Now the rash!!

[Melka76]

We were able to use over the counter suppositories and lidocaine cream for external pain. Seems to have subsided a bit, however I noticed what looked like sunburn on his throat. It has been raining all day so i knew it was not sunburn. I asked him to take off his shirt and within one minute I watched the rash wrap around his neck and all over and down his back. He is not itching, yet. Is there anything that soothes the skin? Sorry I am asking so many questions but the feedback on here is so helpful! I wouldn't know what to do with out all of your advice.

[Advocate1955]

My husband used triamcinolone, hydroxyzine, eucerin cream, and eucerin body wash.
Advocate1955

[crossroadsec]

It is really hard to stay out of the sun. I started my tx in July. I learned quick to stay indoors as much as possible to reduce blisters. Have you tried icepacks? I did home made ones with the packets that my RX was shipped in. I would put them in a zipper bag and wrap in a towel.
When the itching gets bad, and the blisters, this seemed to help reduce the mental fidgeting too. Dee and Pooh covered everything... How much longer for treatment?
My best to you. xoxo Karen:)

[Dee1956]

Hi so sorry to hear about the rash, it is really good that it isn't itching however Pooh is right, try not to let it get away from you.
I remember when I treated that NYGirl recommended Gold Bond Lotion for the rash.  There are many things to try and what works for one may not work for another.  Seeing a dermatologist is a great idea.  I would have done that when I started itching however was just too sick to go any place.
If he starts to itch you can try ice to numb the nerves.  Sometimes that was all that worked for me.  Also an Oatmeal bath or compress sometimes helps as well. I ended up getting a prescription to help me.
Hang in there, you are doing a great job, ask as many questions as you need to.  Everyone will try to help with what worked for them.
Dee

[pooh55811]

Your husband has been on the drugs only 1 week. If he already has a rash on his neck and back, get on top of it right away.  These rashes can and will snowball out of control rapidly. I know it is a weekend, but try and reach his doctor if you can and get a prescription called in for topical steroids. I have listed below what I was prescribed. In addition, I would try to get an oral prescription antihistamine. Some people use over the counter Benadryl and over the counter steroid cream but they did nothing for me and my rash, just were not strong enough.

Over the counter steroids creams and over the counter antihistamines were useless for me, totally useless. They did nothing. My treatment team was useless and dragged their feet doing nothing until the rash was really pretty bad and I demanded they do something. I paid for their incompetence with a lot of misery. Plus, it is my firm belief that had they gotten on top of it right away, the rash would never have been as severe as it got and would never have lasted as long as it did.

When I finally got on the meds that helped, they were the following, which are all prescriptions:
Fluocinonide Ointment (topical steroid ointment for my body)
Clobetesol soln. (steroid solution for my scalp)
Hydrocortisone Valerate cream (steroid cream for my face)
Hydroxyzine 50 mg oral every 6 hours

It was not until I got on the Hydroxyzine 50 mg every 6 hours that the rash and itching finally got under control.

Do not be afraid to advocate for yourself. The rash can and will snowball. Some people on this forum have had to stop treatment because their doctors did not treat their rashes appropriately (quickly enough and/or with the appropriate and strong enough medication).

You may want to get a strong prescription steroid cream instead of the fluocinonide ointment. The ointment works, but it is very greasy and it got all over my sheets. I felt like I was sleeping in a pile of snot. Gross, I know, but I had to sleep in that snot like ointment for 3 months until the rash finally got under control (after I finally got on a high enough dose of Hydroxyzine). I think some people have used Kenalog with good results and maybe fluocinonide comes in a cream too.  

If necessary, he can go to urgent care and get a prescription. Just keep in mind that most doctors are clueless when it comes to treating these rashes and they tend to grossly under treat them. I would suggest getting in to see a dermatologist ASAP and have the dermatologist handle the rash part of treatment.

[dontworry_behappy1]

If he has been out in the sun...it can set off the rash.  It did for me.  I kept
covered up and used lots of sun screen during Incivek treatment.  I took a cool bath, used Rx Fluocinonide USPS, 0.05% on the rash.