Eczema?

[nickyboy]

I have started to develop a very itchy skin condition on one of my feet. It is sort of on the top of the foot, going over to the instep. Red, lumpy skin. Very itchy.

I've never been prone to skin complaints. This seemed to coincide with me buying some fancy "ratchet" cycling shoes to replace the old lace-up ones. I was wondering if getting them tighter and then sweating (I sweat a lot) may have contributed to this. I was hoping with the onset of cooler weather it would disappear but it doesn't seem to be doing so.

I have started applying E45 cream which reduces the itchiness but I have the feeling that if I stop doing this it will just flare up again. The temptation is to scratch and scratch until it bleeds and then it is easily infected.

I am going to see the GP but wondered if anyone else had something similar?

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Sounds like athlete's foot

 

[nickyboy]

Sounds like athlete's foot

I think it's my rubbish description at fault. Without posting photos (I'm sure nobody wants that) the skin problem seems quite different. I occasionally get athlete's foot.

With this, the problem is on the top of the foot, not the underside, not the toes. The skin becomes very itchy, lumpy and red. I've had it for 6 months or so and it's not going away. Not life-threatening of course but a nuisance and I worry a little about it spreading

 

[byegad]

Time to consult a real doctor rather than net advice methinks.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

I think it's my rubbish description at fault. Without posting photos (I'm sure nobody wants that) the skin problem seems quite different. I occasionally get athlete's foot.

With this, the problem is on the top of the foot, not the underside, not the toes. The skin becomes very itchy, lumpy and red. I've had it for 6 months or so and it's not going away. Not life-threatening of course but a nuisance and I worry a little about it spreading

Ah, apologies. Members of my family have chronic eczema and, if nothing else, it leaves an array of creams at my disposal for itchy flare-ups. Hydrocortisone works wonders but isn't something one should toy with without the proper advice. Like the other posters say, ask an expert.

 

[Crackle]

If it's eczema then there are better emolients than E45, you might even need a mild steroid cream to settle it. If you contact your GP, try and see someone who has a dermatological interest, normally there's someone who has, not all GP's have a good dermatological knowledge.

 

[raleighnut]

+1 for seeing the vet,,,,,,It could be 'The Dreaded Lurgii' best to be safe.

 

[welsh dragon]

feet.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Possibly psoriasis. I get it as well. Off to the quacks....

 

[MikeW-71]

Off to the doc with you

It could well be psoriasis, I have a couple of patches on my scalp. Keeping my hair (what`s left of it) short lets sunlight get to them, which seems to help. Sometimes a patch will flare up elsewhere, last time was on my left shin and it persisted for over a year, then it disappeared.

I found that a simple moisturiser cream releived the itching a lot and settled it.

 

[nickyboy]

Appointment made. I'm sure you're all on tenter hooks for the diagnosis. You'll have to wait until Wednesday am you lucky people!

 

[Saluki]

I have chronic eczema and have been given all sorts of stuff over the years. In 1996 I happened across a chap who gave me some samples of propolis creme. I use it every day and have never looked back. I drink 2 fl oz of (not best flavourful) aloe vera gel, every day too. My eczema is mostly a thing of the past now. I've had a wee flare up these last few days (new job I reckon) so I've upped my aloe by 1fl oz and stuck a bit more propolis creme on.
Not as cheap as stuff on prescription but it works and I look like a normal person and not the Singing Detective, which is not a good look on a woman.

Let us know what the doc says Well done on being very brave and making an appointment. Trying to get any menfolk in my family circle, to the docs, is a total nightmare.

 

[byegad]

+1 for seeing the vet,,,,,,It could be 'The Dreaded Lurgii' best to be safe.

Yes his boots could explode!

 

[Chrisz]

I can sympathse with you mate!

I get it in a VERY inconveneient area (for a cyclist) and have adopted a rotine of using plenty of Sudocrem immediately after my post-ride shower and Hydrocortisone cream on non-riding days to try and keep it under control.

it generally seems to be best when I am riding on a regular basis (3-4 times per week).

 

[edindave]

Suffer from this a bit too my skin tends to dry out very easily.
e45 doesn't react well with my skin. I get Epaderm on prescription and it's really effective.