Ring Worm, Psoriasis, Eczema...huh?

[srsizzy]

Alright, first I'll let you know this was diagnosed as ringworm after a quick medical exam at the university health center. The problem is, she assumed a red spot on my leg (which wasn't itchy, or associated with the problem) was the site where it started and to apply the anti-fungal cream there. I was rather skeptical, to say the least.

So here's the symptoms (that make me really confused as to what this is):

1. Started with incredibly dry elbows, worse than has ever happened. Itching soon follows, along with red bumps, and since then I've started moisturizing. The thick sections of dead skin have peeled away and my elbows are fine, save for still itching sometimes, and the bumpy texture isn't completely gone.

2. A weird itch/bug bite on my index finger appears around the same time. The skin has little dabs of red/brown, and is stiff. Since then, the first spot has spread out and now there's small blister-like, itchy bumps around the affected area, and ALSO clustered on my other index finger, and perhaps a few growing on some of my other fingers.

3. When I started moisturizing for the itchy elbows, around the same time my whole body starts itching. It seems to start with an irritation in my foreskin, but that goes away soon (I don't know if it was related). It's not localized to any area, there's no rash, and it doesn't stop. I take a shower, and it doesn't go away. Soon, the first rash to be seen is on my thighs. Dry, small bumps appear in scattered clusters on my inner thighs. Itching increases there BEFORE the bumps appear, and then the same happens to the backs of my arms.

Bumps appear AFTER itching starts, but itching continues. The thing is, the places that itch THE MOST relatively, have no bumps, and only after a day or two of scratching do the bumps appear (and continue with itching, but a little less than before). Note: I was itching insanely for 6 days, and now it has subsided considerably (but not completely, and any place I scratch still has the feeling of "this place is itchy").

Bumps (which are like miniature bug bites, spread out or clustered) are now in the following places (chronologically): inner thighs, backs of arms, area just behind armpits (not in armpits), insides of forearms, stomach, and upper legs.

This all started one week ago. I started using Benadryl around Saturday, and used up the last of it today. The itching seemed to subside moderately with that (sometimes...). I finally got the anti-fungal cream today, but now I'm worried because these blister-bumps on my fingers appeared last night, and spread today.

I was skeptical about ringworm because the rash wasn't spreading by touch, and there was no "ring" or site of infection. The rash is symmetrical on the left and right of my body. Plus, for several days my ENTIRE body (from the neck down, excluding hands and feet) was itching, which signifies an immune system issue (correct?). The spreading of the blisters on my fingers (which barely itch) prompted me to try the antifungal cream (Terbinafine Hydrochloride -- couldn't afford Lotramin). Also, this is developing relatively slowly.

The only similar account I've found is this: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/653054
Describing the bumps on the fingers and elbows, but they don't report having a full-body rash. In fact, I've found no account of this kind of full-body rash associated with ring worm, perhaps eczema but that doesn't explain the finger issue (and I don't have a history of it), and I don't understand psoriasis completely, but also doesn't seem to account for the nature of the rash (small bumps).

I have no allergies, the only change in outer stimuli would be Lubriderm lotion for my elbows, and Tums a week beforehand for a flare of acid reflux; I also go to the gym every Tuesday and Thursday (which led to the ringworm idea). No bugs in sheets (dorm room), no new detergents/soaps, no food allergies (though ironically it all started the day after a friend told me they had eczema).

Thanks...

[srsizzy]

Hey, I think you might be right. The "red lines" the define the paths of them are on my finger where it all seems to have started. It's also gotten a LOT worse, and I just got woken up by how bad the itching is. The anti-fungal cream didn't make it subside at all, though now I'm pretty sure I have some sort of infection as a result of scratching.

It's pretty upsetting that I'm going to need to get into a doctor again to get them to prescribe this stuff to me, which also looks like a rather irritating treatment. I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle classes and sleeping much longer if this gets worse.

The only thing that makes me think it's not scabies is the symmetrical development of the actual rash that's bothering me. Other than that, the problem on my elbows and the spreading bumps on my fingers seem to make sense...I guess I'll need to try to go in to the doctor ASAP, because this isn't ringworm.

Thanks,
srsizzy

[luvheals]

I just found this forum, today. I am a nurse. I was diagnosed with wring worm, excema, psorisis by many doctors, but it was scabies. Have a MD do a skin scaping. What I did was run out and get over the counter lice shampoo. Imidiately the skin started to heal. I saw the mite under the microscope. It's hard to identify, except by their legs. Do not let the MD prescribe steroid cream until he does a skin scaping. It makes them multiply. Now my skin is packed with them..
I think fungus maybe  secondary to  scabies. They were in my palm, index finger and thumb. Now they are everywhere. Even on my lips. They are dead, but the sloughing goes on and on as their are millions due to the steroids.

[srsizzy]

I may also be developing joint pain in my fingers now...it's really slight, and I'm not sure if I'm imagining it, but it seems to have gotten worse. The problem is that most of my other symptoms aren't like normal psoriasis (the bumps are normally bigger and not like little cluster pinpricks, and it doesn't explain the bumps on my fingers which have a clear center).