Hot & Humid - My Partner Gets A Serious Skin Rash

[simon43]

We're living in Krabi right now, which has quite a humid atmosphere, due to the proximity of the hills to the coastal areas.

On a daily basis, my Thai partner suffers from red skin rashes which appear very rapidly and are very itchy. These appear on her neck, back of knees and thighs, arms, chest etc. Often they are very raised, like a serious heat rash.

She can alleviate these effects by taking medication for irritations (not sure exactly what it is). This medication reduces the rash overnight. However, the medication also makes her very tired, and she cannot take this prior to her weekend attendances at college.

Such is the seriousness of these rashes, that we are moving to Phuket, where the air is not as humid as Krabi (no high hills to 'catch' the clouds).

But I would be interested if anyone else has experience of this type of heat rash, and if there is any medication which provides relief without exhausting the patient.

I have suggested moving to snow-bound Switzerland, but she is concerned about the availability of somtam

Simon

[crazydrummerpauly]

Mmmmm - sounds nasty, but on what scientific basis are you convinced that

the medication makes her 'exhausted' ? Are you a doctor, or a pharmacist ?

If not, you are faced with a probable other cause, rather than a direct causal

link between the medication and fatigue. Simple stress about the distressing

skin condition could easily be the cause of the fatigue - or any other factor

in her life. Without a well-founded scientific explanation, the medication and

the fatigue are merely contemporary events ( coincidence ).

I can never undersatnd why so many members of this and other fora are willing

to trust their (or their partner's) health and well-being to the random opinions

of other members - is there a good reason why you are not heading for the nearest

decent clinic or hospital, to have your partner's condition seriously investigated,

instead of relying on your own guesswork ?

Do the correct thing: get professional treatment ! Good luck

[Slip]

Simon, move to Switzerland and open their first somtam shop. Obvious really.

[simon43]

She has already been treated by a doctor, and his prescribed medication works but causes her great tiredness (if she doesn't take the medication, then she is not tired and has the rash - if she takes the medication, then she is tired and has no rash, understand?)

I've posted to see if there are any other members who have had similar experiences with heat rashes, and if so, whether their prescribed medication also causes this tiredness.

I am very flexible about where I live in Thailand, so if Phuket doesn't work out, then it's off to the cold and snowy hills of north Thailand

Simon

[snowflake]

I would suggest that you make sure she is covered with "Prickley Heat"... worked wonders for me a while back when I got rashes... It burns, but it is good for your skin...

AloeVera could be put on, but that is more of an after treatment...

Go and see a doctor, tell him that the pills she is eating now is making her tired, she has to change... Problem solved...

[Sheryl]

Sounds like she was given an antihistamine...which suggests the doctor thinks the rash is some type of allergy and not heat rash.

Application of hydrocortisone or other steroid cream at night will probably help just as much without the systemic side effects, but need to try to figure out what she is allergic to.

[grumpyoldman]

Sounds like she was given an antihistamine...which suggests the doctor thinks the rash is some type of allergy and not heat rash.

Application of hydrocortisone or other steroid cream at night will probably help just as much without the systemic side effects, but need to try to figure out what she is allergic to.

Past couple years I get the same thing this time of year. Last year the doctor told me it was because the water in my well had reached bottom and I was showering in water with maybe some heavy metals. He said he had many patients with the same and prescribed cortisone cream.

This year I have just been using cooling powder, seems to work o.k. Except missed it this morning on the backside of my arm, has the raised rash type thing and is itchy !

Bring on the rain god**ammit!

[FBN]

From the location and nature of the rash, it seems that she has eczema. The oral medication was probably Aterax given for the itching.

Due to the relatively large areas affected, be sure to use a steroid ointment (not cream) that will be minimally systemically absorbed.

The recommended one is (generic name) "Momethasone"; not sure which commercial forms are available where you are but the pharmacist should know.

No harm in stopping the oral medication (if it is an antihistamine or Aterax, which is also an antihistamine).

She has to steer clear of perfumed soaps; better to use pH neutral liquid soaps such as Eucerin range.

Hard water can make it worse as well as certain kinds of food as it basically is an allergic condition. Milk sometimes aggravates it..

