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What Causes Flaky Skin And Itching?

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Posted on Thu, 6 Nov 2014
Question: Every now then, i get this thing picture attached on arms and shoulders. Its skin flaks but sometimes it becomes itchy. You can see from pictures that i have black things all over shoulders, it never went off. I have boils on head scalp and i dont have any dandruff, please advise
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Provide more information

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic

I have gone through your query. I have also seen the photographs.
I can see coin-sized, round lesions on your upper arms/shoulders

I would keep a possibility of either a Fungal Infection Or Discoid Dermatitis.

I would like to gather more information from you regarding the coin-sized lesions on your arms.

-Where else are the lesions present?Apart from the ones on your arms/shoulders, do you have them elsewhere as well?
-Have you tried any medication for these spots?If yes, what were those?
-How long have they been present?

I would like you to upload a few more pics with good clarity so that I am able to clearly appreciate the morphology of the lesions. The photographs which you have already uploaded are a bit out of focus.



Regarding the boils on your scalp, I would like to know more from you

-How long since you have had them?
-Are they recurrent?Or is it the first time you have had them?


Kindly get back to me with all the details.

Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (11 hours later)
Thank you for your quick reply.
Usually, it comes anywhere from thighs to neck and chest but most frequent is on shoulders but i didnt notice the pattern

Havent took any medication till now

Ranging from 2 to 3 days but not sure

Regarding boils, very frequent and i m having it for 2 to 3 years now goes on and off but cery painful when you touch them
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Oral antibiotics;topical steroid+antibiotic cream

Detailed Answer:
Hi. Thank you for additional information

This seems most likely a case of Infected eczema/discoid dermatitis with secondary bacterial infection (the one behind your left shoulder has discharge, seems infected)

If you were one of my patients, I would have started you on a course of an oral antibiotics for the secondary bacterial infection that frequently complicates underlying discoid dermatitis.

Considering that you also have frequent boils on scalp, my choice of oral antibiotics would be one from the penicillin group of drugs (flucloxacilin or cloxacillin) Or Macrolides (Azithromycin) that would be effective for scalp boils as well. I would have continued oral antibiotics for a week or 10 days.

Topical treatment for the coin sized patches would require a topical steroid+antibiotic cream combination ( e.g clobetasol propionate+fusidic acid), to be applied twice daily, for 2 weeks, to the patches.

These all (oral antibiotics and topical creams) are prescription medicines, therefore, I would suggest that you visit a dermatologist in your region for a confirmatory diagnosis as well as a prescription of these.

Your treating dermatologist might also order a few lab test like Culture Sensitivity from discharge and if required, a Skin Biopsy too.

An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily in evening would provide you symptomatic relief from itching.

Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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What Causes Flaky Skin And Itching?

Brief Answer: Provide more information Detailed Answer: Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic I have gone through your query. I have also seen the photographs. I can see coin-sized, round lesions on your upper arms/shoulders I would keep a possibility of either a Fungal Infection Or Discoid Dermatitis. I would like to gather more information from you regarding the coin-sized lesions on your arms. -Where else are the lesions present?Apart from the ones on your arms/shoulders, do you have them elsewhere as well? -Have you tried any medication for these spots?If yes, what were those? -How long have they been present? I would like you to upload a few more pics with good clarity so that I am able to clearly appreciate the morphology of the lesions. The photographs which you have already uploaded are a bit out of focus. Regarding the boils on your scalp, I would like to know more from you -How long since you have had them? -Are they recurrent?Or is it the first time you have had them? Kindly get back to me with all the details. Take care