Skin sore in creases?
 

I wasn't sure where to post this so if it's not in the
appropriate place, please feel free to move it, Mods! ;)

Does anyone get sores in your creases? Big, red and painful!
It's horrible. I have to deal with them so often. Some of them
even bleed eventually. I don't know if I can take it anymore
or how to deal with them. Any advice? I hope someone has
had these as well. :(

You should check with your doctor; but, it sounds like "heat rash," which is common in overweight people with creases. It's from trapped yeast, fungus, and bacteria along with moisture.

The best thing I've found for it is Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel, made by Monistat. They also make a powder, but I like the dry gel the best. It's often in the feminine products section, or you can ask at the drug store.

Use a mild soap to clean the area, and towel it dry before applying any medicine.

Jay

X

I feel your pain chica! :hug:

I don't get them on my stomach, but I do get them on my inner thighs where they rub together (they almost look like zits) and I get them like...(I know this is gross) under my stomach (where my belly flops over) I actually was just able to get rid of some this week. That gel that jay suggested really is awesome...I need to get some more. I also make sure I shower before bed, even if I haven't worked out and I don't wear any sort of clothing to bed....kinda to air myself out. Besides...who doesn't like sleeping naked, right? ;)

I know they can be uncomfortable...down right nasty, but imagine...some day you won't have that problem!!! :D

The culprit is yeast/fungus getting trapped in a moist, hot enviroment. Any type of fungus cream or yeast fighting cream will work. But make sure you wash it at least twice a day with wet washclothe and then reapply.

Jayell's stuff sounds perfect, since it is made by monistat, i am assuming it fights yeast/fungus.

That's me too, Softykins and BabyBrownEyes, and I also have a problem with sweat glands that get infected. What I do, I bathe/shower twice a day (more if time permits), then I put a fan in my bedroom, spread out a beach towel on the bed, turn on the fan and hope that gives the creases time to dry out a bit. If they flare up, I apply skin lube (Chamois Butt'r, you can get it from bicyclist sources) in the area before I do my aerobics. I really should get the antifungal (last summer my mom had knee replacement surgery and the first time when they took her into the o.r. they found she had a fungal infection in her groin and they couldn't operate because of the risk of the infection spreading to her knee, they had to clear that up first so I picked her up some antifungals and they should still be around).:crossed:

Have to agree with everything that's already been said. I have diabetes and that tends to make me even more prone to yeast infections (both internal and external).

For the external problems, I use a prescription cream that starts with the Monistat cream but also has Hcl added to it. It works a little faster than the straight Monistat.

Another little recommendation that sounds weird, but really does help to keep the areas nice and clean and therefore less prone to infection is the first place is to finish your shower with a little rinse of the problems spots with a dilute vinegar solution -- about 5 parts water to 1 part white vinegar -- and no, you won't smell like a salad all day. :lol:

Good luck . . . :carrot:

I got a nasty infection on my nose that looked like impetigo (usually a bacterial infection), but was actually a dermatitis caused by yeast. I also had what you describe in the creases. I went to a dermatologist, and she said she always recommends patients try the cheapest therapy first (isn't that refreshing from a doctor) and suggested that I wash with dandruff shampoo with zinc pyrithione (spelling may be off a little) such as Head and Shoulders (but you have to make sure it has the zinc).

As she suggested I use it for all of my washing - hair, face, body, and it cleared up not only the infections, but my entire complexion. Even what I thought had been rosacea on my cheeks and chin. My skin has never looked so good, I don't even get so much as a little pimple anymore. The dermatologist also explained that the yeast infection is the same one that causes most diaper rash, so I use the dandruff shampoo to wash, and a "diaper rash" cream (also has to have zinc in it) at the first sign of a flare up, or in hot weather as a preventative.

If the area is extremely red, and painful or if you have an elevated temperature you might have gotten a secondary bacterial infection, and should see a doctor, otherwise the remedies everyone here has recommended are worth a shot first.

Oh, by the way, I usually buy the Walgreens or Walmart version of Head and Shoulders which is half the price of Head and Shoulders.

I had this problem when I was heavier. Can't say that I miss it at all! One thing I found that helped was to fold up a paper towel and stick it in the crease (my problem area was where my tummy flopped over). I had enough of a flap that the towel would be held in place, and would soak up the sweat and such. It seems kinda gross, but it worked for me.

Of course, I'm something of a maniac. I also wiped down the area with lysol from a spray can. Ouch! The above suggestions would probably be better than that (though it did work!)

I think I will try the head and shoulders...HMMM...if I can use one shampoo for my whole body??! That sounds great!

I'm not sure if the lysol is such a good idea....harsh chemicals on open sores? No thank you.

Gold Bond powder works great ( even the generic kind). I use it at least twice a day after a shower or bath.

Well, I went out and bought the Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder Gel - fast girl, aren't I.
I think I'll also look into the Head and Shoulders!
Great thread, guys! Thank you so much. :hug:

Yes, I like Gold Bond, too! Good product. But I find the Soothing Care Gel is somewhat better in places like the bra line or under the arms--especially when I'm working out and sweating a lot.

Jay

I was really afraid to try the dandruff shampoo as an all-over body wash, at first. I was actually kind of paranoid - I compared the ingredients to body washes (mostly the same) and went on line to see if I could find anyone else using it this way (I did).

Still, when I returned to the dermatologist for follow up, she had a new assistant who saw me before the doctor. She seemed shocked when I told her I'd been using the dandruff shampoo as a body wash. It made me kind of scared that I had misheard the doctor. I was relieved when the doctor came in and confirmed that I had heard her right, that it was completely safe to use as my only soap.

I was paranoid enough to do a patch test on my inner arm first, just like you would for hair dyes. I thought if I was allergic to anything, I didn't want to have a rash on my face or be scratching in embarassing places. I put some shampoo on the inside of my arm and left it there for 5 minutes, then washed it off. And I used it just on my face for a couple days, and then was brave enough to shower with it. I do recommend smelling the shampoos in the store, as some smell very nice like any other body wash, and some smell kind of mediciney.

Thank you so much for the advice, Colleen.
I'm excited to try it. I have red on my face as well.
I would love it if this will clear it up!

I get chubrub on my inner thighs in the summer if I wear skirts. It doesn't bleed, but it burns very uncomfortably. The only solution for me has been to use deodorant on my thighs! Cuts down on the sweating and the friction, which seem to be the culprits for me.

Behold these links:

http://www.mum.org/lysol1.htm

http://www.mum.org/lysol2.htm

That's right: Lysol used to be marketed (as late as the 1950s!) as a vaginal douche :eek: :yikes: :faint: ! And they gave Listerine a hard time when they found it didn't cure colds!

You better look at some of the other links included in the two given above, even in the 1930s there were concerns that it was dangerous

The /lysol2.htm link mentioned above didn't work, but you can reach it by clicking on one of the links in /lysol1.htm. Anyway FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE DON'T TRY THIS @ HOME!

And here's one more link with a great thread of comments ...

http://www.cynical-c.com/?p=6696

X

I got the citrus Head and Shoulders for thin and oily hair (which is what I have) and it has the zinc in it. I'm looking forward to good things happening with my skin. I was going to buy some of that monostat stuff but it was EXPENSIVE for just a little tube. I think I'll get some Gold Bond powder for now and see if the H&S does some good! :)

Good thread! I think many people are afraid to bring this up.

I want to let you guys know...I just took a shower...(no, that's not all I wanted to tell you!! ;) )

That Head and Shoulders for thin and oily hair Citrus scent is to die for!! I smell so good. It felt soo good on my skin and I could tell it's going to work. I'm excited to see the results from it. I can imagine it will help with the oils on my face with some much exercising and sweating. It didn't like dry OUT my face but it took a lot of oils off that are usually still there after showering.

So, I already give this product an A!

I'm trying to get my sister to try the dandruff shampoo, because I read that alot of dermatologists recommended it for face and back acne (which my sister has). I think she thinks that if all of the prescription stuff hasn't worked (her dr is suggesting a chemical peel) that an OTC soap isn't going to make a difference, but I figure it can't hurt.

I know I had heard that some morbidly obese people wash with betadine, so I was going to try it, but there were so many warnings on the bottle that it scared me off. Finding the dandruff shampoo and zinc cream, really has been a miracle. even if I get a little rubbing sore from too tight elastic, the zinc soap and cream clear it up in a day or two instead of a week.

It is kind of embarassing to talk to doctors about these things, especially since unless they've dealt with alot of obese clients (and sometimes not even then) they don't often know much more than any of us. I know whenever I've brought up the crease rashes or chub rub up to doctors, they had no more to offer than "lose weight."

OK, I'll accept that losing weight will decrease the likelihood and severity of these things, but what am I supposed to do in the meantime - you know the two or three years minimumally that it's going to take me to lose all of this weight?

Exactly, kaplods! How hard would it be for drs. to simply answer the question asked? :mad:

Jay

To be fair, I have to say that I have doctors currently who do not dismiss everything as weight related (and then not offer any help in the meantime). But when I was living in central Illinois, it seemed most doctors took one look at me and dismissed my complaints as weight related, and offered no remedy in the mean time. Sometimes I think if I had gone into the emergency room with a gunshot wound or a stick in my eye, and they would have told me to go home and lose weight.

When I went to my neurologist here in Wisconsin for the first time, I said after describing some of my symptoms "I'm sure a lot of this is caused by my weight." I could have kissed him when he said, "I would like to see you lose some weight, but not everything is weight related, and regardless of the cause, we have to get to the bottom of these symptoms and get you functioning and feeling better."

Obesity does seem a little more common in my current area, so I think doctors here have more experience with overweight patients. The doctors can't pretend that fat people don't exist or aren't real people. They probably even are (or were) overweight themselves, or have family members with weight problems.

If anything good can come out of the "obesity epidemic," I hope it would be that doctors gain more empathy and experience working with overweight patients.

Colleen...what Zinc cream do you use? What brand, I mean? I would like to use this along with the H&S. My fiance has really bad acne on his face...he will have scaring for the rest of his life, but at least it would be nice for him to get rid of the acne part of it. The only place he gets it is on his face and he's tried prescription stuff and ProActive and none of it has worked. I need to get him a container and tell him to use it. I'm sure he would..nothing could be easier!!

This is such a wonderful thread.
Thank you to everyone participating! :cloud9:

Hmmm, very interesting, I think I'll give Head & Shoulders a shot too, see if that helps. Thanks gals

Oh, what a cool thread!

I just got done powdering (cornstarch baby powder) in my bra for my boob rash. LOL I just added the Head & Shoulders and the gel to my grocery list for the next time I'm in town. My oldest kid has some acne so I'm going to tell him to start this, too, and hope it helps keep it somewhat under control. We live in southern Oklahoma with no air conditioning so Sweat 'R Us which only exacerbates the problem.

Thanks for all of the ideas!!

Sheila, regarding the zinc cream: I bought it in a grocery store, and it looks like it might be a store brand or cheap brand. It is "Aloft Diaper Rash Ointment Skin Protectant" and contains 40% zinc oxide. The rest of the ingredients are listed as inactive ingredients, so I think as long as it's a zinc oxide cream, it shouldn't matter.

I was having an outbreak on my nose this morning, so I slathered it on my nose (yeah, I know diaper rash cream on my face, eww but it's just zinc oxide cream, which life guards use on their nose, so no big deal, right?) Yeah, but I forgot it was there, and went to Walmart with hubby, and when does he decide to say something about it - yeah you guessed it, when we were already in the store. I wiped of some, but I decided if anyone said anything I'd just tell them I was a lifeguard (BIG, FAAAAAT, lifeguard).

I needed more shampoo, so I bought the Walmart brand again. There were about a dozen Head and Shoulders products, and they all smelled great (no citrus, though). I ended up with Walmart's Equate brand again, though. The fragrance is so nice, and I just couldn't justify the $5 difference in cost (under $3 as opposed to over $8 for the H&S brand) just to have an alternative fragrance.

