recurring armpit rash

June 25, 2007 12:15 AM

I've had this recurring armpit rash for several months now. At first I thought it was brought on by chafing (I do manual labor for a living). Then other members of my family started getting it (I could have got it from them). We've tried different types of bath soap and deodorant. I've just now switched away from different versions of the crystal deodorant stone. (I used the actual stone for about 15 years with no problems. I recently tried two different liquid versions). My wife thought it was a yeast infection that we're all passing around via the bath soap. I tried doing some googling and was overwhelmed at the plethora of different explanations that came up. Thought I'd give it a shot here. It's painful if it progresses too far. I've been keeping it in check with hydrocortisone cream.
posted by keith0718 to health (23 comments total)

Is it armpit rash with everyone, or does it occur in different places with different people?

My advice:

1) Quit sharing toiletries that touch one's bare skin.

2) I'd be more likely to suspect a laundry detergent than a deodorant (especially a deodorant you've been using without problems for 15 years.) Because the area under your arms is generally more moist and prone to chafing than much the rest of your body, irritation from something in detergent could be a factor. Tide and other deodorants have "skin sensitive" varieties, try one of them.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 1:22 AM on June 25, 2007

re: Dee Xtrovert: It's armpit rash w/ everyone.
posted by keith0718 at 1:55 AM on June 25, 2007

It's probably a fungal rash, in the same family as Athlete's Foot. It's also known as a sweat rash.

Try some Clotrimazole. Your profile doesn't list your location (grrr...) but I'm guessing you're in the UK.

If you ARE in the UK you can use Canesten cream, or you can ask the pharmacist for their "own brand" version, which is cheaper.

You want the plain old Canesten, not the HC version, or the Athletes Foot version. Just tell the pharmacist you have a sweat rash. Bear in mind that pharmacists assume people are buying Canesten for Thrush. Make it clear you're not, otherwise they'll be embarrassed and also try to steer you toward a different cream.

I have a similar rash, located somewhere that doesn't come up in polite conversation. I control it with Canesten.

Keeping using the cream for two weeks AFTER the rash has disappeared. Otherwise it'll come straight back.

Everybody in your house should use the cream.
posted by humblepigeon at 2:04 AM on June 25, 2007

re: humblepigeon: Thanks. I updated my profile to include my location: Kansas City, USA. Do you know of a comparable product to the one you recommend which I can find here? If not, what's the main ingredient? Thanks again.
posted by keith0718 at 3:21 AM on June 25, 2007

Piping in here. Since you are in the US all you need to do is goto a regular pharmacy and goto the pharmacist that you are looking for clotrimazole and say sweat rash. In a pinch jock itch cream works as well if no pharmacist is available.

Clotrimazole is an over the counter product and places like Walgreen's, Rite Aid or any decent pharmacy will carry it or have their own line.

I know all this because I had thrush and had to use clotrimazole. The jock itch cream is WAY overpriced though it is basically the same ingredient using clotrimazole. When in doubt look at the active ingredient.
posted by jadepearl at 3:30 AM on June 25, 2007

In a pinch jock itch cream works as well if no pharmacist is available.

Well, because it sounds like you and your family have jock itch on your armpits. I empathize, brother (never had it in the pits, but in the more normal place, which is basically the nether-regions version of the armpit.). Your local Rite-Aid or Walgreens will have store-brand antifungal cream at a reasonable price.

From personal experience, telltale sign is a raised portion right around the edge of the rash, like a ridge. Might be hard to see in your pits. It's important to continue the treatment for as long as the packaging indicates, because it can seem defeated and rush right back if you quit early. But you'll fell better in less than two days after you start treatment.
posted by Mayor Curley at 4:38 AM on June 25, 2007

In addition to quitting the sharing of toiletries (consider switching to body wash, although it can be more expensive), you should look into the humidity levels in your bathroom. This could be contributing to the ability of the fungus to survive as it makes its way from one human pit to another.

Is the fan working/venting properly? Do you need to install a fan timer so it can blow for 10 minutes or so after someone showers? Do you use a squeegee on the glass and/or tile? Do you have too many towels or other items in the open that can soak up humidity and keep it in the room longer?
posted by dhartung at 5:17 AM on June 25, 2007

Along with the appropriate pit treatment, I would suggest you all switch to shower gel (or even liquid hand soap with a pump if you can put it somewhere that it can be used without handling the container) and spray antiperspirant or none at all for a week or so (since it is probably irritating the rash as well), to keep re-infection or cross-contamination risk as low as possible.

