Allergy to deodorant or dermatitis under armpit? Help and advice on rashes.

Skin, nail and hair health
1

I've been coping with quite a nasty rash under my armpit for some 5 months now and at first it was a fairly small bearable rash under my left armpit.

It started off being a small line of itchy bumps (similar to the dermatitis I get on my hands) but has gradually grown into a round patch of rather itchy, dry skin, however it's hollow inside so it's like a ring of rash.

It's very itchy pretty much all of the time and often sore as it gets extremely dry. I've been applying steroid cream and a non fragrance cream prescribed by my GP, but it flares up every so often. However, in the beginning it was only on my left armpit but I then noticed my right armpit became itchy, and because I can't control myself I scratched it and I now have the same rash on my right armpit, but in the perfect shape of finger marks.

I'm really starting to feel like this might never go away and fear it might spread all over my body, I currently have not so bad dermatitis on my hands (sometimes it gets awful) and a contact rash under my breasts but I don't feel these are related.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever experienced this type of rash and knows how to tame it and keep it at bay, putting too much cream on on hot days seems to make them extremely itchy but not creaming makes them very dry and sore.

I feel like if my situation escalates anymore I need to revisit my GP and ask to be referred to a dermatologist because it's beginning to affect my health mentally as well as physically.

2

Hi, just make sure that your rash has not become infected by bacteria or fungi. This can happen if you scratch.

You could try an antifungal gel or spray. Some have antibacterial properties as well. It is best to try it on a small patch of affected skin first, to see how it reacts. Best to ask your GP or pharmacist.

You could wash your towels on a hot setting and add laundry disinfectant. Even better if you would use paper towels to dry your armpits for the time being.

3

Has your GP looked into the possibility that it may be ringworm?  Have you looked at this page?

https://patient.info/health/ringworm-tinea-corporis

Don't put anything under your arm after you have washed it, in case it is an allergy to something that you are using.

Do go back to your GP, good luck

4

i had this, & it drove me nuts.  Turns out it was the deoderant I was using, not sure why or what ingredient that was in it that I was allergic to. I switched deoderants & I never had this problem again....think maybee it was one of the scents that was giving me a problem.