is it a skin infection or a fungus?

I have an irregular patch of red skin on my forehead and one small mark on on my cheek.  It appears to have been burned (very shiney) but it also is scaley and dry.  It does not itch nor is it uncomfortable.  My doctor gave me a cortizone based ointment but it hasn't cleared up as yet.  I have been using it for about one week now.  What is it?  A fungus or infection?  How can I get rid of it?

Thank You

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Marion:

It certainly sounds more like a miled case of dermatitis or eczema rather than a fungus.  Your doctor who prescribed cortisone must have thought the same thing.  Perhpas you need a stronger cream.  It should clear up in a few days.  If it doesn't, your doctor can run some simple in-office tests to clarify the situation.

Good luck.

Dr. R

[Kathy]

DEAR DR. THE INSIDE OF MY MOUTH HAS BEEN PILLING SENCES ABOUT  FIVE YEARS. WHEN I TAKE A ANTABOTIC IT CLEARS UP. AS SOON AS I STOP IT COMES RIGHT BACK. I SEEN MANY DR'S THEY WASN'T REAL CONCERNED WITH IT.  THE INSIDE PILLS ALL THE TIME . IT CAN BE A PAIN. CAUSE THE SKIN IS ALWAYS PILLING. MY DENTIST SAID THAT IT COULD BE A FUNGUS INFECTION. WHAT CAN I TAKE FOR IT ? WHAT CAUSES IT? COULD IT BE CAUSE BY NERVES OR STOMACH UPSET.MY SON GETS IT ONCES IN AWHILE BUT HIS GOES AWAY. MINE STAYS ALL THE TIME. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT ON THIS MOUTH PROBLEM?


                             THANK YOU
                              ***@****

[Paul]

My mouth occaisionally peels as well but does not stay. In my case I am 100% sure that it is due to certain foods I eat such as tomatos or products like hot sauce.

Do you smoke?  I used to smoke and I think that caused a lot of my skin problems inside my mouth.

[Paul - Second Thoughts]

Just another quick thought.  My wife and I were passing some type of problem back and forth once sexually. It affected her and not me though. Her OBGYN had us both take some type of antibiotic? and her skin problem finally cleared up.

My thought to share with you on this is that your husband may be the source (virus? bacteria? allergic?) of the condition and you are getting it during oral sex if something like that fits into your lifestyle. I know occaisionally I will apply some cologne to my genetial area to be more romantic.  If my wife was allergic to the colongne she could very well have problems.

I know it is a very tough area to talk about, but you just never know if one person's thoughts may prompt a cure or a question to be negated.

[Susan]

i have the same type of symptoms as the person above but it's on the outside of my armpit area.  the area appears like a burn on the botton portion of it. their is a round spot about the size of a loonie above it that is just a red circle.  it is always dry even if i put cream on it.  i think i got it from repeated rubbing (i'm in karate) but something has affected it so it won't heal.  i've had it for about three weeks and it constantly looks like it's about to heal but then it gets bad again.  it's about four inches wide and six inches high.  it's a real pain in the *** since i can't do anything that makes me sweat, or it starts hurting like a *****. any help will be wonderful.

[so and so]

i have had this skin problem since i was small, and some doctors said it was ezama, some said it was a fungis. i am 19, and i am beginning to believe that the doctors will never find out what it is, and it might never go away. i am not sure how i got it. in the winter and fall, is when it really flares up. i use Blue Star, to keep it from getting to bad. it just keeps spreading and spreading. when i put on the blue star it becomes red, and stingy. the rash is on my arms and legs. like i said i had it since i was small, around 7 or 8 years of age. i figuered it wouldn't help to ask someone online as well. thanks for your time.
-so and so

[jenny s.]

my mother has this disease or whatever it is like right
above her finger nail she dosnt know what it is but she thinks
its lupas.... it itches and it turns red and sometimes a little
shade of blue.... and dry and scaly it dosnt go as high as her knuckles its just right above the top of her fingernail (on the skin).... do u know what it is?? is it lupas???
-Jenny
-write back
-thanx

[Sherry]

About 3 weeks ago I noticed a stinging sensation on my right inside forearm and a bright red rash quickly developed. I put Betadine ointment on it as that was all available at the moment and the itching and burning subsided and the red quit spreading. Within a few hours it had turned hard and scaly - eventually becoming brownish.  A week later I woke up with no sensation in all of my fingertips on the right hand. Later that morning after bathing I developed the same rash on both sides of my neck. This time I did not put anything on it and within minutes it subsided and began to get very dry and scaly. Any suggestions? I still have not regained the sensation in my fingertips, by the way.
Any help or suggestions would be wonderful. Thank you.

[Richard Peake.]

I have the ultimate CREAM fot this affliction...or similar....
but im` afraid it is pescription based....

I have been Plagued by bizarre "Sores" for over 3 years now....and i beleive, that if i kept up the treatment with the above mentioned cream, that i would eventually BEAT them.

Alas, I am a very lazy person, and i don`t use the cream...so i suppose it`s my own fault........

i`m not sure of the name of the cream at the moment, because i`m at my Girlfriends house.....but, if you E-Mail me....i will get back to you!..........

EMAIL ME AT

***@****

[Linda]

Took acrylic nails off 1 year ago.Fungis is under control in all but 1 nail, have been using clear nail.What else can I use or meds. can I take over the counter or by Dr.    

                  
Thank You,
         Linda
PS. Please write to EMail Address ***@****

[Suzanne Biggin]

My son is 1 year old and for the last 6/8wks he has a had a red rash which started in the crease of his arm.  It has now spread to arms, shoulders leg and just this last week to his face and neck.  Doctors originally thought eczsma we were given hydrocortisone and ecolon ointment but nothing has helped.

He is happy in him himself and it doesnt seem to cause him discomfort but it is worrying as this is still spreading and most days it is bright red.

Please could you try and help my son.  Many many thanks

[pauline davey]

white marks on skin, shoulders, back, chest, more noticeable having been in the sun.