I don't know if shirt-type clothing is very good at transmitting fungus, might be worth researching and see if you need to change your laundry methods for a bit. Or wear undershirts that you can bleach.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:24 AM on June 25, 2007

Kansas City has a free clinic. I would take the hole gang down if for some reason you don't want go to a regular doctor.
posted by stormygrey at 5:59 AM on June 25, 2007

Ha, "whole gang" that is, don't know that I want to associate with the Hole Gang.
posted by stormygrey at 6:00 AM on June 25, 2007

I've had this problem many times before. As recommended by many, stop sharing toiletries and don't reuse or share towels (very important). Make sure the affected area gets extra dry, one tip I can swear by is to use hair dryer on affected area before applying creams.

As far as creams are concerned, I would second the jock itch cream (I prefer Lamisil), though a doctor may be able to prescribe something more potent.

Also, check out sensitive skin detergents and deodorants. I use All Clear And Free detergent and have found Toms of Maine deodorant (not available everywhere, though Targets usually carry them) particularly helpful when I have the breakouts you describe.

Wash your towels and undergarments in hot water w/bleach.
posted by caflores22 at 6:05 AM on June 25, 2007

As a personal anecdote, try doing some laundry without dryer sheets for a while. I had pit rash BAD a few years ago, and it was caused by the chemicals in the dryer sheets we were using. Since they're heat activated, any time I worked up a sweat in my pits, the chemicals started doing what they do, and my skin broke out like nobody's business.
posted by cosmicbandito at 6:47 AM on June 25, 2007

Can you find a similar picture of your rash on the Web?
posted by Mikey-San at 8:01 AM on June 25, 2007

I had a painful yeast infection in the armpit, it was almost like pimples they were big angry red bumps, incredibly painful and achy.

Tazorac anti fungal powder is a must, under your clothing. Get something from your dermatologist too.

Wash with something gentle in the meantime, NOT SOAP!
posted by chickaboo at 8:15 AM on June 25, 2007

Oops I meant to say Zeasorb powder, not tazorac
posted by chickaboo at 8:17 AM on June 25, 2007

My husband has sometimes had this rash, and we don't share our toiletries or whatever, but he HAS to use a roll-on deodorant (not a stick, or a gel or a stone), and only Ban works for him. It's the only one that doesn't irritate the rash or make it worse while it is being treated.
posted by misha at 8:25 AM on June 25, 2007

Had similar before. Good suggestions: switch or lose the laundry detergent, no dryer sheets, decreasing/losing chemicals and creams/lotions (except absolute necessary). In my case powders were also bad. In addition to not sharing towels, if humidity is a problem, you may need to only use your towels once and then wash/dry them, or make sure that your towels are drying out. Loose clothing to keep air flow is good.
posted by kch at 8:49 AM on June 25, 2007

I think almay deodorants are nice and hypoallergenic -- don't seem to cause me allergies
posted by chickaboo at 9:25 AM on June 25, 2007

I used to get a painful rash from the aluminum ingredient in my deodorant. Switched to a non-aluminum one, and now no rash and no yellow stains on white shirts. They aren't as effective but it's better than the alternative.
posted by np312 at 10:07 AM on June 25, 2007

If it's a yeast infection, Nizoral (yep, the shampoo) can cure it.
posted by malaprohibita at 10:10 AM on June 25, 2007

I know someone who had some luck with tea tree oil, you might look into that.
posted by jennyjenny at 2:05 PM on June 25, 2007

Thanks everybody. Great info. I didn't describe the rash, but Mayor Curley identified it with a raised ring. Chickaboo help me eliminate the possibility of yeast. I took humblepigeon (and everyone else's) advice and got some generic clotrimazole. And we're taking everyone's advice about not sharing stuff and airing out our bathroom. Thanks again for all your help!
posted by keith0718 at 1:12 AM on June 26, 2007

Just a few words to add to this: Cortisone creams only treat symptoms. With fungal infections, this is defeating, and can make the fungus worse. This is especially the case with jockitch.
posted by Goofyy at 4:11 AM on June 26, 2007