Facial Rash.. chronic, itchy,...

[stephenzhao]

its almost 4am. i can't sleep due to the intense itchy from that red patch of rash on my face.. neck..

this rash started as a small, dime sized irritation just below left side of my mouth 8 years ago..

it started as some kind of itch, burning sensation. i scratched it and it turned to a dime sized red rash patch. it would then go away... only to reappear weeks or months later.

2 years ago, this rash became bigger... it started out as itchiness, accompanied by a little burning sensation.. then the area turns to raised irregular shaped bumps(kinda circular but not even close to a good circle like), then turn red, very itchy and dry, flaky. then it will have cracked lines.. at one some worse breakouts, it would get infected and the raised bumps would be cover with yellow crust..  it usually last several days. the red rash will become lighter..the area has broken out so many times, it is leathery and has a darker color and texture than the normal skin around it..

again 2 years ago i had a car accident, airbag deployed hit my face.. the skin under my eyes turned red.. ever after that, it also became irritated and rashy when i have my normal break-outs. .

i can say my complexion looks some what  like perioral dermatitis. but my rash seems to be made up of raised rough bumps accompanied by small red dots..rather than just patch of small dots....i use lots of Eucerine facial calming cream .. never steriodcream...except cortizone (which i try not to use).

i dont use any facial cleanser with soap.. i only use frag free, oil free facial creams...  i dont understand how my skin kept on getting irritated, start itching and developer  rash over and over again...  it might be triggered by stress or food i ate but i dont understand why i never had it before  (i mean when i was in my twenties)

to make this time's break out worse.. i also scratched my neck and my scalp where it became itchy. and now red patches of rashes start to show up there to due to scratching.. i feel my whole head is on fire... the itch is unbearable.... i am so frustrated because i know it will go away in the next couple days.. only to reappear later... and i have no idea when...

[stephenzhao]

loiloi: thank you for your comments!  
i am a bit concerned with taking any form of medicine such as anti-histamine because i worry about their side-effects(not that i know any) ..  i do have insurance but i have to take times off work to see a GP and then get referred to a dermatologist? Usually when I made up my mind to go see a doc, my skin cleared up..   this time's break-out is one of the worst i have experienced..i think owe myself to have it looked at...

i am just very confused as to why i have this skin rash when i have good habit of taking care of my skin; i am exercising to lose weight; and i eat healthy/mostly organic .. it feels like i am calling for this rash to occur.  whenever i feel that tiny itchy sensation.. i worry about a break-out and sure enough, it break out..

o well.. again, I really appreciate your comments and you have a good day!

[loiloi]

You're doing the right things. I often recommend Eucerin products, especially the Redness Relief cleanser and moisturiser. Hydrocortizone 1% cream is effective, but contra-indicated for long term use. Peri-oral dermatitis is more common in women, whom would be treated with cypoterone acetate. In men it could be treated with oral tetracyclines. Have you tried taking an anti-histamine before bed to relieve the itching and help you sleep? Try not to scratch, i know its hard, but this could cause secondary infection and make diagnosis harder. Do you have insurance that will cover seeing a dermatologist? It is possible to develop an allergy to just about anything and you could get tested for this. I'm so sorry to hear about your accident, and stress can trigger some skin conditions. Often, rashes or spots look worse in different climates. Avoid hot or spicy food as this can make the skin around your mouth appear worse. Get back to me anytime. Loiloi x

[stephenzhao]

so far the best cream for my condition seems to be Eucerine Calming Cream.. it burns right after applying but the itchiness is much subdued...   but the red area become dry very very quickly.. even though i applied lots (and frequently) cream..

btw i forgot to mention that i am:
32 old male
over weight (205 when i should be 160)

also, rash seems to occur more in winter time.