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287900 tn?1218644218

pimple / rash

Hi All
have read some posts about riba rash ... any was looking for more info.  NAy common themes on what week it starts, what it looks like when it comes, where on the body, and any way to prevent / slow / treat?
The reason I ask is I have a 'pimple' on my forehead, itching as f*&k and now one on my forearm ... and ankle is itchy , but do not see a 'pimple'.  Of course, I will contact my nurse TOO< but wondered what the REAL expeerts think / have done for it themselves?
Thanks all ...
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287900 tn?1218644218
i went to a derm about the 'pimply' thing on forehead...his reponse was that it looks like either a flat wart, or 'something" from the sun.  he took a biopsy to have it checked.
but seriously, there are a few pimply things, that itch like ****, located randomly all over, my ankle, my thighs, and other side of forhead now, and in right eyebrow.  skin on tihgs looks all red spotted, and yed, dry, but those raised pimple things are what REALLY itch... is it riba rash?  if so i use the steroid cream, but not on face ... right?
I HATE itch too- cuz in my work i am terrified of bringing home lice / scabies or worse.
Helpful - 0
298631 tn?1210625430
I experienced mine 1-2 mos into tx. The light raised red rash kind on arms and thighs. Any sun exposure (even with sunscreen) really can bring it on so avoid heat/sun even if covered up.

That cleared up ok and then I got the "phantom itchies." Gotta love my doc - he says "it's not phantom itching; it's real" and then looks at me with one eyebrow raised like I'm a crazy nut! ;-) Welllll, what I meant is that it would be little nerve ending firings in random and fleeting places and nothing is actually visible - on the arm, on the scalp, back on the other arm...enough to make you bonkers! This was at about mo 3 I think (I'm at 8 now). Drinking more water seemed to help this also (as it did with everything else), and eventually this too passed.

So, keep out of the sun, drink that H2O, switch to very mild non-irritating soaps including baby shampoo and non-allergenic laundry detergent, and use less of all of it in general.

Got rid of the itchies....now if I could just get my hair back!

Good luck!

Robin
Helpful - 0
287900 tn?1218644218
thanks for yous comments ... i will bring up to my Dr and see what can be done ...think it is at night when i scracth ...guess my nails got to go :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh yeah, try your best not to scratch your forehead. You might end up with a scar if you do. I had one of those invisible itchy pimple things on the tops of my feet (I called it "stigmata" rash/itch). I scratched so hard it bled, and left what will probably be a permanent scar. So maybe try putting ice cubes on the spot that itches until you can see a dermatologist about it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No common theme on when it starts that I know of. What it looks like? Most people describe the "average" riba rash as a light red, dry rash usually with raised little bumps all over. But again, everyone is different, this is just what I've heard described and what I personally experienced with the so called riba rash. Speaking for myself, there were other facets of it though. Although much of what I went through was also either directly or indirectly tied into a telaprevir rash. But the psoriasis, which is primarily caused by interferon as far as I know, was not fun. I had psoriasis patches on my ankles and a few sporadic patches of it here and there that cropped up. The psoriasis sores were these patches of skin that had thickened and become abraded and sore, not pleasant at all. Then I also had the skin break down and "macerate" between the folds of skin. This was awfully bad, in ways I can't even explain (and don't want to). Then there was scalp itch and dandruff (which I've never had in my life btw). Scalp and face itch so bad I scratched the eyebrows right off my face. Scratched most of my hair off too. And if it gets into your ear canals?? God help you! Me and Charlotte used to call it "gun in the mouth", because I'm almost embarrassed to say it but you really did consider a gun in the mouth, it was THAT bad. I mean it was maddening in ways that would defy the imagination...and there was NO respite: 24-7 insanity.

Anyway, what to do? If you have small localized patches of itching, there was one thing that really rocked at helping with that. That one thing was called Clobex. Clobex is a prescription only steroidal lotion that is very powerful. Once you put it on you can actually feel it tingle, it's serious business. Although it should be mentioned that there are other strong steroidal lotions that are probably comparable to clobex. Clobex really helped put those localized itchy rashy spots in their place. You're not allowed to use it on your face, so that invisible itchy pimple thing you talk about (which I know what you mean btw) on your forehead, you can't use it there. Unless your doctor says so, but in all  likleihood they'll prescribe something else for your face. Lotions like clobex are not supposed to be used on your groin, armpits or apparently anywhere there are lymph nodes. And jim here had a lot of psoriasis problems during his treatment and learned alot about these steroidal creams/lotions. He said the steroidal lotions can cause rosacea and thinning of the skin under certain circumstances, so you really wanna be careful about using steroidal creams and lotions on your face. (i.e. listen closely to what your doctor says about it)

Lastly, also consider antihistamines that may help alleiviate overall itching. Try over the counter (OTC) benadryl. Or you can try a drug called Atarax which is a powerful prescription antihistamine. I took loads of both, and I'd say that the benadryl actually worked pretty good. Plus it made you tired which helped you sleep at night too. Atarax was good too, but speaking for myself I had to take like 3 of them (25mg each) to get relief. But if I took enough they would subdue the itch and also relax you somewhat. Plus apparently they're fairly liver friendly, my conservative doctor felt safe with them and I never saw any major spikes in my liver enzymes while on them. Plus I never got hooked, so that's really good too.  ;-)

Anyway, hopefully you can hook up with a good derm and find something to help you out, whatever you do don't suffer in silence. There is help out there, you just gotta go get it. Best of luck to you...
Helpful - 0
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