TB Dermatologists...What is this? (56k warning/not for the faint of heart)

[warwick.hoy]

I know it is a little gross and kind of embarrassing for me but I'm hoping that I can avoid signing up for a forum that I would only visit once or twice (WebMD or whatever). Besides I know you guys won't judge me.

I've had this on my arm for about 3 weeks now. This started out as two rings that grew together. My 1st thought was ringworm (which is actually a fungus related to athletes foot), but in my research it said that the skin inside the ring stayed healthy; which as you can see is not the case. It's dry and itchy but in some spots a little leaky. Also note that the scar a little above it is an unrelated burn that is healing up.

Now I'm thinking plaque psoriasis, but perhaps it is excema. I'm going out on a limb and hoping someone here would know. Some of the pictures I've seen of psoriasis look similar but perhaps someone can confirm this for me.

I realize that I should probably go to a doctor but I'm not to keen on that because I just don't have the money to throw at a doctor, nor health insurance. So try to refrain from that.

I can research treatment....just looking for some help identifying it.

[Mark Latimour]

I am not a doctor, but my guess is Ebola.

[bassrique]

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[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

I am not a doctor, but my guess is Ebola.

I chuckled

Originally Posted by bassrique

Does it get scaley? Is it itchy? Are you scratching it?

Yes
Yes
and Yes....I'm trying to refrain as best I can.

I've also been putting a tattoo aftercare moisturizer on it and wrapping it in saran wrap. I used to get this sort of thing when I was really young and this was how we dealt with it. Back then we had insurance through the Navy (dad was an officer), but I don't remember what the diagnosis was. They recommended said treatment.

[Stumbo]

Just happen to read about your symptom this morning. I think you need to get to the Doc ASAP. Good luck.

What are symptoms and signs of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease affects different areas of the body in varying degrees as it progresses. The site where the tick bites the body is where the bacteria enter through the skin. Initially, the disease affects the skin, causing an expanding reddish rash often associated with "flu-like" symptoms. Later, it can produce abnormalities in the joints, heart, and nervous system.

Lyme disease is medically described in three phases as: (1) early localized disease with skin inflammation; (2) early disseminated disease with heart and nervous system involvement, including palsies and meningitis; and (3) late disease featuring motor and sensory nerve damage and brain inflammation and arthritis.

In the early phase of the illness, within days to weeks of the tick bite, the local skin around the bite develops an expanding ring of unraised redness. There may be an outer ring of brighter redness and a central area of clearing, leading to a "bull's-eye" appearance. This classic initial rash is called "erythema migrans" (formerly called erythema chronicum migrans). Patients often can't recall the tick bite (the ticks can be as small as the periods in this paragraph). Also, they may not have the identifying rash to signal the doctor. More than one in four patients never get a rash. The redness of the skin is often accompanied by generalized fatigue, muscle and joint stiffness, swollen glands, and headache resembling symptoms of a virus infection.

The redness resolves, without treatment, in about a month. Weeks to months after the initial redness of the skin, the bacterium and its effects spread throughout the body. Subsequently, disease in the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur.

The later phases of Lyme disease can affect the heart, causing inflammation of the heart muscle. This can result in abnormal heart rhythm and heart failure. The nervous system can develop facial muscle paralysis (Bell's palsy), abnormal sensation due to disease of peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy), meningitis, and confusion. Arthritis, or inflammation in the joints, begins with swelling, stiffness, and pain. Usually, only one or a few joints become affected, most commonly the knees. The arthritis of Lyme disease can look like many other types of inflammatory arthritis and can become chronic.

Of note, at the national meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in 2007, it was reported that anxiety and depression occur with an increased rate in people with Lyme disease. This is another important aspect of the evaluation and management of these patients.

What is the treatment for Lyme disease?

Most Lyme disease is curable with antibiotics. This is so true that some authors of Lyme disease research have stated that the most common cause of lack of response of Lyme disease to antibiotics is a lack of Lyme disease to begin with! The type of antibiotic depends on the stage of the disease (early or late) and what areas of the body are affected. Early illness is usually treated with oral medicines, for example, doxycycline (Vibramycin), amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Therefore, if a person finds a typical "bull's-eye" skin rash (described above) developing in an area of a tick bite, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Generally, antibiotic treatment resolves the rash within one or two weeks. Later illness such as nervous-system disease might require intravenous drugs, for example, ceftriaxone (Rocephin).

For the relief of symptoms, pain-relieving medicines might be added. Swollen joints can be reduced by the doctor removing fluid from them (arthrocentesis). An arthrocentesis is a procedure whereby fluid is removed from a joint using a needle and syringe under sterile conditions. It is usually performed in a doctor's office. Rarely, even with appropriate antibiotics arthritis continues. It has been suggested by researchers that sometimes joint inflammation can persist even after eradication of the Lyme bacterium. This has been explained as an ongoing autoimmune response causing inflammation of the joint that was initially stimulated by the original bacterial infection. The doctor also can inject cortisone into swollen joints or use oral medications, such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin), to reduce inflammation and improve function.

[Araillac]

You try cutting it off yet?

[bassrique]

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[René_Julien]

What's that scar under your sleeve? That doesn't seem related. Scar?

It looks like excema, aggressive form. I'm not a specialist.

Don't take this the wrong but: are you living healthy? Drafty living conditions? Drugs or unprotected you know what?

At first sight it just looks like excema with burn wounds from clothing. Try sleeping with your forearm uncovered. The rubbing of clothing will only make it worse.

Ointment with cortisone will probably cure this. But that means a lot of it and I assume it's on prescription in the US. (it's on prescription around here.)
What you can try is vaseline, and wrap up your forearm if you are in public. Again: when in private try not to cover it up with clothing.

Serious dude, if it got this bad try to go to a doctor or dermatologist.
Isn't there something like a free clinic.

[funkybass4ever]

definitely get checked for lyme disease. Get to a doctor asap!

[Chunk-O-Funk]

It's dry and itchy but in some spots a little leaky

That description actually sounds like some kind of plant dermatitis. Looks like it to me too.

When you had insurance did the doctor ever give a prescription or shot of cortisone?

I guess you could try an over the counter strength hydra-cortisone, but it's so weak compared to cortisone it usually only provides a little comfort.

[Araillac]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

That description actually sounds like some kind of plant dermatitis. Looks like it to me too.

When you had insurance did the doctor ever give a prescription or shot of cortisone?

I guess you could try an over the counter strength hydra-cortisone, but it's so weak compared to cortisone it usually only provides a little comfort.

sounds like a diluted cortisone. Hydra. Is it possible to boil it to bring it back up to regular strength cortisone? I don't even know what cortisone is so if this makes no sense don't hate.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by funkybass4ever

definitely get checked for lyme disease. Get to a doctor asap!

When looking at the pictures again I think the lyme disease speculation is valuable.

This is more serious then just excema.


Go to a doctor ASAP.

Those two rings are worrying.

Best of luck, I hope you get better soon.

[Ívar Þórólfsson]

I read an article a short while ago about how self diagnosis through the Internet (webmd etc.) is becoming a real problem.

People tend to diagnose themselves with a much serious condition than they have, leading to stress, anxiety and more problems.

People also try to fix the problem themselves with bad consequences.


Anyhoo, go see a doctor dang-nabbit!

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

What's that scar under your sleeve? That doesn't seem related. Scar?

Refer to the OP. I burnt myself on a half sheet pan at work. It's not related to the splotches.

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

It looks like excema, aggressive form. I'm not a specialist.

Don't take this the wrong but: are you living healthy? Drafty living conditions? Drugs or unprotected you know what?

I drink a little, 420, but extremely casually. I'm married and it is monogamous. My wife recently had shingles, but I don't think that this is shingles. My home is somewhat clean....not immaculate, but not unhealthy IMO.

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

At first sight it just looks like excema with burn wounds from clothing. Try sleeping with your forearm uncovered. The rubbing of clothing will only make it worse.

Ointment with cortisone will probably cure this. But that means a lot of it and I assume it's on prescription in the US. (it's on prescription around here.)
What you can try is vaseline, and wrap up your forearm if you are in public. Again: when in private try not to cover it up with clothing.

I think I can get hydro-cortisone OTC

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

Serious dude, if it got this bad try to go to a doctor or dermatologist.
Isn't there something like a free clinic.

There are free clinics around here, but they for the most part have a month long waiting list and a lot of bureaucratic red tape to go through.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Ívar Þórólfsson

I read an article a short while ago about how self diagnosis through the Internet (webmd etc.) is becoming a real problem.

People tend to diagnose themselves with a much serious condition than they have, leading to stress, anxiety and more problems.

People also try to fix the problem themselves with band consequences.


