Rashes

Dear Dr. Jen,

I recently went on a trip and was out walking in the sun a lot. I noticed that I got red scaly spots on my face.  Is this an allergy to the sun or the water there?  There are no other rashes on my body.

Lisette

Dear Lisette,

Eczema or atopic dermatitis is often aggravated by very hot climate.  When you are walking around a lot under the heat of the sun, it is not just hot, but also makes you sweaty.  This makes your skin itchy and red too.

A mild steroid cream (hydrocortisone or desonide) applied on the rash for a few days will bring about relief. While it sounds contradictory, a good hypoallergenic moisturizer especially at night can help prevent the rashes from worsening. Avoid using any scrubs, facial masks or strong cleansers and toners for the meantime.

Dear Dr. Jen,

The soles of my feet have tiny dots with fluid inside.  It is very itchy and I try to pop them.  I’ve tried so many fungal medicines but it keeps coming back. The foot scrubs help a bit, but it gets thicker eventually. Sometimes when it blisters and peels, it hurts to walk. Is there a certain shoe that I need to buy to avoid getting this again?  What else can I use?

Gerry

Dear Gerry,

The common term for the fluid-filled vesicles on the feet or hands is dyshidrosis.  While fungal infection, tinea pedis or athlete’s foot is often thought of as the culprit, this is not really the case most of the time.

Allergy to a footwear or carpet or floor material can also be the cause. To check this, an allergy test must be performed. On top of this, some other laboratories can be ordered to rule out concomitant fungal or bacterial infection which delays healing. Once you find out what you are allergic to, then avoidance to the identified trigger is key to prevent recurrence.  Scrubbing or popping the vesicles may encourage bacteria to enter the broken skin. 

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with the Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). Information on PDS is at www.pds.org.ph. Questions or concerns regarding the skin may be sent by text to 0932 857 7070 or emailed to [email protected]; or coursed thru The Freeman – (032) 2531276, or thru PSH – (032) 2338620 and 2325929. Inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.