Diabetic. Have Itchy Rashes On Arms, Chest And Shoulders. What Is Causing This?

Posted on Sun, 14 Oct 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 Answered on

Mon, 5 Nov 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband is 81, has diabetes, Stage III renal disease and heart failure. He has had a rash over his upper arms, chest and shoulders for 2 weeks. The Dr did not know what it was but gave him a steroid cream 4 days ago. It is no better. It is itchy, but no blisters. It is very red. Now several places have turned to a dark red-purple bruise and two have turned to a yellow bruise. Can you help us?

Answered by Dr. Rohit Batra (26 hours later)

Dear Patient,
Thanks for your query to XXXXXXX
Bruise like lesions on upper torso of the body might be due to some underlying infection and should not be applied with topical steroids.
An oral antibiotic and antibiotic cream alongwith anti histaminic drugs should be prescribed.
Also a skin biopsy needs to be carried out to know the exact character of the lesion.
In case any drug is being taken then the likelihood of drug allergy should also be kept in mind

Regards

Dr.Rohit Batra

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar