Almost a month to the day since I became ill in Iceland I developed the most severe rash that I have ever had.
On Wednesday last week at work it started. A patch on my lower left leg and then on the inside sides of my feet and on the outside sides of my hands. Tiny transparent blisters and itchy.
I didn't pay too much attention to it as I am prone to hayfever and eczema, but I knew that this was not eczema. I applied some cortisone cream in the evening. And could "deal with it" until the next day.
On Thursday at the office we moved the whole office around into a more suitable arrangement as we have a new member of staff. Unfortunately the office where I work is not your typical "cushy" office. . .its at a bakery plant and it gets very dirty from all the delivery trucks that drive past our windows. It was also full of dust. Yuk!
The itchiness increased on my feet to such an extent that it was under the soles and coming up on the outside sides as well. The transparent blisters became red with inflamation and seriously itchy. By evening it had spread all the way up my legs and onto my buttocks. I had gone to the chemist to get anti-histamine tabs, but they just made me drowsy and did not touch the itch.
By Friday morning (after a night of not sleeping) I was starting to lose my mind. I went to my GP but could only see a nurse. She prescribed a cortisone cream and another anti-histamine. Sadly, it did not have any great effect on what I was experiencing, but did offer a little bit of relief.
Anyway, yesterday (Saturday) was ok. . .I mean it was itchy, but I could resist scratching but by the evening all hell broke loose!! It also started to spread to my back, tummy and onto my arms. I decided to call the out of hours doctors and thankfully they said to come in. . .you cant just arrive there without having first spoken to a Dr. It was so bad that I was scratching my legs and feet with hairbrush and was giving thought to carpet-burning myself. . .honest!
Anyway, I drove myself to the Dr and saw a very nice Indian woman who immediately diagnosed the rash as Photoallergic dermatitis known as "Sun Rash" or "Solar Dermatitis". It can start anywhere on the body and is preventable by using high SPF sunscreen of at least 30.
I am now on a course of 6 steroid tablets to be taken for five days. I have a thick moisturising gel to be applied and also an emolient bath addiditive to bathe in. I must say that I am starting to feel better, but the rash on my legs is very ugly and still visible, but not near as red or as itchy. I am still taking the anti-histamine, but more regularly.
Anyway, that has been what I've been dealing with, but I hope its been going much better with you all.
Drop me a line and tell me how you are!
Love Polar
