Rash remedies anyone?

13th week on tx - a horrible rash on my stomack, back and chest, even neck. Any advice how to deal? I work in a restaurant, didn't tell anyone about my tx, but the rash has to be addressed or I lose my job :-((((( Help

[rita863]

i have been dealing with this rash since about week 8 now in week 25.  Dermatolgist tried several scripts but nothing worked.

I think i now have what works for me:

   Showers only no baths ( water tepid)  
   10 mg of prozac (for itching not mood)
    Moisutures as often as possible
    at night Goldbond does help
    and after week 22 a lower dosage of riba to 800 mg.


Good luck

Peace
Rita

[nerja2007]

thank you Rita
I am only on 24 weeks tx, so half way there. did the rash spread to all over body or just those areas?

[fretboard]

Good question, Prozac who knew?  

[medicmommy]

I found a lot of relief with colloidal oatmeal baths, Aveeno after-bath oil, and when really desperate, antihistamines like Loratidine 10 mg (aka Claritin) for the daytime, and chorophineramine 2 mg for night...and drinking LOTS of water...I didn't find the cortisone creams to help at all...But some do...Hope this helps...               ~Melinda

[medicmommy]

Oh, if anyone asks, tell them you're having an allergic reaction to something in your system...they don't need to know more than that..:)                   ~Melinda

[Marcia2202]

Dr. Dieterich suggested to buy a hydrocortisone cream over the counter (US). In Denmark we cannot buy it over the counter, so they suggest to get a prescription from the doctor.

Marcia

[nerja2007]

I did tell them I have a reaction to the syntetic blouse (part of my uniform) as it looks awful, so I can get smth more close up maybe.

Anyone knows if the rash is permanent or it comes and goes?

[orleans]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/288759

[nygirl7]

I tried every remedy out there when I was treating and it happened to me...and nothing worked.  Then for Christmas my daughter got me a huge basket of every lotion and soap and cream you could find in the stores.  I tried them all until I got to the Gold Bond Triple Threat Anti Itch Medicated (Green Bottle, Red Top) and that one worked like magic for me on the on the rash which we call the ribarash.

The important thing to remember though is you have to use it several times a day to keep your skin really hydrated. Once the rash starts to abate DONT stop using it or the rash will come back (I made that mistake).  It only took about 3 days for my rash to really clear up but some places where like my bra strap would rub against my skin I had to put bandaids on because the skin was just raw.

I hope it works for you - it worked for me when nothing else would and someone in here who thought they were being rude tried to insult me one day by saying they thought I was a Gold Bond sales person LOL - I tell you, the way it worked for me and the others in here I might as well be, I could use the extra cash!

GOOD LUCK!

[meki]

Oatmeal baths - olive oil with a tiny bit of perfume in it...

Lotsa water...

Plain Yogurt (both on the skin and in your tummy) strange but it worked if you slathered it on and left it there for about 10 minutes. I don't know why either.

Keep your skin well oiled at all times - constantly use lotions that don't cause further rash... Stick to the more natural stuff - the cosmetic chemical stuff tends to make it worse.

Also make sure you don't have a yeast infection on your skin as well.

If you might have a yeast infection - the difllucan can work - but be careful.

Meki

[susan400]

I saw avoid hot baths or showers!  Stay out of the sun on TX.  Stay well hydrated, i.e. lot's of water.  Most creams and lotions since I'm allergic to most of them, make me itch even more, but that's just me.  My skin is extremely sensitive to all but one certain type of bath soap and one certain type of shampoo, if I switch to anything else, I itch like crazy.  Normally, even though I'm on Riba, I don't get the rash as long as I stay out of the sun and don't get hot baths or showers!

Susan400

[nerja2007]

I live in Ireland- Gold Bond is not slod here. If I order fron USA I have to pay 30$ for a shipment of 5$ bottle- not good:-((((((((((((((((

Itchy

[Marcia2202]

I have the same problem, as I live in Denmark... but fortunatly my brother is bringing me some from the US in July, so I'll be stacking up, just in case.

I went down to the pharmacy the other day and saw that they had loads of special lotions, European brands. I cannot remember the brand names, but I thought, wow... not bad at all. For sensitive, itchy, dry skin etc...  So go to your Pharmacy and check. And then there is always Eucerin, which some people have recommended when I compiled the HCV TX Rescue Drugs health page. Why don't you check the list on heath pages. It might help with other issues too.

Marcia

[rita863]

Meki:

Olive oil on your skin?

[nerja2007]

The rash  became worse and spreads in small red itchy areas. I got some medicated powder,  but it only really worked on the rash around groin area (there, stomach, chest, neck (!!!!!!!! need to hide!!!!!!), back seems to have less, but still whatever is there is very itchy.

