Underarm Rash and underarm hair loss 3+months

[ph00p]

I'm a 24 year old male and I've seen several doctors about this problem, my underarms tend to be rashy lately, it started in september. No doctor could solve the problem, In Oct 2007 I went to one and he said it was a yeast infection and gave me some cream for that, also told me to use powder under my arms, this seemed to almost do the job except there was still some trace and the pain/redness(rash?) came back. After a while my family doc sent me to a dermatologist and that guy said that everything every doctor had given me(including the one about yeast infection) was wrong, and when I told him that, the drugs he had given me made things better he wasn't happy to listen. At the time of that visit I did have visible bumps under my arm along with the rash, so he gave me a prescription for Tetracycline(spelling?) but I didn't take that as it MIGHT turn your teeth blue and other horrid things. He did tell me to blow dry my arm pit hair and use spectro derm which I'm now doing. I'm also still powdering at night. I recently went to my family doctor again about this and he didn't want to do anything about it.
So today when I look under my arms I see a strip of hair missing and the rash is still there and itchy, right now I'm using tinactin under my arms on the rash part and normal powder on the hairy part. I should say that the rash is about half an inch in front of my armpit hair(towards the chest(not away from it)).

I just want some help and I want to get rid of this once and for all! Please help anyone! This is VERY annoying and painful at times!!

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

I do understand how discomforting this is. The rash as you have posted appeared to have responded with antifungal or the yeast medications that your doctor has prescribed you (is this correct?).This may suggest that there is a fungal component here. Also, has your physician ever given you an exact diagnosis on what this is ?

[ph00p]

Thank you for the prompt reply.

The doctor that gave me the yeast infection diagnosis was a random one in the hospital ER, my family doctor doesn't want to diagnosis it at all he just wants to keep sending me to the dermatologist who wants to sell his expensive acne drugs.

The rash was gone for a nice few months but it came back late may, it seems to be going away a bit with the tinactin. What seems odd to me is that this was pretty much cleared up but decided to come back in May.

What about the hair thats missing? Would that be related?

[ph00p]

I noticed today that the infected area seems to be spreading :( and there is an appearance of a small pimple like growth under my left arm but not my right armpit, my right armpit though seems like it has 2mm long and narrow bumps under it. If this is armpit acne what is the safest way to treat it w/o drugs, something homeopathic maybe?

[ph00p]

I'd also like to add that all day yesterday I used only powder, no deodorant of any kind.

[ph00p]

Help?

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

Have you tried taking antibiotics for this? With the way you describe the rash , a yeast infection, folliculitis , dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa are differentials. Yeast infections as well as a dermatitis may be itchy and the area may be red. The rash of a dermatitis is not well demarcated while the rash of a fungal infection is usually well demarcated. Folliculitis may appear as red bumps and they usually affect the hair follicles. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic skin condition and may be unresponsive to the antibiotics. I suggest that you ask your doctor if you may be prescribed with antibiotics. This may be bacterial in origin and may not be readily controlled by the topical medications.

[ph00p]

Thank you for your response! I'll try and get a doctor to look at my armpits again, I have started using organic deodorant which is lessening the burning/itching sensation.

[ph00p]

I have some pictures of my problem, they're rather large so I've used imageshack, its hard to take pictures of your arm pits by yourself I hope these help.

[URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/1862/hpim0567qb4.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=106&i=hpim0567qb4.jpg][IMG]http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/1862/hpim0567qb4.eeb835daa1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/592/hpim0568us3.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=262&i=hpim0568us3.jpg][IMG]http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/592/hpim0568us3.65d70ac220.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[ph00p]

Sorry those last links didn't work these will though, please help! These took a long time to take.

http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim0599kq2.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpim0568nt1.jpg

The purple is supposedly from when all the different docs gave me different creams the dermatoligist said they were stretch marks.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

I saw the image. This appears to be folliculitis as it has involved the hair follicles. However, the discoloration could have been caused either by the scratching brought about by the itchiness, or it could have been due to the creams previously applied. You may try taking antibiotics for this. If this responds,then folliculitis may be likely.

[ph00p]

Thank you for your prompt reply! Is there anything I can put on the discoloration to heal it, and stop the itching or reduce it at least? Also what can I take that is over the counter for this folliculitis? Is there a cure?

thank you again for your help!

[ph00p]

I used fucicin(sp?) cream and got rid of the bumps but the rash is STILL THERE, there has got to be something to get rid of it. Please help one more time.