Suggest Treatment For Rash On Lower Calf Near Ankle

Posted on Fri, 31 Oct 2014

Question: I devolved a rash on my lower calf near my ankle two days ago. I have no idea what it is. Last night I put hydrocortisone cream on it and it's almost completely disappeared by morning. I also have a slight red ichy spot near my wrist. I am paranoid that it is scabies, even though I am not sexually active, I know there are other ways to contract scabies (I am a manicurist I hold peoples hands everyday). So my question off if was scabies would the hydrocortisone cream make the rash nearly vanish within hours of putting it on? Just to let you know I currently have a yeast infection from taking amoxicillin don't know if it's related thought I'd throw that info in.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of Insect bite

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query.

Scabies is caused by a mite called Sarcoptes Scabiei. The mite is acquired by close personal contact. The lesions are papules or excoriated crusted papules characterised by itching and may involve the hands(webs spaces, sides of palms), flexor wrists, arms, abdomen, chest, groin and upper thighs characteristically.

Hydrocortisone won't cure it. It would require application of a scabicidal like permethrin, gamma benzene hexachloride to cure scabies. The fact that the rash has completely vanished with hydrocortisone application, goes against scabies.

I would keep a possibility of Insect bite, since that is also fairly common on uncovered areas like ankles and wrists.

Insect bite would definitely respond to topical hydrocortisone.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari