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My 87 yr old mother has a rash that started on one arm and ...

Sent to Health Experts May 31 04:03 PM

My 87 yr old mother has a rash that started on one arm and gradually spread so it goes from her shoulder to her hand, and spread to the other arm and her legs. She also has periodic pain in the extremities where the rash is. The skin doctor said it looks like eczema, but creams have failed to clear it after over 6 weeks time. The rash has red bumps of different sizes. Any ideas what it could be? She had Shingles in the past and this is too widespread to be Shingles.

 

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 88

Already Tried:
The doctor prescribed several different creams to try over the past 6 weeks. Some are steroid based but I don't know the details.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $15
Info Request
May 31 4:17 PM (13 minutes and 59 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark

How is her general health?

Does she take any medication, including oral steroids or medication for arthritis?

Has anything changed at home in terms of toiletries, laundry detergents etc?

You mention the rash is red 'bumps' - can you describe the typical size, shape of the bump including whether it has a clear margin, or more general border?

Is it raised, pus filled, weepy?

Is there any possibility of posting a close up digital photo? Just a thought!

I will try and help if I can.



Edited by plaw123 on May 31 2006 at 4:17 PM

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Pauline -- Pharmacist -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3514 Health Accepts
MRPharmS. Worked as Community pharmacist for 15 years. Undertaking a second degree in medicine.
Reply
May 31 5:22 PM (1 hour and 4 minutes and 31 seconds later)
         
Reply to Pauline's Post: General Health: poor, eats little--
She has very bad osteoporosis with frequent fractures and constant pain. She has arthritis, trigger finger, frequent bladder infections, etc. Her circulation is poor with frequent sores on her legs that don't heal well. She has had most kinds of skin cancer removed from various places. (squamous cell on her leg, melanoma on her upper arm) The rash started near the site of where the melanoma was. The rash is all over the extremities, not in the folds, nor is it just near joints.
The bumps range in size with some clearly defined and others blending into skin. Hard to describe; itches some, not a lot--
She mostly stays at home due to limited mobility.
Takes Thyroid meds, atenolol, anti-depressive, tylenol (sometimes with codeine), sleeping pill at night, eye drops (dry eyes & macular), multi-vitamin, calcium, miacalcin, prevacid.....That's all I can remember - nothing she hasn't taken for years. No new detergents or other products.
I don't think rash is pus-filled.
No photo, I do not live near her so I only saw the rash once. We are waiting for results of biopsy. I don't know if pain is related to rash. If it is eczema, it is a weird form. Other possibility is it may be a symptom of cancer of some kind or dyfunction of kidneys.
I told her to see her internist if the biopsy doens't tell us anything. It is hard for her to get out to the medical group.
I would appreciate any thoughts you might have. sorry I can't be more helpful.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 31 5:42 PM (20 minutes and 3 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

A diffuse form of shingles can occur in people who are immune depressed. This would not be limited to a single area. However it does not sound like she is suffering from being severely immune depressed.

Taking thyroid medication means she is more likely to suffer from an autoimmune skin condition. Depending upon this, means she may have a number of associated skin disorders. There are several different types of excema which present in a variety of ways.

The skin biopsy is the ideal way to identify the problem as it will allow the dermatogist to see the changes at cellular level. As there are about 2000 different skin diseases, I will not produce names at random here.

General skin advice will be the use of an oral antihistamine to relieve the itching, and creams containing crotamitin will relieve the itch without clearing it up.

Anaesthetic gels containing lidocaine will also give symptomatic pain relief and if the skin is dry, ensure a fragrance free moisturiser is liberally applied to keep the area supple.

I am sorry I cannot help more, but it looks like the dermatologists are looking into the cellular levels of possible causes.

Best wishes



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Pauline -- Pharmacist -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3514 Health Accepts
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