Rash driving me mad!

[Eve]

I'm having a really bad arthritis flare at the moment and in a lot of pain in numerous joints (inflammatory arthritis) especially in my hands and wrists.

I've also come up in a horrible rash with raised red itchy spots (almost looks like tiny blisters on the end too). It started off as the odd larger one on the back of one of my arms and one of my legs, back... but is now becoming more and more widespread (more smaller ones), over my tummy, on, round and under my boobs, between the top of my legs and, at it's worse, all down the insides of my arms right down to my wrists, mainly larger ones at the top getting smaller as it goes down my arm.

It's driving me mad. Have tried cetrizine antihistamine which had no effect so popped to the walk in centre yesterday to make sure it wasn't anything infectious or dangerous to others like german measles.

Dr reckoned it could be an autoimmune rash and suggested I change antihistamine to Piriton and prescribed some Eurax cream to help the itch.

It's still bad and spreading, anyone any idea what it could be (don't know anything about autoimmune rashes) and how I can get rid of it or lat least calm it down and stop it irritating so much as antihistamines and the cream don't seem to be helping.

[bushbaby_de]

can't for the life of me remember what its called right now but that nappy rash cream works a treat, i get exzema and it really calms it down

[Eve]

Like sudocream? Or the castor oil type one? Will definitely give it a try :)

[Sqad]

Skin rashes associated with R.A are varied and many.

From the sounds of your rash, it is almost certainly auto-immune and may require steroids by mouth to settle your symptoms.

My main concern is the description of redness and blistering which brings vasculitis to mind. Rheumatoid vasculitis is something that needs urgent attention, but thankfully is rare.

I would ask your GP for further advice if it gets worse.

[bushbaby_de]

sudocream, that's the one!

[LoftyLottie]

Jenna, you and I are alike!!! I had a rash just like this several years ago. After three or four weeks and a session on steroids, I was referred to a dermatologist who prescribed a much stronger antihistamine - derma something or other. It worked but it took a long time. As you know I suffer from arthritis, osteo, borderline RA and inflammatory arthritis. They sort of linked my rash to it, but I will never know. All I know is it was hell. Cool baths, paracetamol and only wearing cotton next to my skin helped with the itching.

I would go back to your doctor.

Good luck and lots of sympathy.

[Eve]

I hope not Sqad, that looks evil!

Aww Lottie, we are aren't we! I've tried cetrizine and now piriton and E45 anti itch, Eurax and even eumovate but nothing has worked so far though, fingers crossed, my hands aren't feeling quite so bad today so am hoping that the rash will settle down with them.

The Dr suggested trying hydrocortisone steroid cream if none of that worked so will give it a day and hope it settles down then try some cortisone cream before going back if it still hasn't shifted.

It's driving me mad!

Still waiting on a load of test results. Rhumo have me down for general inflammatory arthritis with secondary fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency, physio say I have unstable hips and get quite a bit of that evil costochondritis. Waiting on the results of an MRI on my spine as consultant said there were some abnormailities on my spine x rays which she wanted a closer look at but next appointment isn't until March I don't think.

Still waiting on gastro to see if I also have inflammatory bowel which could be causing the arthritis, colon is fine (colonoscopy, barium swallow and camera down) but he wanted a closer look at my small bowel so had a sehcat (?) to check for malabsorbtion and wireless capsule endoscopy as he wanted a closer look at my small bowel. They were quite a while now but still waiting for an appointment to go back and see him.

Thankfully tummy has settled a little lately (and the fissure, thank goodness), the sulfasalazine is really good for calming that down as well, just keep being taken off it due to infections.

I'm getting there slowly lol :)

[LoftyLottie]

I made a mistake Jenna. The derma something or other was in fact a strong steroid cream not an antihistamine at all. I had to use it for about 2 weeks and then stop because of it's strength. I will never forget that rash, it was everywhere except for my face and I literally was crying most of the time and had three weeks off work.

[Eve]

I feel your pain! It's still really bad and the antihistamines haven't made any difference.

Went into Boot earlier who confirmed the eumovate I'd been trying is the strongest steroid cream they can give over the counter.

Looks like back to the doctor if it doesn't shift soon!

It's driving me insane tonight :(

[LoftyLottie]

Let me know how it goes Jenna. You must go back to your GP. The cream I had was definitely not available over the counter but it did the trick. x