progressive rash

two weeks ago i used a self tanning cream 3x with no problems. after using it the 4th time, i developed a pimply, itchy rash over the areas i used it on. over the past week and having discontiued it'use immediately, i see the rash is  now on areas i did not use the tanner.  each morning i awake, the rash has progressed to a new area, and now i  have a rash al over my body except my back and face but much worse on the areas i use the tanner one. i saw the MD on the 4th day of the rash and he said  it looked like a drug allergy. the only thing i was taking was red rice yeast extract which i have discontinued . so here i am 1 wk from onset and still the rash progresses. i have been using a prescription cream " triamcinolone acetate .1%" and benedryl but this really does little to help. hot water defintiely aggravates it. i have not had any changes in my life at all . i was recently diagnosed with mgus a benign condition at present  but a rash is not a sympton of that condition. any help is appreciated. thanks

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
A rash which spreads and present all over the body can be a viral rash or drug allergy. One of the most common ones is an allergic reaction or contact dermatitis. It can happen to chemicals, wool, soaps, cosmetics and certain foods can cause itchy skin. You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps.

For mild-moderate symptoms a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).But they are available under prescription and should be taken only after consulting a dermatologist. Also use mild soaps and wear cotton clothes.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[toridon]

thank you. i saw a dermatologist who is baffled. she feels it may be related to the mgus or possible multiple myeloma. she did not feel it was due to allergies or contact dermatitis. each new area it spread to is quite different than the others. she did two skin biopsies and i await the results. meanwhilethe rahs is getting better. it continues to spread but with each new area with far less intensity so i am hopeful it will all go away. it seems to take a week to 9 days to ease and begin to go away. i was given a prescibed cortisone cream tri.???... ace.???... and it seems to quiet things down. thanks for the input.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It is good that you have got a biopsy done for the rash. It will confirm the diagnosis. Meanwhile you can take the medicines as prescribed. However cortisone is a steroid cream and hence avoid overdoing it.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.