Gold Bond Riba rash?

[wyntre9]

I'm trying to stay calm and hang onto what's left of my sanity, but my chest, stomach, thighs and back broke out in bands of itchy red dots after I used Gold Bond lotion to try and soothe the itching.

Is the rash from the Gold Bond?
From the Riba?
Has this happened to anyone else?  So suddenly, I mean.

I've been itching for weeks, now, but never had such a visible obvious large rash.

This is freaking me out.

[wyntre9]

wild Turkeys really are majestic!  thanks for the skin care tips.

NS,

I'm open to everything.  i also report back if something doesn't work for me.  Not that I started the thread with the intention of bashing GB, a very good med under different circumstances for some people.  

It's that I had an extreme reaction.  After posting (coz I was VERY concerned) i realized other folks have had an adverse reaction to it, as well, that I wasn't going nuts, that sensitive skin combined with menthol in the lotion probably contributed to the rash, along with the fact I'd had two allergy injections that day.

So I, personally, won't use it again coz I don't wanna TORTURE myself anymore than necessary!!!.

BTW - I have lots of allergies (that's why I get injections) to lots of things and they, like SX, change all the time).

[northstar]

I loved the GB, and it worked so well for me that here I am 6 months post tx and I still use it everyday!!
We are all different, and have different issues and needs. We do need to be open to trying things, if it works,...great, if it doesn't, try something else.
I have gotten great ideas from this site.

[orphanedhawk]

I'm a big fan of the supersalve products. They're all natural and made in New Mexico, a very arid place. I use the salve for extreme dry spots and I'm using the calendula lotion for my skin. Check them out on-line @ superdalve.com
   I'm taking omega 3 fish oil which is also good for the skin. OTher wise I'd consider vitamin E. The supplements work from the inside but aren't going to provide instant relief, they just help with the dryness. Good Luck.
  p.s. The bird report: I've got 7 young Tom turkeys wandering around the hillside. Gooble, gooble.

[wyntre9]

Thanks.  I agree.  I'm in the can every hour on the hour like clockwork.

[wMich]

I think it should be mentioned that drinking plenty of water might help any number of Tx side effects, skin problems included. My doc insists that skin is moisturized from the inside out so this does make sense to me. Good luck!      - Lee

[wyntre9]

Thanks for the prompt replies.  I REALLY needed them.

Of course, I forgot to mention I had my allergy injections today, too.

This is the first time I used gold bond all over my body. I usually just use it on elbows and feet.

Guess LB and Jm are right - contact dermititis.  Just what I needed.  (sigh)

I just took a benadryl and an ambien so I'm sure I'm slightly incoherent but thanks for the advice.  

I'm gonna take another shower and get the stuff off me and then go to bed.

:((((((

[nygirl7]

OF course when my rash got so bad that nothing helped I hd to go to the derm doc.  The rash on my face had turned into eczema which is now pretty much all over my body in spots - nothing would cure THAT, not all the GB in the world.

I'd say see a derm doc.  Regular ribarash usually improves greatly from using a lotion like GB but eczema probably never would if it's that.

[wyntre9]

This is torture.

"when my rash got so bad that nothing helped I hd to go to the derm doc. The rash on my face had turned into eczema which is now pretty much all over my body in spots"

TG the benadryl and ambien combo knocked me out for the night.

I just checked the mirror (difficult as it was, especially first thing in my morning) and the redness has gone down and it's not so itchy.  Still have raised reddish-brownish bumps on my chest and a faint strip on the belly but it's not burning like last night.

I guess it was a Gold Bomd reaction, after all.

Anyone want a couple of bottles?

[wyntre9]

LB - no thyroid problems that I know of.  (yet)

PC,
"I put it on my skin and it started stinging terribly. My skin got very red and irritated, I had to jump in the shower to get if off! Ouch!"

Yeah, that was my reaction, except I tried to IGNORE it 'til it got so bad I was ready to do a shot of epinephrine or go to the ER (I've had to go before for severe reactions to bee stings, wasp stings, certain flowers).

TG I posted on forum instead.

JM,
"Sounds like you now have a contact dermatitis layered on top of what you had before which may have been anything from riba rash to seb dermatitis, to whatever. The contact dermatitis is probably caused by something in the Gold Bond, perhaps the menthol"

YUP.  
BTW, I got Gold Bond coz so many posters recommended it so highly!

[jmjm530]

Not me :) In fact, I've continually mentioned that a lot of the so-called "riba rash" is either seb derm or another skin condition that requires a dermatologist and I've yet to see a derm recommend Gold Bond. Gold Bond like many OTC products has too many irritating ingredients for those with sensitive skin on treatment as you found out. I used it once and had to discard it as well. If anyone wants to use an OTC moisturizer, I suggest they use something without perfumes and additivies like the Cetaphil products which are recommended by dermatologists.

--- Jim

[purplecat]

Thanks, I could use something a little stronger on my cuticles also, I will look for it and get some.  Thanks

[nygirl7]

"One person says such and such helps their itching so everyone goes out and uses it."


Most people would prefer to try a simple easy at home OTC treatment rather than go to a specialist and spend money on copays and taking time off from WORK (which is a big issue to most).

