Rash Around the Waist, Busts and Back

Rash Around the Waist, Busts and Back

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QUESTION: For about a year, on and off, I get a rash that itches and my skin
is real tender around my waist, between my busts, around my bra and back. I
have changed the soap I wash clothes with, taken showers without soap, rubbed
it with caladryl baby lotion; but nothing makes it go away. Is there anything
you can write in your column that can help me?
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ANSWER: I'll certainly try, although dealing with skin problems without
actually seeing the rash is not the easiest thing to do. From the areas of
your body in which the rash appears, and the failure of the types of remedies
you have attempted, my first thought is that your condition might be a type of
dermatitis know as "intertrigo". This rash develops in the folds of the skin
where the surfaces may rub together, and where the openings of the skin pores
are covered. Such a condition leads to the breaking down of the cells the lie
on the surface of the skins (a process called "maceration"), and an irritation
that provokes redness, tenderness and itching. To further complicate matters,
an infection by bacteria or a fungus may occur. This skin problem is most
common in obese individuals who live in hot climates that provoke constant
perspiration. There are several steps you may take to rid yourself of this
annoyance. First, use an antiseptic soap during your shower to help combat
any possible infection. You must dry your self thoroughly, taking care to
blot away all the moisture that may remain deep in skin folds. The careful
use of a hair dryer, on its lowest heat setting can be helpful, but never set
it to hot or use it too close to the skin, as that may cause burning. If the
infection persists, delaying the healing of the skin, you may have to resort
to a prescription cream that contains an appropriate antibiotic or antifungal
agent. With any luck the problem should clear up in just a few days, and the
secret to preventing its reoccurrence is keeping the skin as dry as possible
in the areas of irritation.