Tell me about your experience with a viral exanthem.
August 19, 2024 3:37 PM Subscribe
How long can I expect this to last, and how do I stop the itching?!
Disclaimer: you are not my doctor, and I did already see a doctor for this.
I was recently in Europe on vacation and came down with a weird rash, followed a few days later by cold symptoms. My close friend is an MD and suggested viral exanthem via text; I did go to urgent care when I got back and got that diagnosis confirmed. I don't have strep, or a skin infection, and I've had three negative at-home COVID tests over the course of a week.
If you have experience with this, I would like to know the following:
1) Did your rash come and go over the course of the illness? I had it for 3 days, then it went away for about a week, and now it's been back for nearly a week. For the past week, it goes through cycles of getting very red, then fading and getting EXTREMELY itchy, and then turning bright red again.
2) How long did your symptoms last? It's now been 15 days since my first rash. This seems like a super long time to be dealing with this, but maybe these fade a lot more slowly than cold symptoms. (Those are nearly gone, thank goodness.)
3) If your rash was itchy, how did you alleviate that? I've tried hydrocortisone cream, "itch stopping cream" for bug bites (Diphenhydramine hydrochloride), ice packs, ibuprofen, and Tylenol, and nothing makes a huge impact. It luckily doesn't prevent me from sleeping, so I haven't take oral Benadryl because I don't want to be sleepy during the day, and I don't need it at night -- although if taking it would help the symptoms for more than just overnight, it's worth considering I suppose.
If you have NOT had a viral exanthem, I CAN'T SAY I RECOMMEND IT. :/
Disclaimer: you are not my doctor, and I did already see a doctor for this.
I was recently in Europe on vacation and came down with a weird rash, followed a few days later by cold symptoms. My close friend is an MD and suggested viral exanthem via text; I did go to urgent care when I got back and got that diagnosis confirmed. I don't have strep, or a skin infection, and I've had three negative at-home COVID tests over the course of a week.
If you have experience with this, I would like to know the following:
1) Did your rash come and go over the course of the illness? I had it for 3 days, then it went away for about a week, and now it's been back for nearly a week. For the past week, it goes through cycles of getting very red, then fading and getting EXTREMELY itchy, and then turning bright red again.
2) How long did your symptoms last? It's now been 15 days since my first rash. This seems like a super long time to be dealing with this, but maybe these fade a lot more slowly than cold symptoms. (Those are nearly gone, thank goodness.)
3) If your rash was itchy, how did you alleviate that? I've tried hydrocortisone cream, "itch stopping cream" for bug bites (Diphenhydramine hydrochloride), ice packs, ibuprofen, and Tylenol, and nothing makes a huge impact. It luckily doesn't prevent me from sleeping, so I haven't take oral Benadryl because I don't want to be sleepy during the day, and I don't need it at night -- although if taking it would help the symptoms for more than just overnight, it's worth considering I suppose.
If you have NOT had a viral exanthem, I CAN'T SAY I RECOMMEND IT. :/
I get pityriasis rosea, the cause of which is unknown although exposure to some viruses is one theory.
Outbreaks can last between days and weeks to a couple months.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:42 PM on August 19
Outbreaks can last between days and weeks to a couple months.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:42 PM on August 19
Try out Cerave Itch Relief Moisturizing Lotion (pramoxine 1%)- it's a mild topical anesthetic, so it's not going to address any underlying cause, but it gives itch relief for (usually) up to 8 hours.
If pramoxine doesn't work out, could also try topical lidocaine- if you're doing a large area, I'd say some sort of sunburn lotion with a lower percentage of lidocaine (example) would be safer. If a small area, could consider a lidocaine 4% roll-on/cream/lotion.
posted by smangosbubbles at 10:24 PM on August 19 [1 favorite]
If pramoxine doesn't work out, could also try topical lidocaine- if you're doing a large area, I'd say some sort of sunburn lotion with a lower percentage of lidocaine (example) would be safer. If a small area, could consider a lidocaine 4% roll-on/cream/lotion.
posted by smangosbubbles at 10:24 PM on August 19 [1 favorite]
^Topical lidocaine is also available in spray form - Aspercreme Pain Relief Dry Spray example, Bactine Cooling Dry Spray example.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:29 PM on August 20
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:29 PM on August 20
It might sound strange, but an oatmeal bath can be very helpful, if temporary. Put about a half a cup of oats (not instant with sugar!) in an old sock or a length of cheesecloth and drop it into a lukewarm - not hot - bath. Swish it around - the water should look slightly cloudy. Then soak. Be careful when getting out of the tub - oatmeal can make the tub very slippery! Cheap, easily repeatable, and often very effective.
Oral antihistamines can often be effective, too, since histamine is what is causing the itching sensation. Benadryl is the old standard, but that will make most people drowsy (start with 25 mg if you go this route) and have a dry mouth. Other non-drowsy antihistamines like Zyrtec might help, too.
Also maybe see a dermatologist if this persists. There are steroids that can be applied to the skin, but they require a prescription. Good luck!
posted by citygirl at 3:25 PM on August 20
Oral antihistamines can often be effective, too, since histamine is what is causing the itching sensation. Benadryl is the old standard, but that will make most people drowsy (start with 25 mg if you go this route) and have a dry mouth. Other non-drowsy antihistamines like Zyrtec might help, too.
Also maybe see a dermatologist if this persists. There are steroids that can be applied to the skin, but they require a prescription. Good luck!
posted by citygirl at 3:25 PM on August 20
Response by poster: Thanks for the ideas! On a whim, I went to CVS and picked up some Aveeno Anti-Itch Concentrated Lotion, which is helping more than anything else has. But citygirl, I'm going to keep that oatmeal bath idea in my back pocket!
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 7:56 AM on August 21
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 7:56 AM on August 21
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posted by kinddieserzeit at 6:11 PM on August 19