If something does not work then you NEED to see a specialist but it is worth the chance.

MOST people that I have seen post have been HELPED by the GB and did NOT need to go to a specialist.

Sorry it did not work but it IS worth the time to try it.

I would HATE someone to be discouraged from trying such a wonderful helpful remedy just because it didn't work for someone.

It does work for most with the regular old ribarash.

[jmjm530]

If your skin is very sensitive, a lot of OTC products like Gold Bond Lotion can make things worse. It did with me. Sounds like you now have a contact dermatitis layered on top of what you had before which may have been anything from riba rash to seb dermatitis, to whatever. The contact dermatitis is probably caused by something in the Gold Bond, perhaps the menthol, if I remember correctly. Of coure, immediately stop using the Gold Bond or anything else that might be irritating your skin (such as soap cleansers), and ideally see a dermatologist both for diagnosis and next steps.

What worked for my skin at it's most sensitive was to wash with Cetaphil Liquid Cleanser WITHOUT WATER and then follow with  Cetaphil Cream Moisturizer, not the lotion which contains some alcohol I believe. As my skin became less sensitive, I used the Cetaphil Liquid Cleanser with water, and then started switching from the Cream Moisturizer to the Moisturizer Lotion. I also went on a short course of rx topical steroids to help calm things down.

So the plan for me was : First stop outside irritants which in your case may be Gold bond or other skin products; next calm down with topical steroids; then maintain with a non-irritating skin regimen such as the dermatologist recommended Cetaphil produts.  This is a fairly basic plan for a pretty basic scenario where folks try and do too much and make matter worse, as explained by my derm.

Hope you feel better soon.

-- Jim

[web52]

aquaphor works great 4 me! i put it on all over after shower. used to use it 2x/day but now down to 1x/ day. helped me more w/ the itching/ dry skin than hydrocortizone & other stuff (gold bond didnt work well 4 me). i also have 2 humidifiers running full-time to help keep 40% humidity in the house, since the heat in the winter really dries out the air & exacerbates dry skin. the aquaphor didnt take away the rash when i had it (i believe i had the rash mostly from the vx) but made the itching much more bearable. i even put it on my scalp at night & shampoo it out the following day & that really helps the scalp itch.

[wyntre9]

Thanks.

All suggestions are appreciated.  :)

[Htownwife]

Hope you're feeling better. Just wanted to tell you my hubby tried Gold Bond too, and it didn't do anything for him one way or another. He then talked to the dr who recommended Cetaphil soap and lotion. He's been using both and likes it.
He's also using Stridex cleansing pads, but the ones for sensitive skin with aloe vera. The regular ones are too drying.
When the itching gets really bad, he  has taken Benadryl, although he's only needed it about twice (I think!)
Hopes this helps some.

[wyntre9]

Yes.  A lot of people have mentioned the cetaphil.  I may try it.
Thanks for the suggestion.

[Myown]

for the rash i had on my stomach and elbows i put coco butter. it worked, rash is gone.

[wyntre9]

Any particular brand?

[jmjm530]

Another case where you have to be very careful of anecdotal stories on the web. One person says such and such helps their itching so everyone goes out and uses it. The problem is that the two people may have two entirely different skin issues. That's why getting a diagnosis from a professional makes sense in many cases.

[wyntre9]

Just wanted to say thanks again for helping last night.

Y'all saved me a trip to the ER.

Washing the GB off helped, as did the bendryl.

I could kick myself coz I already know how sensitive my skin is.  From now on it's back to baby lotion.

(BTW, I did see a dermatologist last week.  He gave me a script but that irritated me, too.  That's why I decided to try GB.)

I may even have to stop allergy injections, coz every time I do the shots I get some off-the-charts reaction.  Last time it was welts on my arms.  This time it was the rash which, apparently, was made worse by the GB.

Who knew?

But, man, that itching is tough!!!

As far as advice, I guess some of it works for some of the people some of the time and none of it works for all of the people all of the time.

But I'd rather have it than not.

[ladybug52]

I just started using Aquaphor by Eucerin today. It's the first thing that has helped my cracked bleeding cuticles!

[purplecat]

I already had a little rash and using hydrocortisone cream. My Skin is so dry I bought some of the Gold Bond Extra Strength green with red cap.  I put it on my skin and it started stinging terribly.  My skin got very red and irritated, I had to jump in the shower to get if off! Ouch!  I applied hydrocotisone and even had to put benadryl gel to stop the sting.  I asked my pharmacist and he told me I have sensitive skin and had a reaction to the menthol or something else in the Gold Bond.  He recommended Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Calming Creme that is non-irritating and Fragrance Free.  It's working and no skin reaction. You are also sensitive and had a reaction.  Hope it gets better soon!  

[ladybug52]

Have you washed the gold bond off? Trying taking a bath with oatmeal or Aveeno to quiet the itch. I think you might have been getting itchy, used the gold bond and the histamine effect hadn't gone full blown till after you got it on. Do you know what I mean? The immune system causes the release of histamines. Histamines are released into the body and that cause hives or rashes. Once you scratch or irritate the area it gets worse. That's why people take anti-histimines, to counter the reaction. How's your thyroid BTW.