

http://skin-cancer-signs.com/images/skin-2.gif

And if I've picked at them then they tend to go like this

http://skin-cancer-signs.com/images/skin-3.gif

Depressingly as you can see these are from a skin cancer website.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

This sounds like a heat rash or milaria , though nothing can be said with surety without having a look at the lesions.

'Miliaria (miliaria rubra, sweat rash or prickly heat) is a skin disease marked by small and itchy rashes. Miliaria is a common ailment in hot and humid conditions, such as in the tropics and during the summer season. '

'The prevention and treatment of miliaria primarily consists of controlling heat and humidity so that sweating is not stimulated. Measures may involve treating a febrile illness; removing occlusive clothing; limiting activity; providing air conditioning; or, as a last resort, having the patient move to a cooler climate.'

You could read more about the condition at the following links -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miliaria

and

http://www.emedicine.com/DERM/topic266.htm

Let us know if you need any other information and post us about how you are doing.

Regards.