Anyhoo, go see a doctor dang-nabbit!

TBH I really just roll with the punches on what life throws at me...so no extra anxiety on my part.

If I die I won't hold the TB community liable.

I haven't had any of the other symptoms attributed to Lyme Disease so I'm not too concerned about that. Deer ticks are few and far between in the middle of Downtown Spokane and I haven't camped in years. It would have had to lie dormant for many many years.

If it continues I certainly try to get to a doc, but like I said....I really don't have the money to throw at a doctor. I'm not going to pay someone $100 for five minutes of his/her time.

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

TBH I really just roll with the punches on what live throws at me...so no extra anxiety on my part.

If I die I won't hold the TB community liable.

I haven't had any of the other symptoms attributed to Lyme Disease so I'm not too concerned about that. Deer ticks are few and far between in the middle of Downtown Spokane and I haven't camped in years. It would have had to lie dormant for many many years.

If it continues I certainly try to get to a doc, but like I said....I really don't have the money to throw at a doctor. I'm not going to pay someone $100 for five minutes of his/her time.

Im not trying to bash you at all, but in fact when you go to a doctor if it takes him 5 minutes to give an diagnostic and a prescription dont be bummed it took him/her 5+ years to be able to give you that diagnostic. And if it goes wrong you can always sue him.

[Ívar Þórólfsson]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

TBH I really just roll with the punches on what live throws at me...so no extra anxiety on my part.

If I die I won't hold the TB community liable.

I haven't had any of the other symptoms attributed to Lyme Disease so I'm not too concerned about that. Deer ticks are few and far between in the middle of Downtown Spokane and I haven't camped in years. It would have had to lie dormant for many many years.

If it continues I certainly try to get to a doc, but like I said....I really don't have the money to throw at a doctor. I'm not going to pay someone $100 for five minutes of his/her time.

Yeah I hear ya.

Wasn't saying that you might be struggling with anxiety, I just thought of this article when I saw your thread

Hope it all works out!

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Originally Posted by Araillac

sounds like a diluted cortisone. Hydra. Is it possible to boil it to bring it back up to regular strength cortisone? I don't even know what cortisone is so if this makes no sense don't hate.

Yes, I believe hydra-cortisone is a diluted cortisone. Over the counter hydra-cortisone is in a cream form so boiling it won't work. Even actual prescription strength cortisone for plant rashes is typically only about 5%.

The thing is you can over-use the stuff and have side effects. More than likely that is why you can only get hydra-cortisone over the counter. It's pretty cheap though, so trying it out will only set you back a couple of bucks.

If anything at all it may relieve you of some itching. Most of them also contain Aloe as well.


BTW, I know it's winter and the plants that contain poison are more than likely dead, but if the poison from a plant get on something like a rake or shovel you can get get reinfected by that. The poison can remain active for up to two years, from what I've read.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

Yes, I believe hydra-cortisone is a diluted cortisone. Over the counter hydra-cortisone is in a cream form so boiling it won't work. Even actual prescription strength cortisone for plant rashes is typically only about 5%.

The thing is you can over-use the stuff and have side effects. More than likely that is why you can only get hydra-cortisone over the counter. It's pretty cheap though, so trying it out will only set you back a couple of bucks.

If anything at all it may relieve you of some itching. Most of them also contain Aloe as well.


BTW, I know it's winter and the plants that contain poison are more than likely dead, but if the poison from a plant get on something like a rake or shovel you can get get reinfected by that. The poison can remain active for up to two years, from what I've read.

To answer you previous question chunk....yes I have prescribed hydra cortisone by the doctors when I was a kid.

Originally Posted by vene-nemesis

Im not trying to bash you at all, but in fact when you go to a doctor if it takes him 5 minutes to give an diagnostic and a prescription dont be bummed it took him/her 5+ years to be able to give you that diagnostic. And if it goes wrong you can always sue him.

I understand what you are saying, but still that doesn't change the fact that I don't have any money at the moment.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I'm not going to pay someone $100 for five minutes of his/her time.

You're not paying for the time, you're paying for the knowledge. Since your condition is getting not getting better with time, IMO, it's time to get some cash together and get a non-TB opinion.

Maybe there's a clinic in your area that has reduced fees.

Edit: there are many clinics in Spokane
http://www.google.com/search?q=medic...ient=firefox-a

Here's one that may help you: http://www.fpucc.com/