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What Does Rash On Chest And Upper Back Indicate?

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Posted on Thu, 27 Feb 2014
Question: my wife and I arrived in Florida a week ago from toronto. she has gotten a rash on her chest and upper back. looks like massive irritation spanning from shoulder to shoulder. very red and extremely itchy.
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Answered by Dr. Charu Bansal (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Polymorphic light reaction/urticaria Detailed Answer: Dear Friend Welcome to XXXXXXX I am Dr Charu . I have read your query in detail. I understand your concern. I saw both of the pics. It seems to be one of the following: 1) Polymorphic light reaction : as you have moved from a cold place to a hot place , because of excess sun exposure, one tends to get extensively itchy rash mainly on photoexposed areas. From the pics, it is evident that your wife has rash mainly on upper back and upper chest , the photoexposed sites. 2) Urticaria: it is characterised by itchy wheals which are transient . The wheals usually disappears within 24 hours and reappear again. It also gets precipitated by weather change. In such cases, i usually advice my patients to put a good sunscreen with SPF 50 + regularly at 9am, 12pm and 3 pm. For itching and redness, i advice antihistaminics like tab levocetrizine 5 mg night time and tablet allegra morning. Also sometimes consideration is given to put mild to moderate potency topical steroid like fluticasone or mometasone over the lesions two times a day. This is my best advice for you based on details available here. If you have any further query, you may please ask me. Else you may close the discussion and rate it. Stay Healthy.
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. Raju A.T
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Dr. Charu Bansal

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Practicing since :2010

Answered : 773 Questions

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What Does Rash On Chest And Upper Back Indicate?

Brief Answer: Polymorphic light reaction/urticaria Detailed Answer: Dear Friend Welcome to XXXXXXX I am Dr Charu . I have read your query in detail. I understand your concern. I saw both of the pics. It seems to be one of the following: 1) Polymorphic light reaction : as you have moved from a cold place to a hot place , because of excess sun exposure, one tends to get extensively itchy rash mainly on photoexposed areas. From the pics, it is evident that your wife has rash mainly on upper back and upper chest , the photoexposed sites. 2) Urticaria: it is characterised by itchy wheals which are transient . The wheals usually disappears within 24 hours and reappear again. It also gets precipitated by weather change. In such cases, i usually advice my patients to put a good sunscreen with SPF 50 + regularly at 9am, 12pm and 3 pm. For itching and redness, i advice antihistaminics like tab levocetrizine 5 mg night time and tablet allegra morning. Also sometimes consideration is given to put mild to moderate potency topical steroid like fluticasone or mometasone over the lesions two times a day. This is my best advice for you based on details available here. If you have any further query, you may please ask me. Else you may close the discussion and rate it. Stay Healthy.