Erythema Annulare Centrifugum
I really decided to write this, because it is the first time I ever write something about my condition, crying because today, I feel beaten. I have exhausted myself trying to be positive because everything started when I was 19 years old and I saw the first time I had this, and I said to mysellf, it is a rash, so I bought talcum powder, and the zinc oxide thinking in ignorance that it would go away in 2 days. I was living down in Melbourne and medicines were expensive, so then, I said to myself, it might be a fungal infection, clotrimazole, terbinafine, ketoconazole, did work ( because of their immunosupressing effect), only for a week or so.... obviosly you think OMG I have a terrible fungal infection, from 19 -24 years old, always reappered I used to do a lot of exercise, maybe the sweat? maybe the soap? the clothes? nothing. I even in despair poured some bleach on my skin. by this time I had gone to several general practitioners and the diagnosis was psoriasis, eczema, tinea corporis, contact dermatitis, they prescribed topical hidrocortizone 0.5% , 20 or 30 AUdollars, fora very little bottle. Until I went to mexico with a really good dermatologist who did a biopsy and for the first time I was diagnosed with erythema annulare centrifugum, immediately the internist said Underlying disease, so I was tested for everything, aids, borreliosis, syphilis, hepatitis, rickettsia, sugar blood tests and NOTHING not even a cold, so they prescribed wide spectrum antibiotics for hidden diseases, ciprofloxacin, even a series of ceftriaxone shots and NOTHING, the dermatologist gave me UREA cream (brand: darier) obviously Nothing happened, EAC was always back, worse. I was 27 and I decided to move to a warmer climate, EAC was in my pro a con list for taking a decision, so I did, and nothing changed, I exposed myself to the sun, they just look red outside the circle and white inside, modified my eating habits, same thing, washed my clothes changed soap, people don´t understand what this is, so they always say your clothes , your food , you are stressed, relax man, So annoying. so I started taking oral dexamethasone .5 mg in the morning and .5 mg before going to bed, cortisone is great it works when you are sick of it, when you want to see how your skin is without the flaking and redness and itchiness when you leave it untreated. but you can´t use it forever, it is not the cure. so I´m always looking for articles or medical journals for breakthroughs, and last month I found one where metronidazole was found to be effective after a 6 weeks treatment, so I started with faith and truly believing this was THE cure, I´m 31 years old, and sadly I inform that after 15 days of taking it, EAC is back starting with small pimples that start organizing themselves as circles and we know whats next. Please if you suffer erythema annulare centrifugum, please don´t feel alone, as a piece don´t let EAC go beyond the pimple phase it is an autoimmune disease it has to fade with immunosupressors and your skin wont be damaged. I´m not a doctor, but I have been with many in Australia, USA and Mexico and nobody knew exactly what to do, they think they do, but really there is no cure. Of course go to a professional get a prescription for corticoids and control it, otherwise it controls you. please send a message if you need someone to talk to.
Now I´m feeling better, telling to myself :
"Never quit 5 minutes before the miracle is done"