I've had a generalized rash that I've recently wondered if it was some form of skin cancer. It looks like eczema, but lots of patches. The itchiness & pain comes and goes, but the patches have remained for about a year. I can't afford health insurance right now. I borrowed money from family to see a dermatologist, but they only gave me steroid lotion to apply to my whole body! Used it anyway, and rash didn't go away, but seemed to calm down a little (although I was up all night with jitters after applying to a huge area). It's very flaky and embarassing. It started on my trunk area and spread to chest, back, legs, and arms. I just moved to a different city in the past 15mos, and am wondering if water here is causing the rash or if it's something systemic or some allergy or hormonal? I just had a baby a year ago, and the rash started sometime right before or after my delivery. Using same body/laundry soaps, so if it's allergy to something, it's probably food allergy? I don't know where to turn. I've thought about going back to derm, or going to allergist or internist. I don't want to waste any time or money, since I'm private paying & it's very costly. Thanks!
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Q: Where should I go to resolve a chronic itchy painful rash of unknown origin?
Hi there
I can understand how frustrating this must be for you. Know that I am not a doctor. But I am going to try to give you some information which hopefully will be helpful.
First of all...there are free clinics you can go to. Here is how to find them:
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has a Free Clinic Finder if you type in your zipcode you will find clinics in your area.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources also has a listing of free clinics in your area. All you have to do is plug in your geographic location.
Okay...now about your rash. It very well could be eczema. My son has this and I am told it may manifest in different ways for different people. I am wondering if the change in temperature and humidity could have been a contributing factor, or hormones or even like you say...a food allergy. When you did go for treatment...did they say that this was eczema?
Personally...I would go to a good dermatologist. Here is The Academy of Dermatology web site to locate a dermatologist near you.
Here is a site which shows what eczema can look like and as you can see...it can have a lot of variation.
Lastly here is information we have about eczema on our skin care site. I think you should definitely get things checked out. It might be something else entirely.
Hope this helps some! Let us know what happens.
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