Question: Hi, I’m a 31 year old male. Recently I had what initially started off as sickness and then a horrific full body reaction. My doctors thought it was an allergic reaction so I was on antihistamine and double base cream. My blood tests then indicated my liver function was elevated along with my Alkaline Phosphatase and C-reactive protein. My skin got worse and is super dry all over, but especially bad on my face, hands, arms, back, bum, behind knees and my feet. I also get a random sore red rash on my thighs. I was taking steroid pills (4 a day for five days) but it didn’t help. 2 weeks later and I’m still with the same skin complaints. I had tests for hepatitis A,B,C & E which came back clear. I was using daktacort for the skin but then the doctor switched me to clobetasol. Nothing is working. My skin is still awful and dry, peeling or red raw and strange. The doctors are a bit perplexed and I’m waiting for an ultrasound next week on my liver.

What could cause my skin to react like this as well as my liver function result being elevated? Could any skin issues cause elevated liver function results in the blood test?

I feel ok otherwise, I don’t feel ‘sick’ in fact. Just my skin is so so dry, flakey and scaly.

I’m very worried and don’t know what it could be?

I’m not sure what I should ask my doctor to investigate as they haven’t yet referred me to a dermatologist or hepatologist.

Thank you doctor for replying. I’ve uplaoded photos of some of the skin areas as they are now, which is quite calm in fact. They do have strange periodic episodes where they become inflamed and spread, becoming redder and more prominent. The other areas of my skin contrast with this as they are white, incredibly dry and flaking & peeling completely. I’ve been using clobestol twice a day on the red patches for the past few days and it helps calm them a little but then they flare up (often in the evening).

I’m afraid I don’t know the exact values of the tests doctor, my own doctor didn’t provide them, only that of the four blood tests I’ve had over the past month it has shown elevated liver function, alkaline phosphatase & CRP. One result came back haemolyaed so was dismissed. All my blood tests for hepatitis were clear so ruled out. The live ultrasound she didn’t tell me why specifically other than she wanted to check for lesions on the liver itself.

I have no jaundice or pale stools, no fever or muscle aches. The only symptoms other than the skin problems and flare ups, is I’ve been feeling a little bit weak & faint if I am moving around.

The steroid tablets I was taking were Prednisolone 5mg 4x daily. They didn’t really help.

I’m not currently taking any antibiotics or other oral medicine. Just using the cream as needed.