Skin condition

[madbrad]

Does anyone know what this might be..I have on my face,forehead,armsand chest...It looks kinda like the red blotchy patches...Kinda like what you see on those who are in Convalesent homes....Anyone have any idea what this may be????

[ladybug52]

Really a coincidence. I just got my military records back and at one point I had an allergic reaction on my face. When they found out I had a feather pillow they told me that was the culprit. Funny how I had that pillow forever and suddenly became allergic too it. But I can imagine all the pollen and dust and mites it had been collecting.
Take care.
Bug

[jmjm530]

Wasn't making fun of feather pillows, but just that feather-fill is a big-time allergen for many folks -- and even if you haven't been allergic before, keep in mind that the tx drugs alter things. Just might be worth a try switching pillows with the other stuff and see what may be causing what.

-- Jim

[madbrad]

I think I'll snatch my kids pillow for the next week or so to see if that makes a diff..........LOL...Hope I don't wake up with a sucker stuck to my cheek...JK!

[madbrad]

LOL yes FEATHER.......I'm old school...I can't stand those rubber chunky hard as rock pillows or fiberfill......
  But hey you may be right about the hypoallergenic's, and the cleansers....I think I'll try change the detergents and pillows cases... 21 weeks to go....

[jmjm530]

Did you say FEATHER. LOL. That could be another culprit right there. Maybe time to go and pick up a brand new hypoallergenic synthetic pillow -- don't cost much -- and see how that works wrapped in an all cotton casing and then either an all-cotton or silk pillow case.  Yes, skin does go big time SISSY on treatment. I had to stop using soap entirely on my face and substituted
"Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser" which can be used with and without water -- water actually sometimes being an irritant. I actually did everything I've listed when my skin when bonkers and I think it really helped. Also changed pillowcases and sheets every day as I was susecptible to bacterial and fungal infections. It will get better once treatment is over, but meanwhile you got to treat your skin like a baby.

-- Jim

[madbrad]

You know what I didn't even think of that..Thats what it could be..The fact that my skin has gotten super sensitive,I even stated that in another thread how my skin has gone sissy on me......
    Detergent is probably the culprit...And the fact I sweat like a hog every night soaking my feather pillow.

  My spots aren't acute...On my face its more like a few blotches...My forearms get reddened and it almost looks like under the skin and measel looking....but that usually only happens around taking my Riba dose....
  Man you musta went thru it!

[jmjm530]

If it's on the side you sleep, you might try sleeping on a white 100% cotton or silk pillowcase washed with a very gentle non-perfumed soap/detergent and then double-rinsed. Treatment seem to make the skin very sensitive and what you're experiencing could be a reaction to either a synthetic fiber and/or what it's washed in. If you think those pics are bad, you should have seen what I looked like on treatment :) Thankfully, that's past history.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Is it the side of your face you sleep on? Could be contact dermatitis or any of the aforementioned conditions. Again, don't put steroids on your face -- even OTC Hydrocortisone -- unless under the supervision of a dermatologist. You might want to check out these pics for contact dermatitis and seb derm respectively, but you really need a dermatologist for a definitive diagnosis as even most non-specialized MD's misdiagnose many skin problems.

http://www.dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/contact-irritant.html
http://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/seborrhoeic-dermatitis.html

[madbrad]

I don't put anything on it except soap when I bathe..I don't want anymore chemicals on or in my body that I don't (HAVE) to have..EWWWW those pics are of some nasty stuff,Makes me want to pray for those people,It ain't that bad......But to answer your question it is mostly on the side I sleep.
I'm thinking it caused by all the EPOetin I was on for 6 weeks.It doesn't itch or anything..Just looks like skin on my grandpa....And just on one side too.Weird stuff .

[madbrad]

Thanks,
Yes I'm on tx.I'm 27/48,geno 1.......But I just looked at pics of those and that not what it is......I never had these before.They just appeared about 2 months ago.But at that time I was on EPOetin for 6 weeks....

[madbrad]

Don't sweat it Lady,your gonna be ok...His Grace is sufficiant...And I am on Atarax..
  ==== Would-rather-be-riding, I went to a site that had a pic of some dudes hand and thats what it looks like,but not quite as pronounced....

jmjm530
I know I didn't EVER have this before tx and it didn't show up till about 8 weeks ago.....Weird thing is ,on the face part it's only on one side of my face and goes into my hairline,and a few spots on my face...I know it isn't a hygiene issue,I bath twice a day.....I'm bewildered.

[jmjm530]

Sorry, not enough info for even an internet diagnosis. LOL. Could be anything from psoriasis, to sebboreah dermatitis, to contact dermatitis to eczema. One thing you do not want to do is to self treat with steroids, especially on your face. Best suggestion is to see a dermatologist for a diagnosis and then take it from there. Meanwhile, you can look up some of the aforemtioned conditions on this web site, but just remember that a lot of conditions mimic each other.
http://dermnetnz.org/

All the best,

-- Jim

[would-rather-be-riding]

I wonder if cryoglobulemia is what you're talking about.  check that out too.

[LadyY]

Hi again,
Also look on pg. 13. It says treatment of skin rashes: Antihistimines and steroid cream.

[Kalio1]

Are you on treatment? Are they red circular blotches? You can get something called "spider angiomas" that can look sort of like polka dots from liver disorders, they are flat and don't itch .If you press on them they go away momentarily. Mine went away completely on treatment but I had a whole lot of them they appeared right after the surgery where it is believed I contracted HCV. In hindsight the doctor says I was in the acute phase then and my liver was really freaking out, but who knows. I'd have it checked out by the doc if I was you.

[LadyY]

This site was posted yesterday, I saved it to my documents for easy referral. Read pg. 9 (Dermatology). It's pretty informative. Hope this helps and I hope your skin clears up soon.
http://www.mihivnews.com/events/hcv-conference-05/HCV_treatment_side-effects.pdf


ps. Still puffin' away :(