<p>I’m not sure if this is appropriate, but is there a doctor here (preferably a dermatologist) on this forum? My doctor is on vacation, and I need some answers about my skin condition.</p>
<p>Let me summarize my predicament:
I’m not the type of person who has serious allergies. In July, I noticed that my collarbone area and right arm (inside) had a serious skin rash. I had taken Benadryl and applied hydracortisone from a drug store, but it wasn’t doing much to help the condition. My dermatologist prescribed Allegra, fluocinonide, and mometasone furoate. While it cleared up my collarbone area, it didn’t do really anything for my right arm. He said I have eczema, but I have no family history of it, especially when I never had any problems in college.</p>
<p>A month later, my right arm is improving, but I noticed that I’m losing pigmentation in the treatment areas, so I stopped using the medication. I stopped using Allegra because it seemed like it wasn’t working. (I don’t have runny nose, hay fever, itchy throat or any of that stuff.) Last week, I come home from Virginia, and notice that my collarbone and neck area are breaking out. The affected areas are dry, flaky and looks like a rash. I’m afraid to apply the stuff on me again since I was losing pigmentation.</p>
<p>I thought it could be soap/lotion (I use Oil of Olay moisturizer and Jergens for lotion). But I have been using these products for years with no problem. Why am I breaking out?</p>
<p>Did you change your clothes washer or clothes detergent? I have to double-or-triple rinse (as does my sister) to avoid reactions to detergents. Both of the products you mention do nasty things to my skin as well. I do not have “allergies”–these conditions do not respond to cortisone (etc.), but they do respond to a) not using the products (I wash my face with a moist washcloth, no soap, and use a hypoallergenic cream without aloe (which I also react to).)</p>
<p>The most soothing cream I know of, and the one I use when my skin is being oversensitive, is Burt’s Bees diaper rash ointment. If I put that on at night (it has a nice mint/lavender scent), the irritation is gone the next morning. And it’s cheap. I expect any zinc oxide ointment would work as well.</p>
<p>Is the loss of pigmentation in the spots where you applied the cream? If so they likely had a bleaching agent in them. If not then you may have a skin condition where you are losing pigment.
I have to use TIDE FREE for my wash or my eye goes funny. Its very sensitive to regular detergent.</p>
<p>If I was in your shoes I would go to a totally different dermo and get a new perspective.</p>
<p>Hi, ang, I believe these products have a bleaching agent in them, which I am very angry since I didn’t want any skin bleaching to begin with. No, I do not have vitiligo. Yes, it’s in the area where I applied the cream.</p>
<p>Likely then you have bleaching agent…if you list the ingredients we could figure it out.</p>
<p>Geez sometimes those drugs create more problems than they help!</p>
<p>Also be sure to buy some Tide FREE and see if that helps…Tide free only. We have had problems with other so called FREE detergents.</p>
<p>And what are you washing your body with? Try using a simple soap like Ivory or some recommend Kiss my face olive oil soap. I like Ivory. My poor hubby was told as a teen to use DEODERANT soap on his skin and had terrible reactions which he didnt link to the soap.</p>
<p>Also for the dryness…try CUREL instead of the jergens…Curel is best at moisturizing.</p>
<p>You can find Pears at the dollar store…Me mum is British and I used to use it.
I like Ivory…but you could try one soap on one arm and one on another.</p>
<p>Also one BIG help for me…for making my hair nicer and skin was putting a filter on the shower to filter out chlorine and such. Are you on city water? They may have changed the water content.</p>
<p>The one thing I switched to Oil of Olay instead of Dove years ago was that Olay did not dry out my skin like Dove did. Olay did not irritate my skin either (unless I am wrong).</p>
<p>I wouldnt’ use anything that has mineral oil in it.
Grapeseed oil, sesame oil as well as olive oil are all available at teh grocery and are good for your skin.</p>
<p>I like Lush soap myself- but has lots of scent in it.</p>
<p>See – I have another question. I think the main culprits are the soap or lotion I use. However, since I put this stuff on my hands all the time, shouldn’t my hands break out as well? My hands are perfectly fine right now. I’ve heard people who have had mouths, ears, etc. break out. I know I have to wear special earrings since my ears can break out on contact. If that is the case, then the soap/lotion are not the culprits behind my breakout?</p>
<p>Some places are more sensitive than others. I can put stuff on my hands that irritates my face.</p>
<p>Tide Free is better than the rest of the detergents, but I still have to double-rinse even with it, or else the skin on my back itches.</p>
<p>I don’t use any kind of soap at all; I use ShiKai shower gel–not on my face (which I just use a washcloth on). Apricot kernel oil and almond oil (I use food-grade oils, not cosmetic grade, to avoid scent) make nice skin oils.</p>
<p>If you have to wear special earrings, you probably have a nickel sensitivity (it’s the cheapest metal used to dilute other metals and make them stronger). Very common to have nickel/steel alloys. I have a titanium watch because I react to nickel and am too cheap to buy a gold watch. You mention the collarbone/neck area–new necklace? Even a “gold” necklace will be an alloy if it’s less than 24K gold (and it has to be).</p>
<p>Yes, that’s where I’m having the breakouts – around my collarbone area and to a lesser extent the inside of my elbows. Other than that, the other areas of my body are perfectly fine.</p>
<p>I am so sensitive to detergents and such that I can scarcely walk down that aisle of the grocery store.</p>
<p>You have gotten some good suggestions above. Other ideas on what could be bothering you:</p>
<p>Poison Oak/Ivy?
