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Dermatology  (Expert Forum)
 | 
very worried about thigh rash
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.

very worried about thigh rash

by jdn03, Dec 04, 2003 12:00AM
about a month ago i developed a condition on both thighs.  the right thigh is the primary problem.  i woke up in the middle of the night and felt and itch...not thinking, i scratched it.  went back to sleep.  the next morning i noticed a series of red bumps on my right and left thighs.  about 4 on the left and a larger area (about 2 in. in diameter) on the right.  Since then they have not itched and are not painful.  they were raised slightly but did not have any pus or fluid in them.  they redden after a shower but in the morning are less pronounced.  the right side has begun to heal...no longer bumps but still red patches (again esp. after a shower).  no new ones have shown up.  however, it's been a month and am worried...taking a long time to heal.  should note that i've been sweating excessively during sleep due to work/life stress (dont know if this matters).  i've been tested for all stds although the results havent come back as of yet.  have been worrying that it may be herpes or something.  my last sexual encounter was about a week before the rash/bumps (used protection but not protected oral sex).  there has been nothing on my genitals, no pain, burning, discharge or problems urinating.  any info would be much appreciated.

by Alan Rockoff, MD, Dec 04, 2003 12:00AM
This sounds like irritation, nothing more.  Perhaps sweating blocked some pores.  When you scratch, you can leave marks and bumps on the skin that take weeks to subside.  I'm confident your tests will prove negative.  I don't think the sexual encounter will turn out to be relevant.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff
Member Comments (26)

by jdn03, Dec 04, 2003 12:00AM
also...the bumps are clustered a bit on the right(beginning about an inch or so away from the crotch) but sporadic on the left...maybe a half inch to an inch aprart and not in any linear order.

by chey101, Dec 04, 2003 12:00AM
To: pls read, anybody with a suggestion.
i get razor burn (i think)on my bikini line. i have tried different soaps, different shaving creams, nothing seems to help. it doesn't irritate me but it just doesn't look good in a bikini. any suggestions of how to avoid getting the razor burn.

by derma52, Dec 06, 2003 12:00AM
Yes, try waxing...it does hurt, but it lasts longer.

by chey101, Dec 06, 2003 12:00AM
To: derma52
thanks. i already have some hot wax, because i was going to try before but chickened out.
do u know how long the hair has to be to wax?

by SelectiveMind, Dec 09, 2003 12:00AM
Wow, read your question and it was almost as though I had written it myself, I had experienced the initial red dots, followed by a cluster of red bumps yet they didnt really hurt , perhaps itched abit at first, no puss or fluid, all located on my inner thighs, they become extremely red after the shower yet return to a less active state slightly after.

At first it drove me crazy thinking what it could be, after research online my initail thought was herpes, however after two doctor visits they insist it isn't. My recent doctor visit ,my doctor dismissed it rather quickly as a simple fungal infection(Simple to him perhaps, yet enough to drive my mind crazy not knowing for sure) he gave me a few pills called Diflucan for fungal infections as well as a jock itch cream.

Its only been 1 day since the last doctors visit and Im  interested to see how the medication as well as the cream work.

Have you found out for sure what your specific case is? has it cleared up completely and has it returned?

by chey101, Dec 10, 2003 12:00AM
i could be totally off but could it be molluscum contagiosum. like i said i could be totally off but if ur still worried just ask ur doc.

by WorriedInFL, Dec 10, 2003 12:00AM
Your question would be exactly how I would word mine...after extensive internet research, I'm "guessing" that we have some sort of fungus.  The rash I have also does not contain any puss or fluids...it is just a series of simple raised bumps on my inner thigh close to my scrotem, and sometimes under my underwear band...I assume it's affecting these places because of the restrictive clothes as you mentioned.  None of the herpes/syphilis pictures look like the rash I have.

