Sun spots? Heat rash?

[Lammey_USAF09]

I am a 21 yr. old male who has spent the majority of his life outside with no shirt...I know, not good.
Recently though I began to notice white spots on my back I thought nothing of it, its probably just where I got a little to burnt and the skin peeled before it could totally heal. Then I began to realize it seemed to be spreading all across my back and down my arms. Also that any time I get nervous, stressed or sweaty, pretty much anytime my blood starts pumping faster it begins to itch like crazy. Also all these spots seem to be raised up slightly above the skin and the turn red around the edges when I get hot. I have been told heat rash before, but i thought it was localized to persistently sweaty areas and that it goes away anywhere from like 4-48 hours. Also with sun spots I always thought they went away after a good winter and you lose your tan and start again, besides sunspots definitely aren't supposed to itch, swell, and turn red. Please help with a diagnosis or any reccomended medications or ointments for this.

[Lammey_USAF09]

Dr., Eczema, doesn't seem like a likely diagnosis for my problem because the spots are pale and white like your skin looks after peeling from a sunburn. It also blotches up in big areas like Vitiligo but not as drastic of a pigment loss and after being in the sun the areas of concern still show reaction to sunlight and tan up but then lose color rapidly after tan has set. Unlike the sunburn spots they never fade away though. Like Eczema raises almost like a rash the raise in my skin where the areas of concern are is very miniscule. And the redness only occurs on the edges wear it is itching not the whole area even on just the small spots it only turns red at the edges.

I constantly clean it and have applyied cortizone creams and moisturizers, to see if my skin really was just peeling and staying dry and irritated causing it to itch. I eat a very healthy diet, to stay in good shape, and i almost always wear loose, light colored cotton t-shirts.



Some people have tried telling me that there is a fungus that you can get in your skin that acts like my symptoms, but they weren't doctors so i figured I'd ask one. I know it has to be hard to diagnose just by my description, but I really do appreciate your efforts. If you have any other ideas of maybe a some fungus and of course way to treat it I would greatly appreciate it.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

It could be eczema, sweat dermatitis, allergic reactions .

You need to wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites.

Apply calamine lotion at the site of the lesions and see if it helps. You could take some oral antihistamine medications like cetrizine or loratadine. You need to maintain a good personal hygiene . Wear lose comfortable clothes.

Anti-itch drugs, often antihistamine, may reduce the itch during a flare up of eczema, and the reduced scratching in turn reduces damage and irritation to the skin.

Avoid sun exposure, wear lose comfortable, cotton clothes, eat a healthy balanced diet and use a medicated sunscreen whenever you go out.

For mild-moderate eczema a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone or desonide), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

Eczema can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. Moisturizing is one of the most important self-care treatments for sufferers of eczema. Keeping the affected area moistened can promote skin healing and relief of symptoms.

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

Let us know if you need any further information.

It would be advisable to consult a skin specialist for the symptoms and a proper clinical examination.

Let us know if you need any other information and post us on how you are doing.

Regards.