What Causes Itchy Rash On Face?

Posted on Thu, 25 Sep 2014

Question: Hi I have a half-moon shaped rash on my face. Its been there for months. Antifungals do nothing for it. The length and moon shape is getting more pronounced. The width of the rash is very thin, maybe 1/8th inch.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tinea faciei

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have also looked at the picture.

This looks like a classical case of Fungal Infection/Tinea Faciei to me. Oval or annular patch with central clearing and peripheral raised red scaly margin.

Must be itchy? Is it?

I wonder why have antifungals not worked for it?Which antifungal have you tried?

I would have treated it with both oral as well as topical antifungals. Oral antifungal that I would have prefered is Terbinafine 250 mg tablet (Daskil tablet), once daily for 2-4weeks. Other alternatives include fluconazole 150 mg once every week for 4-6 weeks.

Topically you may use terbinafine cream (daskil cream) twice daily for 2-4weeks

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

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (11 minutes later)

I have been using Desenex, but maybe I have not applied it often enough (once per day). Is that comparable to what you recommended? Yes, it does itch. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tinea faciei

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Desenex is an OTC topical antifungal (clotrimazole). You may apply it twice daily for 2-4 weeks. It should work fine. You may either use desenex cream for 4 weeks, twice daily or may use what I had suggested in my previous reply. Adding an oral antifungal (e.g either terbinafine 250 mg once daily or fluconazole 150 mg once every week) would certainly resolve it faster.

Terbinafine is available internationally by the following brand name: Lamisil (cream as well as tablet). Not sure if you can get it OTC.

Also take an oral OTC antihistamine e,g cetrizine 10 mg once daily.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Thank you very much. One more thing...I've had this on my foot for years. Is it the same thing?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tinea Pedis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Yes it is fungal too, Tinea Pedis. Is it on both feet? or is it unilateral?

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 minute later)

It has only been on the right foot.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tinea

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

That confirms even more that it is Fungal Infection/Tinea. Infections usually occur on one side because they are acquired from our environment, as compared to eczemas which being endogenous are usually bilateral.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (9 hours later)

Hi, this is XXXXXXX again, whom you just diagnosed with fungal infection on my face and right foot. In checking out where to purchase Terbinafine 250 mg, I realize it requires a prescription. Would you be able to call in the prescription to XXXXX? Thanks!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (55 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Fungal Infection

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Yes it would require a prescription. I cannot do so because I am not practicing in your country/I don't have a licence to practice in your country. I am practicing in XXXXXXX

You will have to get a prescription from your local physician Or may be I can send you the medicines by post, if that's possible? Let me know on my emal ID YYYY@YYYY

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. Chakravarthy Mazumdar