I have yet to see the doc as the rash appeared only 2 days ago and sort of comes and goes.

by derma52, Dec 11, 2003 12:00AM
To: chey101
Sorry about not answering sooner. About waxing...the hair can't be too long...trim it, but I would also recommend going to a professional.  They do it QUICKER AND BETTER than you could do it at home.

by chey101, Dec 11, 2003 12:00AM
To: derma52
thanks! i8'm gonna give it a try, hopefully i won't chicken out this time.

by SelectiveMind, Dec 17, 2003 12:00AM
To: question for jdn03
were you able to diagnose exactly what you have? my symptoms are VERY similar...

by helprashes?, Dec 28, 2003 12:00AM
help im worrying i have itchy bumps on my inner thighs. then i started to have them on my armpits.  the bumps are itch and really close together.  they are dry. no puss only blood when i scratch. PLS HELP!!!

by SelectiveMind, Dec 30, 2003 12:00AM
not sure, see a dermatalogist and have them take a look, what you should stop doing right away is stop sratching , especially if your making it bleed

by stumped, Jan 10, 2004 12:00AM
I have a similar condition.  The rash seems to thrive in damp, warm conditions especially after a work out if I don't shower right away.  I've been using a calamine spray to dry out the area and it works, but doesn't get rid of the bumps.  I am guessing that it's not herpes because there is no pain, (only a rare slight tingling after the area has been damp for some time) and there are no repeat outbreaks.  Since I've noticed the rash, it has never gone away and only fluctuated in intensity depending on the dampness.  Further, the rash doesn't migrate to any other areas and remains concentrated in my inner thighs.

What is this????  Is there a home remedy?

Thanks in advance!

by ChrisMac, Jan 13, 2004 12:00AM
I also have very similar symptoms.  Recently after sex I noticed a couple of small red dots above my pubic region, I was a bit worried but they subsided fairly quickly.  However, a day or two later i noticed similiar red dots on my left inner thigh.  They seemed to be the same yet as some of the dots faded others would arise.  After a few weeks i noticed some small dots on my right thigh and there had begun to be more on my left.  I went to the doctor and he initially thought it was folliculitus (folliculitis).  I was worried it was herpes, but he insured me that it wasn't.  He instructed me to use hydrocortizone and neosporine, but after to weeks that didn't seem to be helping.  He then thought that it could possibly be a fungal infection and prescribed me an antifungal mixed with a steroid.  This seemed to lessen the redness and cause the red dots to fade at times, yet the "rash" was pretty inconsistant.  Upon a third visit he again thought it was folliculitus (folliculitis) and believed that the steroid could just be masking something and redommended me to a derm.  The derm again said folliculitus (folliculitis) and prescribed Clindamyacin cream.  This was yesterday, it actually seems to have gotten worse after a couple of applications.  I am confident that it is folliculitus (folliculitis), but not that i am treating it properly.  Any Suggestions?

by SelectiveMind, Jan 13, 2004 12:00AM
How long have you guys had the rash on your inner thigh?

Recently I believe I found out what I had after two months of not knowing.

I had the rash on my inner thighs for 3 weeks, after that time spots began to appear on my chest area near my ribs etc. my derm. thought it was ringworm but I was skeptical about the diagnosis. I found out it is a condition called Pityriasis Rosea.. the condition starts in one place, sometimes the inner thigh, with some people there is whats called a herald patch but it doesnt always appear. After a few weeks a rash appears anywhere from the knees to the neck and on the lower back , it's contracted in people from 10 years of age to 35 mostly..

The odd part about this rash is that not only do doctors have no idea how its caused but they know its not fungal OR bacterial and although it may be viral its similar to chickenpox in the sense that it only returns in 3% of people, n other words once you have it the chances of having it again are rare. Which after thinking I had herpes I'll deal with anything that given time wont return.

I wouldnt recommend assuming you have it but I ask how long you've had your rash because if it is this condition an even greater rash will appear within the initial 3 weeks. Sometimes like in my case initial symptoms include a feeling of illness for a day or so as well as loss of appetite and sweeling of the glands. These symptoms are brief however mildly lasting for a couple of days. Thought id tell you about it and if you want more info or perhaps view some pictures do a search for Pityriasis Rosea on google. Let me know what you find

by SelectiveMind, Jan 13, 2004 12:00AM
How long have you guys had the rash on your inner thigh?

Recently I believe I found out what I had after two months of not knowing.

I had the rash on my inner thighs for 3 weeks, after that time spots began to appear on my chest area near my ribs etc. my derm. thought it was ringworm but I was skeptical about the diagnosis. I found out it is a condition called Pityriasis Rosea.. the condition starts in one place, sometimes the inner thigh, with some people there is whats called a herald patch but it doesnt always appear. After a few weeks a rash appears anywhere from the knees to the neck and on the lower back , it's contracted in people from 10 years of age to 35 mostly..

