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Suggest Any Topical Medicine For Scratch On The Leg

Posted on Mon, 30 Dec 2013

Question: I have a scratch on my leg that has went from a scratch to a welted scratch, itchy and red, spreading out ever so slightly over the first 3 days. I started putting Neosporin on it and bandaid-ing it over, to prevent infection. After 3 days the welting ceased, so I went over to Hydrocortisone and covering it over in the same manner. After 3 days It seems to be helping slightly. It's still red and itchy but not welted. It looks like poison ivy or bug bites but it came from a scratch, looks like a scratch and I don't remember it happening. Is there another topical product I should be putting on it, and should I be concerned? This has been 9 days now. Thanks , XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Allergic/Irritant dermatitis, Apply potent steroid Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for posting your concern at XXXXXXX It could be Irritant/Allergic contact dermatitis to possibly ??Poison ivy. Signs and symptoms such as redness, itching and welting are classical of contact dermatitis. Neosporin is an antibiotic and it wont help the dermatitis much, though hydrocortisone would help a little but since it is a very mild steroid, so it wont help much. You need to apply a steroid cream containing a potent steroid like mometasone OR Clobetasol. I would advice that you apply a cream containing a combination of topical steroid and an antibiotic e.g Mometasone + fusidic acid. An oral antihistamine like cetrizine once daily would help you with the itch part. Can you send me a clear picture of the lesion? It would be very helpful, if i can have a look at it.. Do you have pain in it? take care regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (15 minutes later)

In PDF form is a photo of the offending scratch Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Allergic contact dermatitis to ?Ivy ? Neosporin Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for such a good quality photo which leaves no doubt at all, that it is Allergic Contact Dermatitis (? Poison Ivy, ? Neosporin) I shall prescribe a potent steroid like Mometasone OR Clobetasol for my patients in such a case. It should resolve in another 7 days. Adding an oral antihistamine like cetrizine once daily would help you with the itch part. Though you said that Neosporin improved it somewhat but i am not fully convinced. In fact Neosporin is in itself a major cause of Allergic Contact dermatitis and many topical wounds/scratches are complicated by Allergic contact dermatitis to Neosporin. Hope this helped take care

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (17 minutes later)

Thanks. It's about what I had expected. I've been around a lot of dormant poison ivy working on a house, but couldn't understand how it was possible it got under my jeans and I don't know where the scratch came from. No tear in the jeans. Much appreciated and I'll try a pharmacy to see what options they might have. If none, it's off to a doctor. (no insurance) Thanks again... XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer: You are Wecome Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on XXXXXXX Take care Regards

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

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