Skin Rashes

[vignesh4102]

My grandson, who is aged about 6 years, is having a skin irritation. He lives in India, in Chennai, a coastal town which has humid temperature. His is wheat-complexioned. While at home, day and night, he is fine. When he in school he sweats a lot because of the humidity as children normally have to live in natural air only. The school is well ventilated for natural air.

Because of this, his upper body skin,both back and front becomes red because of irritation, and he scratches the areas severely. On the head also he sweats. We tried to keep his hair small all through the year to keep the sweat down.

Once he comes home and takes a bath, within 15 minutes he becomes alright, and even after playing for sometime that sweat does not affect him. That means, he is having this problem only inside his class room.

He is otherwise fine.

We consulted dermatologists, and the medications did not work.



Could you please let me know the cause and suggest a suitable medication available here in the States. I need a prescription also. I would like to buy the medication here in the USA. I can provide the photo of the skin if you provide your email address.  

[loiloi]

The doctors in India should be as good as the ones in the states. I live in england and some of my friends have travelled to India for treatment. Use a bath oil such as Oilatum, Avedo or Eucerin. If it's an allergy maybe a non-drowsy anti-histamine syrup would help. x

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Although your grandson's problem does not sound serious, it is not likely to be something for which a single prescription from abroad will be the answer.  My best guess is that he some form of eczema.  This can suppressed, but not cured.  It requires regular care and treatment adjustments.  I wonder whether the medications prescribed actually didn't work, or whether they just weren't as completely effective as desired, when such success might be unrealistic.  I therefore cousel regular visits to a local dermatologist, who can certainly do what is possible with locally-available medications.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff