Persistent rash that improves with sunlight?

Factual Questions
1

I have had, for about four months or so, a strange scaly rash on my right arm. It has been slowly expanding, and is at present about 3 in. long and 2 in. wide. It looks like dry, peeling, thickened skin, and recently the dry skin has, in places, gone into long, rough stripes running lengthwise on my arm. It’s sort of reddish, too. It itches a bit, but not seriously so. (And I have a long and troubled history of hives, so I know from itchy.)

Even though this seems like just dry skin, I call it a rash because it has resisted all my attempts to rehydrate it - I have soaked it in lotion, and although more skin comes off, Mr. Rash remains, with no noticeable improvement. Until today.

Today was my father’s birthday party, which was held outside, and I spent most of the afternoon and evening outdoors. It was sunny and warm. This morning while dressing I had a quick look at Mr. Rash - still present. Tonight, while undressing, I noticed that Mr. Rash, while still there, is greatly improved. You have to look closely and know what you’re looking for to see it at all. The only thing I can think of that I did today that was unusual was spending time outdoors, which I normally do not do at all, particularly on sunny days.

Can a rash improve on contact with the sun? Sunlight typically causes a rash for me (hives), which is why I normally avoid it. Could it be the heat instead? It was also quite hot today, and normally I avoid heat, too.

Does anyone have any idea what this rash might be? And is this something I should see my doctor about? I have been resisting the idea for months, because I just don’t see myself going in and complaining of really dry skin near my right elbow. This somehow seems of insufficient importance. But if this might be a weird early symptom of skin cancer or something, I’ll definitely be seeing her next week.

Or am I just having a bout of hypochondria?

2

If you’ve had the rash for 4 months—GO TO THE DOC!

[sub]Duh.[/sub] :rolleyes:

3

Could it be psoriasis? And I agree with Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor, see a doctor.

4

Bosda, you sound like my girlfriend. The rest of the argument goes:

Me: But it isn’t a bad rash. And maybe it isn’t a rash at all. And I think it’s getting better…

Her: WHY will you not just GO TO THE DOCTOR when you’re sick? WHY is this so difficult? It isn’t like she isn’t PAID for this! It’s her JOB! She went to SCHOOL so she could TREAT SICK PEOPLE! Let her TREAT YOU, for god’s sake!

Me: But I do go when I’m sick! This is just a minor rash. Maybe not even a rash! Maybe I just have elbow chafe or something! I mean, I’m not going to go to the doctor for elbow chafe…

Her [at volume]: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

And, really, it isn’t bad. I could live with this rash forever if need be.

[sub]OK, yeah, I should probably just go to the doctor.[/sub]

5

Heavens, Spider Woman, I really hope it’s not psoriasis. If I had skin that looked anything like the pictures of that, believe me I would’ve been at the doctor’s office four months ago. This is much, much milder.

However, these photos scared me into being sensible. Next week, my doctor will have an opportunity to become personally acquainted with Mr. Rash. At this point, I’m actually hoping she tells me it’s just elbow chafe.

(You’re not in the pay of my girlfriend, are you, Spider Woman?)

Thanks for your replies, Bosda and Spider Woman.

6

What made me think of that is my ex-husband had psoriasis, and at the time I was married to him, it was treated with sun lamps. It is probably not the only rash that responds to sun in that way (although some rashes are made worse by sun).

There are differing stages and severities in any case, I would imagine. I do hope it is not psoriasis, though, because that can be very difficult to get rid of. Keep us posted, and best of luck to you.

----:)/
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7

I think it’s leprosy.

:wink:

8

This is to directly address those “Go see a doctor people.”

I started reading this thread because I once had a rash that was affected to some extent by sunlight, but it’s clear that it’s not the same as the OP’s.

Went to the family doctor. He prescribed several different weird things, nothing worked, finally went away of it’s own accord. The guy was useless. And not for the first time. I found this guy to be substantially less than competent. (Was that a duck I heard?) Despite my pleading my mother continued to see him until he retired.

What did this bozo do after retirement? He became president of the AMA. I absolutely kid you not.

A few years later I looked at one of those “family home medical” books in a library. My rash was quite clearly pictured, its symptoms described to the tee. The future president of the AMA didn’t know how to look up a rash in a book.

Most of the medical questions asked here can be reasonably responded to by “go see a doctor”.

But rashes are a whole 'nother thing. Look up the meaning of “ideopathic contact dermatitist”. That’s what you’re going to get 99% of the time for all your money and trouble.

If you don’t know what might be causing deepbluesea’s rash, just keep quiet.

9

I have psoriasis. Many people have a pretty mild form of this. Most of the time there are no visible rash outbreaks. Whenever I drink too much alcohol, it gets worse. Sunlight does help clear it up.

10

**

I had one of those, an ideopathic rash, anyway. My doctor looked it over, shrugged, and had me tested for chicken pox and mono. Results were negative for both. She didn’t even try to make another guess as to what it was. Luckily it went away on its own. Personally, I think it might have been severe heat rash, since my summer job was very sweat-inducing- furniture moving- and it cleared up as soon as the summer was over. You’d think an MD would recongnize heat rash, though, wouldn’t you?

Psoriasis, however, is a terrible thing to let go undiagnosed, though. My mom and brother have it, and while my brother started treatment immediately, and only has it mildly, my mom’s doctors were slow to treat her, and she’s had it moderately for 20 years, and nothing has been more than minorly sucessful at treating it. If I see any signs of it on myself, you better believe I’ll go to the doctor post haste.

11

First, I agree with everyone above who say that you should by all means * see a doctor!*

That said, I know of at least one “rash” that gets better with exposure to sunlight, because I have a chronic case of it myself. Tinea Versicolor , caused by a fungus called Melasezzia Furfuris killed by ultraviolet light, of which you get plenty in sunlight. Just don’t put sunblock on over the regions you want to treat. In fact, though, I find that fungicides like Micatin and lotramine (Clotrimazole) work much better.

12

First, I agree with everyone above who say that you should by all means * see a doctor!*

That said, I know of at least one “rash” that gets better with exposure to sunlight, because I have a chronic case of it myself. Tinea Versicolor , caused by a fungus called Melasezzia Furfuris killed by ultraviolet light, of which you get plenty in sunlight. Just don’t put sunblock on over the regions you want to treat. In fact, though, I find that fungicides like Micatin and lotramine (Clotrimazole) work much better.

I have to point out, though, that your symptoms don’t sound very much like mine – TV just cases a red blotch to appear – no itching, smell, or dry skin.