Dear all,
I am a 28 year old caucasian guy,
generally in good health besides a very
dry skin on my hands since early
childhood.
Five months ago (during the summer) I have
started noticing a red itching rash on my
right wrist, the next day I have noticed
the same rash on my left wrist. Some time
after (about a day) the rash on my right
wrist got better and disappeared. Shortly
after (about 1-2 days later) I have
started noticing a very dry flacky skin
around my eyes. The skin around my eyes
and nose areas became red-brownish toned.
A few days later, I have noticed a general
improvement in all symptoms - the skin
around my eyes became less rough and the
hand seemed to turn gradually better.
3 to 4 weeks after the first described
outburst, I have experienced an almost
identical outburst of symptoms: In a
course of 2-3 days my left wrist became
exteremely rough and itchy, my eyes became
dry, flacky and brownish - but this time
the infected area has spearded to include
the edges of my eyes as well, plus I have
firstly noticed a red-brownish moderately
itchy bruise-like lesion on the right side
of my neck.
A few days (4-5) have passed, and all
symptoms have cleared again (almost
completely).
And again: 3 to 4 weeks later I had
another outburst: this time both sides of
my neck had these bruise-like red-brownish
lesions.
Again: during the following days the
symptoms cleared, and when they've
re-appeared (about a month later) I have
noticed red-dry skin also on my left cheek
(see links with currently taken pictures
at
http://www.bubbleshare.c
om/album/284521).
Shorty after I have experienced my first
outburst I have went to see a dematologist
which have told me that I probably suffer
from "atopic dermatitis", and subscribed
my elocom paste (steriods) and a potent
moisturizer cream, but I had serious
doubts about this analysis since:
A) No one in my family has a history of
skin conditions or hay-fever!
B) Generaly all skin abnormalities that
appear during outbursts are not that
itchy! (the lesions on the neck are the
most itchy ones - but it's not that bad) -
I mostly find myself bothered by the
feeling of my exteremly dry flacky skin
around my eyes.
C) My room-mate (female - 29 years old)
also suffers from red-brown skin around
the eyes and on the back of her neck. In
her case all outbursts are milder than
mine, but the symptoms are very similar in
terms of share and color of skin
abnormalities so I guess she's suffering
exactly from the same problem - she
started suffering about 5 months before me
(during winter).
I did try the elocom paste, on the first
outburst, but on the following outbursts
all I used was the moisturizer and the
outcome was pretty much the same (the
elocom paste did not seem to affect
anything).
I am totally discouraged as I am currenly
expriencing an outburst (which is the
worst yet) and I excpect it to return
bigger and uglier in about a month or so
(if this one will end at all).
I went to my GP yesterday and he said that
I have an allergic reaction to something
and prescribed me two kinds of
antihistamines (prednisone &
desloratadine) and sent me to do some
tests (blood, urine and throat culture) in
addition he have sent me to an allergist.
I have my own theroy, please help me
determine:
I live in an old rented appartement which
has mold in the bath room. If not it may
be related to stuff on my bed sheets
(because the lesions are often seen in
places where my face contacts them during
night sleep). I usually spend most hours
of the day in the house (I work from home)
and my room-mate spents only about a third
of the time I spend at home.
I beg you: please help me! no doctor
so-far seem to know what's causing these
outbursts - is there any doctor out there
which can assist??
Updated pictures can be viewed at:
http://www.bubbleshare.c
om/album/284521
Thanks.
