Ear Thing

[Eve]

Hi, maybe one for Sqad and his ear expertise :) Grateful for any help though.

I've had this thing come up on my right ear, it's like a scaly cuff round the side of my ear, it goes right the way round the outside bit of my ear from front to back, looks like a few joined separate scab/scaly bits and is quite uncomfortable.

I've got a picture as it's not as big as the above maybe sounds:

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3664/4f6o.jpg

Could anyone tell if it's some kind of infection like a fungal thing or something like that in case I need to speak to GP. I can't think of anything I've done to bash it or cut it or anything like that.

Thanks for any help.

[hellywelly4]

I sometimes get patches like that on different parts of my face or scalp. I have been given Betacap by the doctor and it works very well. It's not available over the counter.

[Purple_Popple]

Could be dermatitis, a skin allergy, have you changed your shampoo etc at all recently?

[Sqad]

Not a very good picture,but i agree with both posters above.
I would buy some Hydrocortisone Cream 1% form the chemist and apply it twice daily for a week.
If there is no improvement in 4 days, then see you GP.

[Eve]

Thanks both, I am using the same shampoo, I did switch some of my products, though that was a month or two ago, same range as my shampoo but still different products. I take an antihistamine every day for allergies and hayfever though that may not prevent against a skin allergy.

Thanks for the tip about the Betacap. If it doesn't shift or gets any worse I'll speak to my GP, on close infection watch with the arthritis meds I'm on and have a tendency to get skin infections though not usually like this.

Will see if stopping the hair stuff makes a difference. I've had issues with wearing certain chains too recently as they have started giving me an uncomfortable rash, always on the same bit of my neck but not put on one for a while now and my skin has gone really "teenage" and spotty lately, though my consultant said it's the lowering of my immune system so maybe my skin is getting more irritable generally.

[anneasquith]

i may be wrong. but im not sure hydrocortisone cream is available without prescription. ?

[Sqad]

Yes, you are wrong ^^^^^^

[Eve]

Hello Sqad, sorry, you weren't there before I started rambling away :)

Will pick up some cream tomorrow and see how it goes.

Sorry about the picture, was having issues trying to get it taken of the right bit on my phone.

Ps. by way of an update (and for Slaney too if she sees it) on the breast and other abscesses, I got another one so GP sent me to the breast clinic and the consultant there has diagnosed hidradenitis suppurativa. Not great given I'm now on biologics for the RA and they are a bit nervy about it but we're seeing how it goes! That said, my ALT is causing issues again, was taken off methotrexate but it's still high and rising so bit of a wait and see at the moment.

[anneasquith]

really ? while you are here, do I see a change in your sleep pattern sqad ?

[Sqad]

Thanks for the update Eve.

[Sqad]

anne....no?.....Can you give me an example?

[anneasquith]

flippin heck, you can buy it from Tesco !!!!!!!!!!!! . posting very early a.m. and later p.m.

[Sqad]

anne.....ah! ...summer mode....the cats ask to go out in the middle of the night and as i am awake, i pop into AB.
Also we are UK time +1 hour which makes a difference.

[anneasquith]

so there has been a change , just keeping an eye on you :)... im aware of the time difference.!

[Eve]

How hot is it over there? I'm suffering with the heat and humidity and it's "only" been about 23/24 today, the warm weather has been sending the fluid in my feet crazy.

[anneasquith]

excuse me eve for intruding on your thread.

[Sqad]

Eve......last fortnight, the weather has been changeable but at best, the temperature has hit 34 degC.

The secret?.......air conditioning in all rooms of the villa.......VITAL.

[Eve]

No worries Anne, you're welcome :)

Wow, that's hot!!! I've got fans, humidifiers and all sorts here, I think I'd melt over there. Mind you, it's the humidity here that gets to me, been horrible today buses can get like saunas on wheels. We need more air con :)

[Gladiatrix]

I would just try puttin e45 or something on it for a while and see if that helps