Any DU Doctors or Nurses? I have a medical question about a Skin Rash

[liberalpragmatist]

I think I'll probably go to a physician soon to ask about this. For the last few months, I've noticed that in my left armpit there is a rash under my arm that hasn't gone away. It's a patch, shaped like two concentric circles. It's red and gets very dry, so I've been applying moisturizer to it. Otherwise, it does not hurt, except for some irritation when dry. It does itch a little sometimes.

The patch isn't elevated, and it hasn't grown or spread at all - it's consistently been the same size and shape for the past few months. I didn't seek medical attention sooner b/c I figured it would disappear, except that it's been three months now, and it hasn't. However, I haven't felt sick as a result of it. My arm basically feels fine and I've not even thought about it much.

I should also give some background. I'm 19 years old, half-indian-american, with brown skin and no history of serious infections, no STDs and no sexual activity so far, and I should mention that there's no history in my family of skin cancer either. Any ideas about what this could be?

[put out]

1. A flat, red, itchy patch with raised borders? or

more of a bullseye? The bullseye one is a symptom of Lyme disease, vectored by a tick when it bites. But they don't itch and they don't last a long time. I think if that was it you might start feeling ill. A blood test will tell you and then your doc can help.

Ringworm? A fungus. Contagious but more a nuisance than anything. Over the counter topical anti-fungals will get rid of it (Tinactin, Lotrimin, etc.). Moisturizers won't help for either of these things.

Contact dermatitis? Heck, I don't know. But I'll bet you get lots of advice now! Really, see a doc if it persists. No need to worry about it.

[grasswire]

2. have you tried an anti-fungal cream?

Dunno if that's the problem, but it couldn't hurt to try. There are fungi that like to grow on the skin in damp areas. Just pick up something in the athlete's foot area of your drugstore.

on edit: Oops. I see I've been redundant.

[NC_Nurse]

3. Could be Impetigo too

It makes a ring and is itchy. It's a staph infection, my kids had it when they were young a couple of times. Or ringworm...
Could be exzema (I never get the spelling right), who knows? I'd have to see it.
Hard to say without seeing it.
There's lots of over the counter stuff you could try...bacitracin, antifungal like lotrimin, or hydrocortisone for exzema. But you have to figure out what it is.
Might just be easier to go to the doc.

[Paradise]

4. you may be allergic to your deodorant.

try using a plain deodorant WITHOUT anti-persperant. anti-persperant deodorant is aluminum-based, which is a strong irritant. don't be frightened about cancer because cancer is irregular in shape, not round, however you should always check with a physician, which i am not.

[lojasmo]

5. Tinea

ER nurse here. Sounds like tinea. It's a fungal infection which affects the skin. Mostly affects moist areas. Anti fungal cream is the treatment of choice. Go to your doc, though.
Let me know what it was, i'm curious

J

[Exultant Democracy]

6. I say go fro broke

go to the drug store and buy a little bit of everything and put it on.
Then again I also suggest do it at home minor surgery so perhaps I'm not a good source for on-line medical advice.