Does anyone know if this may come and go or is it permanent throughout thr tx?

[Marcia2202]

Everybody reacts differently. Some have the rash most of the time and others have it come and go. You should definitely check with your doctor, if it is bothering you so much. You might need a hydrocortisone cream. We cannot get it over the counter here in DK, maybe you can in Ireland. Go to the pharmacy and ask them Tell them you are on chemo and what do they suggest to do. They do have experience with stuff like that. They usually also have good hydrating lotions for people with these kind of problems.

Marcia

[rita863]

My rash has been here since about week 5.  Sometimes the flare ups are worse then others.  I pm'd you on some other things about the rash.  My chest and back are probally the worst areas, also the site reactions start to is and get very red after a couple of days.

good luck

peace
rita

[dointime]

For a really bad rash the only thing that worked for me was a steroid cream - prescription only.  I used Elocon but I'm sure you can get something like it from your doc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mometasone_furoate

dointime

[nerja2007]

The rash is GETTING WORSE by day, it starts spreading on my neck, arms and legs..... Very itchy, some areas just flare up like sunburne, others look like leopard skin with purple very itchy square-ish rash spots. I am taking Clarytin, Hydrocortisone cream, but nothing helps much. The talk seems to be ok on the inflamed areas, but not enough. anyone knows does the rash disappear after you finish treatment? How fast?

[Marcia2202]

Have you been to your doctor for him to have a look at it?

Marcia

[nerja2007]

not yet. here in ireland the general practticioners are pretty worseless. Sorry if anyone is an Irish GP, I had very bad experiences here. It's like they do not care... so people go to pharmasists. Mine looked at the rash, said it is not that bad and offered me hydrocortisone cream to try. I did, but I am still itchy and I am just paranoid that the rash is spreading... I work in a restaurant, there is no way I should have a visible rash.... I only started this new job and I really need to keep it, so you can imagine the stress. Hope nobody noticed me itching all the time

[Marcia2202]

How about the hepatologist or clinic who is treating you. They should be the most knowledgeable about what to give for side effects. Also, you need to get a super hydrating cream. If you can get something in the health food store. Something organic with no irritants. I would give it a try. It might help.

Marcia

[Marcia2202]

Green People make some good products. Check it out, you should have it as it is a UK brand. We even have it in Denmark.

[nerja2007]

Marcia, thank you for support
I have aveeda cream  with menthol for itchy skin, but \i noticed every time I moisturise, I turn scarlet red. Maybe it is normal?

[nerja2007]

My hepatologyst advides me Clarytin, and I got an impression they didn't really know what to do. They said only 2 patients developed rash and in one of those cases they had to stop treatment. I wish I could stop treatment, since I am clear since 4 weeks on tx, but I am afraid to relapse and will have to do it all again

[Marcia2202]

I don't think that is normal. You are trying to achieve exactly the opposite. If you get scarlet red, It seems like you are reacting to something which is in the cream. I would stop using it and I would try and get something perfume free. Really, try the health food store for some organic non irritant stuff.

Marcia

[nerja2007]

Yes, that what I was thinking. If I react that badly to the cream, I should leave it alone. Will pop in to a health store soon. You know I was always concerned about sx like depression, or anemia, and here is a dark horse...... I wonder if the rash has smth to do with periods. I noticed that I always had dandruff before my periods started and the skin was bad, I wonder if the rash could be a sign of weaker immune system during this time. Any thoughts/ observations on the matter?

[Marcia2202]

No, I have no idea if it could be worsened by hormonal changes. It kind of makes sense though. But the sure thing is that you have the Riba rash... It is one of the most common side effect of Ribavirin. Some only have it a little, others have it terribly much.

I really hope that you will find something that works for you. If not your doctor might prescribe something oral, like a antihistamine.

Good luck, am going to sleep now. It's almost 2.30 here. Marcia

[rita863]

Have you tried bendryl, thats for an allergic reaction.  It helps some people.  If the moistures you are using is making it more red i would not use it.  You want to use someting without perfumes, that may have an anti itch in it.  Hyrdocortosone did not work for me.  Take cool showers and try a cream that perhaps a druggist can recommend and perhaps the benadryl.  Wear cotton if you can.  I sleep in white cotton tee shirts.

