Small friction wound getting larger

[themiserymachine]

I developed a small surface wound from my belt rubbing on my hip bone.  It started off a little less than 1 cm in diameter, and it has grown to about 4.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width.  The skin around the edges kept peeling off and making it larger by day.  The majority of it has dried up and scabbed, but the outside edges are still a bit raw.  Today I discovered that a small shaving nick in my pubic area had also begun to do the same thing.  The skin around the edges has begun to peel off and is making the small nick slowly bigger.

Is this something I should be worried about/get checked out?
Any advice would be appreciated!

[themiserymachine]

I've noticed that once the blisters break, they begin to do the same thing that the wound on my hip did.  The skin around them then blisters up too, and when that breaks, it makes the wound larger.  Let me know what you think.

[themiserymachine]

Well, the larger spot on my hip has pretty much healed and is no longer painful, though it's still discolored.  The spots on my pubic region are healing also, but I've noticed small blisters coming up on my stomach, and thighs.  There aren't too many, maybe five, but I'm not really sure what this means now.  Any further help with these new symptoms?  And my partner has gotten a similar looking to the one on my hip, on his face so I'm assuming it's contagious.  Can you tell me anything else?  If you need pictures, I would be glad to provide them.  Thank you.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

From the symptoms that you have described,they look like contact irritant dermatitis due to nickel of leather belt buckle or chrome in leather belts,irritant dermatitis, infections- fungal, bacterial or Atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites.Also avoid wearing belt at the particular level. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps.Application of  mild steroid is also helpful(e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort).If still the consition persists then pls consult a dermatologist as higher-potency steroids(e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide)or oral steroids may be needed.If secondary bacterial infection sets in ,then oral antibiotics may be needed.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing.