Is it eczema or not?

[needInfoFL411]

I am a eczema sufferer from childhood behind my knees and crease of elbow and back of elbow. Now as a adult I only have in on my right elbow crease and behind. But for the past 11 years I have had a small rash on my buttocks as well right in the crease. It normally begins to itch once I get hot there from sitting or waiting to use the bathroom (end up slightly sweating) something. I was told from the dermatologist that it is eczema and that you can get it there. Ok, but once immediately one spot heals another pops up immediately. It begins with a hot, warm area on my buttocks then raises into a big mound and then smaller mounds form inside the big mound. Then the small mounds look like they have fluid in them and drain later leaving a scab. It remains to stay warm there during the whole process. It always happens like this with the exception of sometime it is only one mound and another one doesnt pop up after that one scabs. Is this eczema or what. I thought it might be boils because they feel warm but dont know. But it happens every month at different times and lasts about a week, it only affects the right side area and the crease of the buttocks. And each time it leaves a dark scar from the area. I just don't know...

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

You are right in keeping the possibility of herpes in mind.Even this was a second possibility that was crossing my mind.Herpes also presents with red itchy blisters which scab over. Herpes simplex is most easily transmitted by direct contact with a lesion or the body fluid of an infected individual. Transmission may also occur through skin-to-skin contact during periods of asymptomatic shedding.

The only way of ruling it out is by getting yourself tested for genital herpes. Laboratory tests include: culture of the virus, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) studies to detect virus, skin biopsy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test for presence of viral DNA. I sincerely advise you to consult a dermatologist and get it ruled out.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

[needInfoFL411]

Yes it is somewhat sore and itchy. When I googled infomation on this everything that kept coming up was genital herpes but it never mentioned that the site where herpes are is warm and that as one spot gets a scab another immediately pops up, so I was very worried. Is there a way for it not to return because it has been happening for a very long time. This month especially it started out on one part of the crease of the buttocks then about 3 days later as one spot scabbed a second area became warm and raised and about 4 days after that another area pops up the same way. Does genital herpes work like that also? I will revisit the derm or general physician to re-evaluate. Thanks for your quick response.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

From your symptoms,I don’t feel that this is eczema.Eczema causes itchy,red,swollen,dry skin which may flake or crust.

This looks like a boil.Are these lesions painful? A boil generally starts as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm and hard. Eventually, the center of the abscess softens and becomes filled with pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin.

Boil on buttocks is usually due to plugged sweat glands that become infected or by an ingrown hair.

Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean.Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head.Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription.If there are recurrent boils,then pls get your blood sugar levels estimated.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.