From what i understand being on treatment our immune system is compromised. Maybe someone else can add to that.

good luck
peace

[w.c. missy]

i had a horrible/itchy rash too.  finally i quit using all lotions, took only cool showers or cool aveeno oatmeal baths, i became allergic to the cortisone cream the doctor prescribed, (it just made it worse), wore very light clothing, and basically laid low for 3 days.  i was also given a prescription for atarax (?), which helped, and i took an anti-anxiety (per doctors orders).  being in the sun is a big "no-no", and the heat also seemed to make it worse.  mine was really bad for about 10-14 days, then once i did the 3 day "no lotions, etc..." it seemed to pass.  hang in there!

good luck,
w.c. missy

[Marcia2202]

The problem is that the Benadryl we have in Europe is not the same as you have in the States. So she really would need to ask the pharmacy or doctor first.

Marcia

* In the U.S., Benadryl is diphenhydramine, a first generation antihistamine. It is also formulated in combination with other active ingredients and sold under variations of the Benadryl name.

    * In the U.K., Benadryl Allergy Relief is acrivastine, a second generation antihistamine.
    * In the U.K., Benadryl Once a Day is cetirizine, a second generation antihistamine.

[nerja2007]

I tried to put some oil (just found some unperfumed massage oil in  my bathroom) this morning, and it seemed to give me some relief... which is great, I will go and get some baby oil now, see if it will help. I think I am allergic to hydrocortazone too, rita, it just made it all scarlet red after a short time. Maybe the key is moisturising, not medicating?

Will update in some time- I decided not to take anything, just water and plenty of oil on my skin. see if that works

[Marcia2202]

If you want to use oil, try some VCO, virgin coconut oil. It's great for the skin, it's great in food.  Marcia

[Andromedae]

The rash is kicking my butt too.  I mean literally.  It's ALL over my butt.  Under my arms too and around my inner thighs too.  Hasn't itched much so far (comig on week 3) but it's starting.  

My skin isn't dry (yet anyway) and the gold bond triple cream didn't do much of anything for me (I usually use Aveno every morning anyway) .  I tried taking half a benedryl tab tice a day bit it made me too foggy - and foggy isn't what I need right now.  I just bought some hydrocortisone cream (which I know that you can't use) and that actually seems to be helping some.  Used it last evening and the rash is less angry this morning.  Different things work on different people I know.  Well see where this goes.  

FWIW

[Andromedae]

Oh yes one more thing .....
I noticed that he rash is worse (MUCH worse) where my underwear contacts or rubs against my skin  (eat your hearts out guys) .  So I am thinking that for some ungodly reason the Riba has made me allergic to something in my laundry soap or softener ???  Maybe?  Someone here (marcia maybe) mentioned that could happen .

I'm going to switch to a hypo allergenic laundry detergent and cut out fabric softener.  I don't know how I'm going to live without fabric softener.  Scratchy undies.  I mean it's not like I'm not cranky enough lately, you know?

[Marcia2202]

CHuck the undies.... ;-)

[Andromedae]

"CHuck the undies.... ;-)"

Can't.  starting July 1 , California passed a new law forbidding that sort of thing.  Something to do with Britney Spears.

andromeda

[Marcia2202]

ROFL

[nerja2007]

Yes, I have the same issue- it is flaring all over where the clothes rub against the skin. You know very funny, a week ago I posted a comment that I lost all my baby weight and how my husband is l;oving it and we are having the second honeymoon...... well now I look like a leopard and around the undies area is covered in something so horribly looking that you must be crazy to fancy anyone with that.... I must have jinxed myself ;-((((((

[pigeonca]

I found that undies without raw elastic edges really helped.  There's a company on the Internet that makes a brand called "clean undies."  They helped a lot.  Also I put the underwire bras in the closet and replaced then with sports bras that had no raw elastic edges, and this helped as well.  My figure looked a bit less perky, but it was well worth it.

And then, as others have noted, you may need to play around with creams, ointments and antihistamines - start with over the counter.  It that doesn't work, a dermatologist can provide you with more potent remedies.  Good luck and feel better.  The spots will fade when you finish treatment, if not before.

[nerja2007]

does the rash go immediately after tx is finished?

[ladybug52]

I started getting hives and rashes before I quit tx, and mine continued after I quit the meds. I finally had to go to my PCP and get a shot of steroids to stop the itching.
The itching was really driving me crazy, I used aveeno oatmeal in the bath. On my skin I tried gold bond and gold bond with shea butter was my favorite.
My itching turned into the histine reaction from hell! My dr tried all kinds of meds, atarax, benadryl, and some others, I can't think of the names. I just remember the misery. It was like my body went haywire towards the end.
I"m really comforting right? I'm prone to allergic reactions, hives, and excema on my elbows. Stress makes the hives and excema worse.
Regarding the hydrocortisone, my dr said it was ok in the over the counter strength.
Good luck!
Bug

[nerja2007]

god, that didn't help much :-)))))))