Please Help! My Son Has A Rash - Do You Think It Is Acne, Chicken Pox, Allergy?
By schulzie
@schulzie (4061)
United States
December 11, 2008 9:55pm CST
Hello fellow Mommies out there in myLot world. Tonight after dinner my teenage son came to me and asked me to look at his back. He says he has a lot of acne back there. I was shocked when he took off his shirt and showed me the rash he has. I took a picture of it so I would have it for future reference. Unfortunately the doctor's office is closed right now so I could not take him in for them to look at it and tell me what it is.
Do any of you have any idea what this looks like to you? He just finished up taking a 13 day regimen of steroids for another throat infection he had. But he finished the steroids yesterday. He said it does not itch but kind of hurts.
I gave him some Benadryl a couple of hours ago and am waiting to see if that helps. So, what do you think it might be? He had chickenpox when he as 2 years old and I can't remember what chicken pox looks like anymore. Besides, can you get chicken pox twice?
Any help is appreciated. Maybe someone on here is a nurse or doctor and can tell from the picture.
Thanks so much. Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!
4 people like this
12 responses
@Thumper11 (662)
• United States
12 Dec 08
you can't get chickenpox twice, but you can get shingles, which is caused by the chickenpox virus... after the initial infection it goes into your spinal cord and lies dormant until stress or some other factor brings it out of hiding. It is pretty nasty actually and is painful. I have had it.. Bad news is... you never get rid of the virus.... Hope that helped at least a little.
2 people like this
@Thumper11 (662)
• United States
12 Dec 08
I wish... Mine went around my back, chest and upper arms. They were under my arms too. Not fun!!! I was 12 when I got them too.
2 people like this
@micke31479 (79)
• United States
12 Dec 08
was it thier before he eat are after could be a food allergey
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169490)
• United States
12 Dec 08
The ironic thing is that they will give him a cortisone cream to calm down the rash. Sometimes the oral steroids are necessary to thoroughly take care of the internal inflammation that goes with an infection. I have had to take them once, but it was a five day course, not thirteen days. That infection he had must have been rough. I know that they are trying to steer clear of always prescribing antibiotics. I would see if he would take some oral fish oil capsules, that sometimes helps clear up skin issues.
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
12 Dec 08
Without seeing the rash it is really hard to tell. One time I had a rash on my front and back side under my shirt and it didn't itch, just tiny red dots. Figured out on my own it was from the laundry detergent.
Measles will look like a rash.
Scarletina will look like a rash.
Maybe do a search on the internet and see if you can find a rash that looks like his.
It could be caused from something he eat?
I hope he feels better soon.
2 people like this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
12 Dec 08
It does look sort of like chicken pox but if it don't itch then it is not that. I have read other posts on here and as you say it could be from the steroids he had to take for his throat. I hope you can find out and let us know what the doctor has to say.
1 person likes this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Dec 08
Yes, I posted the picture on the the first comment I got here. I uploaded the picture when I started the topic but for some reason myLot did not upload it then. So, if you have a sec if you could look at the comment and see the photo. Thanks for your comment and advice.
3 people like this
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
12 Dec 08
I am not sure but when they take an an antibiotic or something like that they can get a reaction...and you say he was on steroids....I would wonder if it's shingles....they are the kind of rash that hurts! Hopefully by now you've discovered what it is....
2 people like this
@soyporteno (406)
• United States
13 Dec 08
Mmmm - that really looks bad! I'm glad I don't have that going on. Is it all over his back and his chest? Is it anywhere else? It really looks like chicken pox. It is so hard to diagnose it or figure it out without being there in person. My best advice is to take him to your doctor and have the answer for you after a simple examination. Good luck to you!!
@GardenGerty (169490)
• United States
12 Dec 08
Schulzie, there should have been a monograph with the steroids that would tell you if a rash is a side effect of the med. Almost all the time, if you have had a thorough case of chickenpox, then you will not get it again, although, you may, as a more elderly person, get the shingles. It would be more close to the waist and perhaps all the way around. It could be another med response. Did your son take any antibiotics, or anything else besides the steroids? Benadryl was a good choice, if it is an allergy that will help. It will make it not itch. Strep has a rash sometimes, and staff has one as well. Steroids can cause an overgrowth of yeasts. I think seeing or at least talking to a doctor is an important step.
1 person likes this
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Dec 08
Yes, I was reading that a rash or acne can be triggered by these steroids. He just finished the 13 day regimen too. It was prescribed for him by a doctor in the Take Care Clinic in Walgreens 2 weeks ago. I am going to take him by there in the morning when they open and have them look at it and tell me if that was an allergic reaction or not. Poor thing, the Benadryl made him really sleepy and he passed out right after I gave it to him. The rash/acne still looks really bad.
As I recall I had a bad reaction to poison ivy last year and the doctor gave me steroids and I broke out all over too. I think they had to give me a prescription cream to get rid of the rash. I think he would have been better off never taking those steroids to be honest with you. It really concerns me what happened to him inside his body too.
Thanks for your comment, and have a nice day!
3 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
14 Dec 08
Hi schulzie....sorry your son is so unwell.
I must be well and truly out of the loop...last I heard, steroids were not only very bad for you, leaving long term side effects, they were illegal as well. Antibiotics in a huge range were still being used to treat common infections.
How quickly these medical changes occur...it's a pity they have so much trouble finding cures but no trouble finding treatments.
Hope your boy
is more comfy soon.
is more comfy soon.
