Undiagnosed recurring rash on my face

[riding13]

I have a recurring rash that appears on my face. It has appeared about 10 times in the last 7 years. It follows this progression:



Day1: very itchy around the sides of my lips and perhaps around eyes but nothing visible.

Day2-3: whole face is itchy and irritated looking, some scattered red bumps, skin around eyes particularly itchy and very wrinkly and dark.

Day 4-6/7: bumps mostly gone, skin still itchy but less red and eyes look a bit better but people still notice them and ask if I am extremely tired.



I went to the dr when it first happened 7 years ago and he said it was a fungus and gave me samples of chlotramizole(?). I don't remember it helping. He looked at my face for about 1.5 seconds and asked me no questions. I went again today because it is so irritating when it happens, and this dr. said it could be ecsema (eczema), or dry skin, or rosacea. Said hydrocortisone would be okay for itching (did not suggest anything else because I am pregnant- 14 wks). Also said she was sorry she couldn't help more. The rash was almost gone by today, just some dry skin and eyes still tired looking. I wasn't able to see a dr when the rash was bad because it was Thanksgiving, then the weekend. I should have gone Mon but thought it would just go away and I would try to see a dr the next time it came up. I do not think it is rosacea because I do not have any of the typical characteristics I have read. I don't get anything like this any where else on my body,although I am susceptible to dry skin during the cold weather (no big deal, though). What do you think? I would like to see a dermatologist when the rash is full force but I doubt I could get an appt at the right time. Thank you in advance!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

It sounds like eczema--certainly not a fungus or rosacea, for reasons too numerous to mention.  This can't be prevented because it comes when it wants, but you can cut it short, I think, by applying a mild hydrocortisone.  You can use this even if you're pregnant, since the medication is mild, and you won't be using it over a large area for a long time.  For definitive diagnosis, I suggest you take a good photo next time this happens, and bring it along to a skin doctor when you can see one.



Best.



Dr. Rockoff