There are loads of info on the net as well as in previous topics on this forum.

[dddave]

A friend had the same symptoms while in Krabi. He felt is was a result of microscopic sand mites and successfully got relief from applying rubbing alcohol. However; if you do try rubbing alcohol, try just a very small patch of skin at first as it could possibly also make symptoms worse.

[simon43]

Well, after these usual comments, we set to work with 'Google is your doctor' and we both agreed that the images of typical Eczema were not like the skin rashes that she experiences. These appear suddenly, within minutes. Voila! - the images that we found which are exactly the same as her skin rash is Hives. Reading about hives, the additional symptoms that can be apparent were also confirmed by us, especially shortness of breath and some difficulties in breathing when the hives breaks out on her.

I've checked on several medical websites, and her condition without a doubt is Hives.

So, based upon the consultation with Dr Google, what actions do you suggest she takes to minimise these attacks?

Thanks

Simon

[Scully]

Well, after these usual comments, we set to work with 'Google is your doctor' and we both agreed that the images of typical Eczema were not like the skin rashes that she experiences. These appear suddenly, within minutes. Voila! - the images that we found which are exactly the same as her skin rash is Hives. Reading about hives, the additional symptoms that can be apparent were also confirmed by us, especially shortness of breath and some difficulties in breathing when the hives breaks out on her.

I've checked on several medical websites, and her condition without a doubt is Hives.

So, based upon the consultation with Dr Google, what actions do you suggest she takes to minimise these attacks?

Thanks

Simon

Get a new doctor?

[FBN]

So much for remote diagnosis!!

Not typical though for hives to appear on the same locations every time. They develop as a result of a fairly acute allergic reaction, so, in some sense, easier to manage. There has to be something she comes into contact with or eat, within a few hours of developing the rash, that she is allergic to.

First course of action would be to keep track of diet to try and find the cause.

Second is just to change the antihistamine to one of the newer versions that do not cause drowsiness.

Alternatively try something like Calamine lotion which is an application you can apply locally that should relieve the itching, even without the oral medication. This is cheap and available in most Thai pharmacies.

[simon43]

Well, your initial diagnosis was pretty good! I could have helped by describing the rash as raised welts which appear within minutes and then disappear completely after taking the anti-histamine and sleeping in a air-con room.

Certainly if she stays in a hot/humid environment, she is far more prone to hives. She is attending weekend collage and has to study all day in a non-air-con room. So she returns home covered in raised red welts that itch like crazy. (This is one reason why we are moving to Phuket because the college room has air-con).

Can you suggest an anti-histamine (generic name), that will not cause drowsiness? Thanks.

I will ask her to keep a food diary - to try to identify if she has a food allergy.

Simon

[Sheryl]

cetirizine (Zyrtec and many local brand names) works well for many people and is less likely to cause drowsiness.

In addition to allergy, hives can be due to emotional stress. So if you cannot identify an environmental trigger and especially if the attacks seem linked to her studies, might be what is going on. But do check for possible allergens first.

You mentioned her fondness for Som Tam and as you are on the coast, I wonder if the type of crab being put in it there is the culprit as shellfish, esp from the ocean, are a common allergen. If so such allergies can be serious. I am especially concerned that you mention wheezing. See if there seems to be a link between that, or any other food consumption, and the outbreaks. (She will no doubt say she has been eating som tham thai all her life. Ignore that. The crab added to it upcountry and what they are using locally may not be the same. Also, allergies can develop to things one previously tolerated. )

[FBN]

Seems that she really has a hyperactive allergic response in which case there may be any number of triggers.

Search for "Dermographia" on the net and see if there are similarities. Simple test would be just to draw a line with a blunt object on her skin and see if this causes the same reaction.

If so she may need to be evaluated by someone specialising in this for longer term treatment.

[Pacificperson]

"especially shortness of breath and some difficulties in breathing when the hives breaks out on her."

To me and I am not a doctor, this is the scary part. I would see a doctor and express a concern about it. It could be dangerous. The skin part is irritating, but if the allergic reaction is affecting her breathing, then you don't want to take chances.