The odd part about this rash is that not only do doctors have no idea how its caused but they know its not fungal OR bacterial and although it may be viral its similar to chickenpox in the sense that it only returns in 3% of people, n other words once you have it the chances of having it again are rare. Which after thinking I had herpes I'll deal with anything that given time wont return.

I wouldnt recommend assuming you have it but I ask how long you've had your rash because if it is this condition an even greater rash will appear within the initial 3 weeks. Sometimes like in my case initial symptoms include a feeling of illness for a day or so as well as loss of appetite and sweeling of the glands. These symptoms are brief however mildly lasting for a couple of days. Thought id tell you about it and if you want more info or perhaps view some pictures do a search for Pityriasis Rosea on google. Let me know what you find

by stumped, Jan 18, 2004 12:00AM
I'm pretty stubborn and have been treating this with calamine spray to dry it out for over a year.  It helps, but doesn't completely remedy the problem.  The rash has never migrated to any other part and is centralized in the upper-inner thigh region.  Again, it thrives in a damp environment.  

I remain clueless.  I guess I'll break down and go to a doctor.  Although with the previous post, it sounds as if that might not be the end of it......

Any ideas???

by Ginnbo, Mar 09, 2004 12:00AM
I have had a rash at the top end of my left leg beside my testicles for the past 12-15 months, it is a dry patch slightly darker in colour than my white skin. In it there are sevrl small red dots whitch become very itchey and irritating. As of yet I have not found a cause for it to become itchy for any reason but mainly at night time, when that reigon becomes wame it gets itchy.
I look forward to hearing your comment.

by Ginnbo, Mar 09, 2004 12:00AM
I have had a rash at the top end of my left leg beside my testicles for the past 12-15 months, it is a dry patch slightly darker in colour than my white skin. In it there are sevrl small red dots whitch become very itchey and irritating. As of yet I have not found a cause for it to become itchy for any reason but mainly at night time, when that reigon becomes wame it gets itchy.
I look forward to hearing your comment.

by nervous2day, Mar 16, 2004 12:00AM
I ve noticed a small rash alittle while ago it is s different color than my skin plus it resembles stretch marks but i dont think it is i had a similar one pop up by my armpit  right where the shoulder connects, now the ones on the inner thigh seem like they spreading but in light versions so if anyone has a clue on what it might be?

thank you

by nervous2day, Mar 16, 2004 12:00AM
I ve noticed a small rash alittle while ago it is s different color than my skin plus it resembles stretch marks but i dont think it is i had a similar one pop up by my armpit  right where the shoulder connects, now the ones on the inner thigh seem like they spreading but in light versions so if anyone has a clue on what it might be?

thank you

by nervous2day, Mar 16, 2004 12:00AM
I ve noticed a small rash alittle while ago it is s different color than my skin plus it resembles stretch marks but i dont think it is i had a similar one pop up by my armpit  right where the shoulder connects, now the ones on the inner thigh seem like they spreading but in light versions so if anyone has a clue on what it might be?

thank you

by nervous2day, Mar 17, 2004 12:00AM
help a wierd rash has been with me for awhile now it looks like its spreading on my inner thigh it looks like its a stretch mark but i dunno  asmiliar one has appeared by my armpit its look red no bumps  like smooth almost please let me know what it might be

by itchyalways, Mar 17, 2004 12:00AM
Beware! My symptoms 2yrs. ago were just like yours. Please check www.morgellons.org to rule out this condition. It might save you a lot of time, money, and insanity. Dr's will just keep giving you prescriptions and finally think your having delusions. I was diagnosed with everything from allergies, dandruff to viral/fungal infections.

by concernedseeker, Jun 12, 2004 12:00AM
I have very similar symptoms on my inner thighs. It resembles stretch marks with with small bumps around them. Mine is not itchy or irritated at all, however. I noticed it start to appear about 7 or 8 months ago. It is slightly discolored skin (light pinkish color)It is spreading slowly, and is unsightly. Please tell me what this could be, and how I may treat it. Thank you.

by Mandy1234, Jun 11, 2008 07:01PM
A related discussion, HEY was started.
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