Home Rather strange outbreak

[chizzy1982]

Hi everyone and Happy Easter

I am hoping somebody can shed a bit of light on a really irritating problem I''m having. For the past two months or so I have had an outbreak of "spots" on my right cheek only. It started in a funny line going down my face then kinda of setteld in a ring. I went to my GP who diagnosed a fungal infection (Yuk!) and gave me some cream which made the whole thing worse. I stopped using all my face creams and am now just using a plain exfoliator which I have used for years and some good old E45 cream. It was much better and the spots/markings are alot calmer to the verge of almost going, then I woke up 2 days and they were back with a vengance - the only thing i did differently was use a damp just washed (with persil non bio) towel to dry my face.

I have never had any real problems with my skin and i find it odd its just on one cheek.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

 

[neatfreak]

TOTAL shot in the dark here, but I had something callied Pityriasis Rosea a few years ago that made weird circlish marks on my neck and chest...it apparently is pretty common and benign...but I have no idea if it is what you have obviously. But it is commonly misdiagnosed as fungal.

Linky

 

[chizzy1982]

Neatfreak- Hi and thanks for the reply. Had a look at the link and I don''t think its that.......

I have one ring made up of spots about 1cm X 1cm and then lots of other spots dotted around the cheek area. There is no flakiness but occasionally the whole cheek will itch when i have a hot bath or sweat lots at the gym. The spots fade and go away only to reappear else where on the cheek, the ring has never fully gone away just faded then got angry again then faded etc

Sorry for the gross topic but its really getting to me

 

[Kaleigh]

I''d see a Dermatologist. I hope he/she gets it under control. Good luck!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

How is your diet? Those type of fungal problems can be a result of too much sugar or refined carbs in your diet. . .

Aside from diet, try washing your face cloths and pillow case in HOT water. That will kill bacteria.

(For years, I''ve tried to be "green" when it comes to laundry, but my son has allergies that ONLY flare up when I use cold water to wash his bedding, so if that is compounding your problem, you can easily remedy it!)

 

[chizzy1982]

Kaleigh - I think your right and that is going to have to be the next port of call if it doesn''t clear up, and i do think sooner the better given the wait I''m bound to have with the fabulous NHS system

MC - Generally my diet is pretty good, I do get some "normal" spots if I have a sugar fest. But you make a good point on the laundry front. I wash everything on a gentle 40 degree wash so I will definaltey boil wash all bed lining and towels - Thankyou for the tip.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Oh, and I buy extra-soft, but cheap face towels from target and high thread count pale pale pillow cases from BB&B that I use that are seperate from the regular bed sheets that go with my bed, since the hot water seems to take a toll on fabrics. All the towels get washed daily (I never use the same face towel more than one wash in a row!). That is really important. After my kids got pink eye (lol!) I became neurotic about germs and towels! It sucks having to throw out great eye shadows in fear that they have pink eye on them! lol

 

[sumbride]

Does it line up to your phone by any chance? Most people never sanitize their phones but it could be reinfecting you.

 

[chizzy1982]

MC - thankyou again for the great tips!

Sumbride - I never thought about the phone possibility. I will definatley be alcohol gelling my mobile and I do work in a hospital where the patients are allowed to use the phones so you never know, i may have picked something up from there ( my goodness really quite horrid when you think aout it!)

I was thinking about maybe using a sunbed to get some UV light onto it to see if that helps. My skin is always great after I get back from holiday and I know UV light therapy is a course of treatment for some skin conditions............ It is a kinda last ditch attempt as I know I will have to wait weeks - months before I can see a dermatologist on the NHS.

 

[lyra]

Two years ago I got a strange rash on my face. It started out as small circles on the right side of my face. I went to the dermatologist and he put me on Metro Cream and Minocycline oral antibiotic. I can''t for the life of me remember what the diagnosis was, but it was something fairly common. The Metro Cream made it a whole lot worse, and then it cleared right up. I was embarrassed about how red a flaky it made it, but the doc warned me it would get worse before it got better. I''m now actually a big fan of the Metro Cream. It seems to clear up all sorts of facial blemishes. Anyway, can you get your general physician to look at it and prescribe something? The dermy said no products, no washing my face other than what happened in the shower, things like that, no hot water either. Good luck!

 

[chizzy1982]

Hi Lyra

Thanks for the info - My GP did give me a mild topical antifungal which just made the whole thing worse and actually spread right over my cheek. With My GP practive it is very hit and miss as to who you get, so it is kinda pot luck if you get an expereinced doc or not. It is not really doing much either way and I have put the bare minmum on it in terms of creams and no make up, so I will go back and get a referral to a dermatologist. I''m going to try some UV light tommorow - at least i will have a tan to go with my rash!

Thanks everyone for all you help and advice - it is much appreciated!