Bug or spider bite?
allergic reaction to a Virus?
Perfume?
heat/sweat?</p>
<p>I cannot use any petroleum products on my skin. I even use bleach-free toilet paper. I find the best moisturizers are from Dr Haushka’s line.</p>
<p>Another great one is called something like Egyptian Miracle-- it is made of olive oil, beeswax, etc-- all natural. </p>
<p>Finally, getting enough EFAs (essential fatty acids) in your diet (like Omega 3 & 6 found in fish oil,flaxseed oil) can be very helpful for dry skin.</p>
<p>I’m not a dermatologist, but as a pharmacist I can tell you that two of your topical corticosteroid prescriptions (mometasone and fluocinonide) have hypopigmentation as a possible side effect. They can also cause acne-like breakouts. Of course, eczema itself may look dry and itchy or it may have little fluid filled bumps. It would be appropriate to try steroids for itchy dry rash or eczema. But, there would be no reason that I know of to use more than one steroid at a time…you have three, including the hydrocortisone. As far as potency goes, hydrocortisone<fluocinonide<mometasone. If you are using them concurrently, your risk of side effects would increase, which may perhaps be your problem. And another concern I would have is systemic absorption from topical application. If you are using three steroids on a large area of skin for a long period of time, two of them fairly potent, you may actually get some systemic absorption. Sometimes, though, a short therapy with an oral steroid can bring eczema under control.</p>
<p>There are two other topical products that suppress immune system reactions to bring eczema under control. They may be a great option for people who have had no relief from steroids. They are pimecrolimus and tacrolimus (you may have seen a TV commercial for one of these). I’m not positive, but I think the FDA has issued a warning of a POSSIBLE (not certain) link to cancer associated with the use of these products. Sometimes even if it is only a couple of cases, they have to report it. </p>
<p>It would be best for you to check back with your dermatologist, or to get a second opinion from another dermatologist. I think it’s possible that hot humid weather in Virginia, or stress from the whole college process may have contributed to this flare-up. Another idea is that maybe it is not eczema at all. Most people who have eczema as an adult had it as a child and tend to be sensitive/allergic and have a family history. Could it be psoriasis? Hopefully you will get it under control soon!</p>
<p>Using my kid’s id, this is a mom’s responding:</p>
<p>From what you’ve described, it does sound like eczema–I’ve had it in the inside elbows and collarbone area as well. The humid weather can make it worse. I find using a headband or pulling my hair back to keep my hair off if it actually helps the collarbone area. Scratching the area just irritates it more. Wash your pillowcase often too. I agree with the Tide Free comments. It’s the best I’ve found.</p>
<p>Sometimes what can be bothering you is not something that is specific to that spot but can be systemic. Last year, I realized the sulfates in my shampoo were causing my whole body to feel itchy–even my legs. It was getting in my bloodstream through my scalp. These are in most shampoos but some have more than others. Try going to a health food store like Wild Oats or Whole Foods for a sulfate-free shampoo. I found the Avalon brand makes my hair feel better than some of the ones I’ve tried. You can also get liquid hand soap that is also sulfate free. I felt a tremendous difference in just a few days. If you drink wine, be sure to check that as well. The California wines have more sulfites than the Italian ones.</p>
<p>Wearing some wool sweaters causes similiar problems.</p>
<p>I’ve had eczema and allergies and sensitivities in various forms throughout my life. The inside of your elbows is a classic place for eczema. I had it there when I was growing up. I no longer have it there. It would get worse when I would go home from college and be around our poodle–no one had figured out I had mild dog and cat allergies until I was out of college. It was caused by the physical environment I was in although I am sure stress could make eczema worse. Afte college, my eczema cleared up for many years, but I developed more traditional hay fever types allergies. Sneezing, sinus congestion, etc. So sensitivities can take different forms as time passes.</p>
<p>The point to realize is that there are probably a lot of things that may be irritating your skin. Some more obvious than others. I find it best to attack my eczema as soon as it flares up before it gets out of control with eliminating what is irritating it and using a cortizone cream on it. Mine would never get better by itself.</p>
<p>Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be.</p>
<p>I think self-diagnosis is dangerous and it’s a waste of time to speculate. Get to a qualified dermatologist. Either you have eczema and need topical or oral prescriptions, or it’s not eczema at all, in which case you need a doctor, too. Be sure to let him/her know you have had hypopigmentation from your earlier treatments. Some detective work on your part may help, but it’s hard if you’ve never had it before. Usually after repeated outbreaks, people can often figure out what provoked things. Obviously, eliminate new detergents, soaps, etc, and try to eliminate stress (yeah, right!).</p>