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What Does Red Rash On Upper Body Indicate?
Question: my 24 yr.old son has a rash only on his upper body.they are red,somewhat clustered and appear to be raised and some itch.he works out and sweats profusely.we haven't changed detergents or eaten new foods.he does drink protein shakes and lots of water.i gave him benedryl last night.rash looks worse but at least he slept well.no other symptoms.m
Brief Answer:
Could be urticaria
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
From your history and description, I would consider the diagnosis of acute urticaria.
It usually presents with raised and itchy hives. Common triggering factors include new food ( which you have ruled out), new medicines, infections like sore throat and worm infestations.
However, in many cases of acute urticaria, it is not possible to find a cause. It subsides within a few days.
You could continue giving him benadryl at bedtime. You could add on oral Loratidine 10 mg ( Claritin) in the morning. He could also apply calamine lotion 2- 3 times for a soothing effect.
If it does not subside in 5 -10 days or worsens in that period, please visit your GP to get a short course of oral steroid prescribed.
Hope this helps you.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Could be urticaria
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to healthcare magic.
From your history and description, I would consider the diagnosis of acute urticaria.
It usually presents with raised and itchy hives. Common triggering factors include new food ( which you have ruled out), new medicines, infections like sore throat and worm infestations.
However, in many cases of acute urticaria, it is not possible to find a cause. It subsides within a few days.
You could continue giving him benadryl at bedtime. You could add on oral Loratidine 10 mg ( Claritin) in the morning. He could also apply calamine lotion 2- 3 times for a soothing effect.
If it does not subside in 5 -10 days or worsens in that period, please visit your GP to get a short course of oral steroid prescribed.
Hope this helps you.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. Chacko,
Around December 10th, my son's right eye became extremely red and irritated. He went to his primary physician and she said he had Conjunctivitis. She prescribed him Polymyxin B Sulfate and Trimethoprim. After about 10 days, the redness and irritation went away in his right eye, but his left eye became very irritated and red. My son went to Pearl vision or lens crafters and the doctor there told him that he had been misdiagnosed and that the redness and irritation had been from allergies. He told him to take over the counter Alaway and Refresh Optive. It was around this time that the skin rash started (around December 20th). Could this be a reaction from either of the eye drops? My son is very active and goes to the gym every night and sweats a lot, up until last week he was waiting to shower until he got home. We live in Massachusetts and it is very cold here. I have been trying to call dermatologists but all are booked but one nurse said that him being sweaty and driving home in the cold could have caused this. The rash/skin irritation looks worse after he works out. We are trying to figure out a cause but cant seem to find one. Any additional suggestions or causes would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,
Around December 10th, my son's right eye became extremely red and irritated. He went to his primary physician and she said he had Conjunctivitis. She prescribed him Polymyxin B Sulfate and Trimethoprim. After about 10 days, the redness and irritation went away in his right eye, but his left eye became very irritated and red. My son went to Pearl vision or lens crafters and the doctor there told him that he had been misdiagnosed and that the redness and irritation had been from allergies. He told him to take over the counter Alaway and Refresh Optive. It was around this time that the skin rash started (around December 20th). Could this be a reaction from either of the eye drops? My son is very active and goes to the gym every night and sweats a lot, up until last week he was waiting to shower until he got home. We live in Massachusetts and it is very cold here. I have been trying to call dermatologists but all are booked but one nurse said that him being sweaty and driving home in the cold could have caused this. The rash/skin irritation looks worse after he works out. We are trying to figure out a cause but cant seem to find one. Any additional suggestions or causes would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,
Brief Answer:
Please upload a photograph
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your additional history.
1. If the skin rash was due to a medicine allergy( unusual with ocular medicines), the rash should have subsided once the medicines were discontinued. The persistence of the rash even after stopping the eye drops suggests that the rash is probably not related to that.
2. Sweating is associated with a condition called as " cholinergic urticaria". This presents with small, itchy hives on the area of maximum sweating,usually the chest and arms. This lasts for half an hour to one hour and subsides on its own once the heat from the body is gone. However, this occurs only during episodes of sweating and not otherwise.
You have mentioned that the rash " looks worse" after the work out. But does it persist even when he is in the cold? If yes, it is unlikely to be cholinergic urticaria.
You have the option of uploading a photograph. Please upload a clear photograph of the rash so that I can assess better.
Hope this helps you.
Best Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Please upload a photograph
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your additional history.
1. If the skin rash was due to a medicine allergy( unusual with ocular medicines), the rash should have subsided once the medicines were discontinued. The persistence of the rash even after stopping the eye drops suggests that the rash is probably not related to that.
2. Sweating is associated with a condition called as " cholinergic urticaria". This presents with small, itchy hives on the area of maximum sweating,usually the chest and arms. This lasts for half an hour to one hour and subsides on its own once the heat from the body is gone. However, this occurs only during episodes of sweating and not otherwise.
You have mentioned that the rash " looks worse" after the work out. But does it persist even when he is in the cold? If yes, it is unlikely to be cholinergic urticaria.
You have the option of uploading a photograph. Please upload a clear photograph of the rash so that I can assess better.
Hope this helps you.
Best Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
file:///C:/Users/Sweeney/Downloads/0000_204725.jpg
Hi Dr. Chacko,
I am unable to paste a picture into the box, but above is the path. I'm not sure you'll be able to open the path, but please let me know if you cannot see it. Is there any other way to upload the photo if you unable to see it?
Also,
If you can see it, this was his back tonight. He also has this on his arms and chest, but his back is definitely the worst.
Thanks for your help,
Hi Dr. Chacko,
I am unable to paste a picture into the box, but above is the path. I'm not sure you'll be able to open the path, but please let me know if you cannot see it. Is there any other way to upload the photo if you unable to see it?
Also,
If you can see it, this was his back tonight. He also has this on his arms and chest, but his back is definitely the worst.
Thanks for your help,
Brief Answer:
Please upload a photograph
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Sorry, I am unable to open the photograph.
You have a feature to upload the images by yourself at the right side of the query page. You can also send the image as attachment to YYYY@YYYY , with the subject as 'Attn: Dr. Johny Chacko'.
Once I receive it, I will definitely try to help you better.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Please upload a photograph
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Sorry, I am unable to open the photograph.
You have a feature to upload the images by yourself at the right side of the query page. You can also send the image as attachment to YYYY@YYYY , with the subject as 'Attn: Dr. Johny Chacko'.
Once I receive it, I will definitely try to help you better.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr. Chacko,
I have sent the email to YYYY@YYYY with your attention. Please let me know if you do not receive it.
I have sent the email to YYYY@YYYY with your attention. Please let me know if you do not receive it.
Brief Answer:
Miliaria with periporitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the clear photograph.
I can see that your son has multiple red papules, papulovescicles and tiny pin point vescicles on the back.
I would consider the possibility of " Miliaria crystallina", " Miliaria rubra" with superadded " Periporitis".
Miliaria is a medical name for " Heat rash". It occurs due to excessive sweating. Your son's regular work outs along with the heat from sauna and hot tub would have caused this condition.
In this condition, the ducts of the sweat glands get blocked and produces the rash. Some of the blocked ducts could get mildly infected leading to " Periporitis".
I would offer your son the following suggestions-
1. Have a cold shower immediately after the work out. Lukewarm water is also OK considering the cold climate in your city.
2. Avoid sauna/ hot tub/ hot water.
3. Apply calamine lotion 2-3 times a day on the rashes. This will have a soothing effect.
4. Apply a antibiotic cream containing 2% mupirocin or 1 % fusidic acid on the red clustered lesions. ( right side of upper back) Apply twice a day for 5-7 days for the mild infection to settle down.
5. You could also give cold compresses to soothe the area once or twice a day.
It is better that he stops exercise for 2 weeks or till the lesions subside. This will hasten the resolution of the lesions as sweating is prevented.
Hope this helps you.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Miliaria with periporitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the clear photograph.
I can see that your son has multiple red papules, papulovescicles and tiny pin point vescicles on the back.
I would consider the possibility of " Miliaria crystallina", " Miliaria rubra" with superadded " Periporitis".
Miliaria is a medical name for " Heat rash". It occurs due to excessive sweating. Your son's regular work outs along with the heat from sauna and hot tub would have caused this condition.
In this condition, the ducts of the sweat glands get blocked and produces the rash. Some of the blocked ducts could get mildly infected leading to " Periporitis".
I would offer your son the following suggestions-
1. Have a cold shower immediately after the work out. Lukewarm water is also OK considering the cold climate in your city.
2. Avoid sauna/ hot tub/ hot water.
3. Apply calamine lotion 2-3 times a day on the rashes. This will have a soothing effect.
4. Apply a antibiotic cream containing 2% mupirocin or 1 % fusidic acid on the red clustered lesions. ( right side of upper back) Apply twice a day for 5-7 days for the mild infection to settle down.
5. You could also give cold compresses to soothe the area once or twice a day.
It is better that he stops exercise for 2 weeks or till the lesions subside. This will hasten the resolution of the lesions as sweating is prevented.
Hope this helps you.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Johny Chacko
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr. My son has a Dr's appointment tomorrow, although it is not with a dermatologist, we hope that they can prescribe something to cure this. My son is going to mention what you have told us. My son also wants to know, is there anyway this can be cured without having to stop working out? He is no longer going in hot tubs or sauna's and is taking mild to cool showers. He is kind of a gym rat lol.
Again, I really appreciate your help with all of this.
Thank you,
Again, I really appreciate your help with all of this.
Thank you,
Brief Answer:
It is better to stop going to the gym
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It is better he avoids going to the gym and doing excessive exercises temporarily as the condition is directly related to sweating.
I am glad you are able to see a doctor there. You could discuss the possibilities I have mentioned.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
It is better to stop going to the gym
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It is better he avoids going to the gym and doing excessive exercises temporarily as the condition is directly related to sweating.
I am glad you are able to see a doctor there. You could discuss the possibilities I have mentioned.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr. Johny Chacko
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
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