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What Causes Red, Swollen, Itchy And Flaky Rashes All Over Body?

Posted on Mon, 9 Jun 2014

Question: My skin breaks out in a rash that starts on my neck,then my face, arms and rest of body- in that order. It is red, swollen, itchy and flaky.
I itch all night and am unable to sleep. Prednisone clears it right up but the moment I stop it it comes right back. My skin sometimes has an odor and my eyebrows are falling out.

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
urticaria is likely

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear
welcome to the healthcaremagic.
I have read your query and understood your concern.

It seems that you are suffering from a condition called urticaria.
It is an allergic condition of skin characterized by red itchy transient eruptions over body.
This allergy can be due to number of reasons like recent infection, food, pollen grains, weather change, drugs etc. I would like to know the following details :
1 ) what is the duration of the disease?
2 ) any aggravating or relieving factor?
3) are the lesions persistent or transient?
4) any recent intake or change of drugs?

I usually advice my patients to take antihistaminics like Levocetrizine / fexofenadine initially. In case it doesnt respond, consideration is given to start steroid like pred.

I will also like to know the dose and duration of the steroids that is pred ?

Loss of eyebrows may be due to thyroid disorder, alopecia aerata etc.
kindly give the details of hair loss. For how long it is present? Is it unilateral or bilateral?
Kindly reply to my questions so that I can help you to my best.
Stay healthy.

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

Follow up: Dr. Charu Bansal (7 hours later)

The disease has been off and on for the last 4 yrs, each flare up is progressively worse
Steroids are the only relief i get.
Lesions are transient
No change of drugs. Always take an allergy pill every day. Benadryl does nothing. Hydroxizine does nothing .

Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Tab levocetrizine with montelukast

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thanks for replying.

In that case, you may take combination of levocetrizine and montelukast in night time and tab fexofenadine (like allegra )180 mg in morning daily.
I will advice you to stop taking steroids for some time and continue these atleast 2 weeks.
You may discuss my opinion with your treating dermatologist and can start the medications as mentioned under supervision.

I hope it helps.
if you have further query, you may ask me.

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. Vaishalee Punj