Hi Melody

Wanted to follow up with you by providing a status on the rash behind my ears. Turns out that it developed into more than just a rash. My face swelled up like an allergic attack. Went to the doc and got prednisone. Her thought was that I'm allergic to some food.

Anyway, rash went down and then... I went for one of my normal visits to my chiropractor where I'm having some traction treatments for my recently diagnosed cervical spondylosis (cervical deterioration in the neck due to arthritis or something like that). And after this treatment, I went to the bathroom and happened to look in the mirror and saw that my face had a vivid rash along my laugh lines and cheeks, etc.

I then put two and two together looking at my calendar of chiro appointments and could see that there seemed to be a correlation between appointments and the rash reappearing on my face (which seemed to be an extension of the rash spreading from behind my ears.).

Then I checked the web and found a study (not just testimonials) done at a Japanese university that seemed to find a correlation between "atopic dermatitis" (which is what I have - this diagnosis is a result of my own self-diagnosis and web research) and spondylosis (diagnosed by my chiro).

WOW! The chiro said that he knew the traction treatments were stimulating some nerves but he had never heard of dermatitis and spondylosis being connected.. I have another appointment with him on Monday when I will bring him the article describing the study.

Wanted to let you know in case your husband has the same thing. Mine started out with itching behind the ears on a fairly low level over a fairly long time, maybe a couple of years. It was only the chiro treatments plus another time when I slept on a hard pillow at my aunt's house that seemed to bring on these "attacks" that involve face swelling and are much worse than just a rash.

There isn't a cure from what I can tell from my research. (It's very common among babies, by the way). Web info does indicate that ointments DO help. My Bag Balm seems to keep it under control along with my taking Claritin (over the counter allergy med) on a daily basis. Another name for this, in my own judgment is eczema.

Seems like I'm in a catch-22. I need the traction and chiro treatments to help eliminate or reduce the spondylosis and the treatments for the spondylosis cause the rash. Good thing this rash doesn't seem to be life-threatening, just uncomfortable to look at especially when it is at its worse point.

p.s. the prednisone allowed it to get cleared up long enough for me to get a haircut without being too embarrassed, but now it is back pretty much being scaly all the time with the ointment giving some relief. I hoping the Claritin might help keep the problem at bay long enough for me to go thru the full series of traction treatments. Who knows, maybe these treatments will cure the spondylosis which in turn will cure my dermatitis.

(I know I don't want to keep taking prednisone...if I can avoid it...)