Scaby indents on arms

[TalieN]

I cannot get rid of these scabs on my arms. Whenever I think they are gone for good, more scabs appear. They are pinkish red around the scab, which look like holes in my skin. It is not from shaving because I do not shave the upper part of my arms. Lotion seems to help, but does not do the trick. I have been to my dermatology many times with no results. She gave me Verdeso(desonide) foam, 0.05 and evoclin(clindamycin phosphate) foam, 1%. Both do not help.

[TalieN]

thanks, but they do not itch. Do you have any other suggestions? I use to have the problem on my legs, but it has seemed to stop. Before they become scabs, they are bumps, they look almost like ingrown hair but are not.  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Scabs only appear whenever there is an injury to the skin like in case of insect bite. If the scabs are itchy then the possibility of scabies has to be explored. It is characterized by intense itching, usually at night and by small insect-type bites lesions on the skin. Diagnosis of scabies is made by scraping the skin and viewing the material under a microscope to see the characteristic mite or eggs.
Hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries. Kind regards.