Oh COLLEEN . . . Can I move in with you . . . or at least borrow your doctor . . . :D Nova Scotia is probably the Province with the highest average weight in Canada but my doctor still seems content to tell me everything that isn't related to by Diabetes is related to my weight . . . and let's not forget that the Diabetes is related to my weight anyway. ;)

BTW . . . I'm adding Head and Shoulders and Zinc Oxide Diaper Cream to my shopping list, too.

Thanks gang . . . :grouphug:

Is Kristy healing? We'd like to know what works for you and that you're feeling better.

Just a note about corn starch--oddly enough, some people are allergic to it. I am, so if I use a powder with corn starch in it, it makes my rash worse. Evidently not many people know that this is a possibility. I did best with the plain old talcum powders.

Jay

I didn't know that about corn starch. Thanks! Oddly enough, I get a bit of funk from the regular talc baby powder but not the corn starch type.

X

Colleen...the H&S that I bought was only $4 for the big bottle...Hmmm....must be a difference in price for the states we live in. Weird. Maybe next time I'll venture to Walmart...or maybe even buy the walmart brand for my BF and see how it works for him. He has the worst facial acne I've ever seen. Oh...the Citrus scent is SOOOO nice. It smells like something you can use all over...I have noticed a big difference already. My face is nice and dry (NICE as opposed to the VERY oily skin I have) and my rashes have gone away. I will buying some of that diaper cream for sure!

By the way....I see nothing wrong with a fat lifeguard! ;) I took a lifeguard swimming test years back along with about 100 other people and I was still going strong when all the skinny people were dying to get back on shore. ;) I could swim, tread water, pick up weights off the bottom of the sea and all that and I was what I weigh now. So...who would you rather try to save you? :lol:

X

I completely agree fat lifeguard isn't an oxymoron (though you might have a little trouble being hired, because of prejudice). Fat is actually an advantage in the water.

I once completely awed a skinny friend by my ability to tread water. She thought I was some sort of amazing athlete, because I could tread water without getting tired. She didn't notice (and I did explain it to her after about five minutes of letting her think I was fabulous) that I didn't have to work nearly as hard as she did to stay afloat. I was moving my arms and legs for exercise, and to stay upright, but showed her that if I stopped moving, I might tip a little, but I'd stay afloat. She, having nearly zero body fat (she is one of those people with the metabolism of a hummingbird, and actually has trouble putting on weight) would sink like a stone if she didn't paddle with arms and legs at high speed.

Oh I laughed so hard, I nearly peed. Still, it was such a fantastic feeling to have someone so skinny envy me for a physical ability (even if she was clueless).

In college (I weighed between 260 and 308), I had to take two semesters of PE, so I took an independent study. The women's coach and I developed a plan of swimming, cycling, and weight lifting. I was proud, but a little offended when she later told me (awe in her voice) that she had been working with her thin, athletic younger sister and used me as an example to inspire her (because she wasn't able to swim as fast or as long as I). I know she meant it as a compliment (and don't get me wrong, it was), but her shock and awe that a fat girl could do any exercise better than a thin girl did make the compliment seem a bit backhanded. Still, I was happy to educate her.

I don't have that kind of stamina any more, but I still love the water, because gravity stops working work against me water and exercise is fun not painful. I cringe everytime I hear a woman say she can't wait to lose x number of pounds, so she can get into the water (because of the bathing suit issue). I want to shout, "get in that water, girl and have a good time!"

My brother just retired from the navy. He loves scuba diving and has diving certificates in scuba and and snorkeling. The last time he was home, he was talking about it, and I said how I would love to scuba, but was too fat. He was telling me that one of his civilian dive instructors was my size. I thought that the weights needed to counterbalance my tendency to float would knock me to the bottom of the boat, but he explained that she put the weights in her weight belt on AFTER she got in the water (duh! I never thought of that).

No change yet, Susan. But I have been using the powder gel
and the Wal-mart brand of Head and Shoulder and I'm enjoying it.
I have noticed that my face isn't as red but it still needs work.
I love that powder gel but it's so expensive for so little. I wish
they gave you more bang for your buck. It feels so good on -
silky! I'll keep you posted, though. :D

Hey there is one thing going for "fat" people when swimming -
you float! :lol: