Question about the rawness behind Alan's ear???
 

Hi All:

Besides having PN, Alan has bits of psoriasis on his body. He has psoriatic arthritis (that's what the doctor said when he examined his toes).

He also has exema on his legs. When he is stressed (like in the hospital undergoing IVIG, well, you should have seen his legs). He has the clobetizole and sometimes it does help but most times it does not. I know there are psoriasis cremes out there but they are not covered by Blue Cross.

So here's my question. Behind his right ear, there are ALWAYS scales and raw, raw skin. Every day I gently take a warm washcloth and get them away and I put on a bit of vitamin E. Some days it goes away. He wears glasses by the way and I figured the plastic in the frame is irritating this part of his body. This DOES NOT HAPPEN ON THE OTHER EAR BY THE WAY. He has this between his eyebrows also and if I didn't get on his case to clear this up, he would leave the house with the stuff on. I gently put some vitamin e on this also.

But just now I noticed the ear and I said "my goodness, here we go again". It's like raw meat. If I didn't put the warm washcloth on it to gently remove the scales, he would not feel any discomfort, but when I do the warm washcloth thing he starts yelling. I say, "listen I have to do this, it looks terrible". then I gently put some vitamin E.

Do any of you know of a good gentle skin creme that I can put behind his ear that won't make it even more raw and will help with the scaling?

He won't see a dermatologist so that's why I ask. He says he has enough with the neuro, primary care, podiatrist, and chiro/neurologist and now the IVIG thing. I really can't blame him

Thanks, Melody

((((((Melody)))))),

This is not exactly what you asked for but I couldn't live without this stuff:

Tegaderm

I have psoriasis on my elbow and I've been having a problem with dry, itchy skin on my arms and back since menopause. Sometimes I scratch so hard that I tear my skin.

I've found that the Tegaderm is good for all sorts of things like that. It provides a protective layer until you can grow new skin. When I use it on my elbow, it peels off a lot of the flakiness when you finally remove the patch. I usually leave the patches on 24/7 for about 7-10 days until they fall off (or pick up too much cat fur around the edges :p ).

When I was a home health aide, I used Tegaderm for one of my male patients that had a horrendous bed sore on his lumbar spine (that was the only thing that healed it). I also had another woman with a stroke who developed itching and skin picking on her arm. The Tegaderm worked wonders to keep her fingers away from her skin until it healed. Probably would work great for your husband to keep the irritation of the eyeglasses away from the area until the skin fully heals.

For just trying the Tegaderm or for not using it very much, it's best to just buy it in either CVS or Walgreen's -- whatever store you have in your area. For more extensive use, like I do, I purchase the packets loose on eBay for much, much less than you'd pay retail. I've been doing that for a couple of years now and have never had a problem.

Melody, I don't think I've ever written to you before, but, I've seen you around. It's very uplifting to see how much love and devotion you give your husband every day. It's a really beautiful to see :)

Hugs.

Barb

PS: Oh, I get the 6 cm x 7 cm (2-3/4 in. x 2-3/4 in.) size Tegaderm and usually cut them either in half or in quarters. You still have either a half frame or a quarter frame to apply the patch with and it makes them last much longer, if you're counting pennies like me.

Barb:
Hi, nice to meet you. I've never heard of this. Is it a prescription item or over the counter??

Thanks much

Melody

Melody,

It's over-the-counter. As I said, if you're only going to use it briefly, you can just buy it at your local pharmacy. If you plan to use a lot of it, you can get good deals on eBay -- just search for 'tegaderm' and then sort by price (low-to-high) -- what you would be looking for would be 100 (6 cm x 7 cm) for $10-$15. Normally, they're about $1 apiece through the local pharmacies.


Barb

wow, never ever heard of this item.

I'll google it and see if it might help the hubby!!!!

Thanks much.

Oh, we just came home from our appointment (both of us) with our podiatrist. Guess what!!! I get to get a new pair of Comfort Diabetic Orthopedic shoes because my insurance plan covers it. They cost $165 for the shoes and some kind of insert inside the shoe. I picked out a nice sturdy pair (because I try and power walk every day using my IPOD.

But the coolest thing was when Alan found out he might just be eligible for a new pair of othotics (covered by insurance). We have the same kind of medicare advantage plan. The podiatrist said "Alan's not a diabetic, right" ????? and I said "I don't think you have to be to get the orthotics". So he said "Okay, let's see if it will go through, but let's scan him first". I had no idea what scan meant. Previously for any kind of orthotics, Alan would sink his feet into this foam thing and it would take an impression of his feet.

BUT NOT ANY MORE!!!!! There's a new gadget in town and our podiatrist has it. It's some kind of BIO-SCAN THING. It was amazing.

Alan just gets on this red platform that's on the floor. The sensors scan his two feet and there right in front of us on the screen WERE ALAN'S FEET!!!!

I kept going "oh, just like Star Trek. The podiatrist started to laugh. He's a doll and he raises exotic flowers in his spare time. He does indeed take good care of Alan tootsies and mine too. I had an ingrown toe nail and you could have heard me yelp across the street. But I didn't have to get a shot this time. This guy just takes a second and goes "now be brave". It was over in a second. My feet are good and the most fascinating thing is that I feel everything the doctor did and Alan doesn't and we both have neuropathy.

Alan has had his for 18 years and I just started to develop symtoms. They come and go. I am under a strict diabetic protocol and I intend to do my darndest to hopefully slow down the progression in my feet.

But when the doctor starts to work on Alan, well he could stick a nail in his toes and he doesn't feel a darn thing. The doctor goes to me "Amazing, isn't he?" "he doesn't feel what I'm doing". Alan has a bad recurring foot ulcer.
Dr. Baird takes such good care of his feet.

So all we are waiting on is the phone call from the Home Infusion people and we'll be good to go.

So I'll let you know if I get my hands on this Tegaderm.

be well

Melody

P.S. Just looked up Tegaderm. Don't think it's what Alan needs. What he needs is an Aquaphor kind of cream. Is there anything better for his behind the ear problem. It's gentle right? Anybody else use this or a similar product????

Yeah, foot doctors can be amazing. I had a "secret" crush on mine years and years ago.

Guess it's not a *SECRET* anymore, huh!! :o

Good luck to both of you. Hugs.

Barb

Hi Melody
 

Maybe he is allergic to the part of the glass frames that touch this area. My husband, who also has psoriasis, has the same thing behind his ear. He takes flax seed oil and fish oil, which have helped him overall considerably. It has been raw and oozing at times.
Cathie

Cathie:
When you say fish oil, I believe you mean the Omega 3 oil, right? Alan can't take this because he is on plavix and aspirin and he bleeds enough as it is. I Fish oil is also a blood thinner (at least that's what I read). He used to take it every day but when he went on the plavix and aspirin he stopped the fish oil. He eats fish once in a while. (I live on it). His psoriasis is going nuts on his arms. Yesterday he started yelping "i'm bleeding on my elbow). He had scratched the lesions, he tore some of the scales, and it bled. Of course, eventually it stopped but since the IVIG, he has had outbreaks. I have no idea why. Some of the lesions went away on other parts of his body and erupted on yet another part of his body. And since he shaves his head, (he likes it because he has thinning hair, and it's simple to keep), I noticed a thing on the top of his scalp the other day. I said to myself, "jeez, don't tell me he's getting psoriasis on the top of his head so everybody can see it". I immediately put some vitamin e oil on it. It has since disappeared.

Sometimes when you put some psoriasis meds on, he says they burn. So I would never put it behind his ear. The vitamin e seems to help a lot. Today, I'm going to buy acquaphor. That is gentle.

bye for now and thanks.
melody

Gee Melody...
 

Alan is so lucky to have you. You take such good care of him. Since I am down quite a bit, and not able to do all I once could do, I am afraid my hubby might want to come up there to New York and steal you away from him... :) :) :)

You are a great nurse!

Cathie

Tell him he's welcome. He can keep Alan company.

lol - you're funny

Melody

Thanks for posting. I thought the rawness behind my ears was due to my own OCD and the fact that I seem to pick at anything and everything. I sleep with oxygen and was thinking that the little tubes that circle my ears may be causing the irritation. Then when it the rash develops, I pick (and pick and pick.)

I keep Bag Balm nearby and if I use it several times per day (twice is not enough), I can see some improvement. But if I don't use the Balm, the rash like area dries and is very scaly and yucky.

I'm embarassed to go have my hair cut because I don't want the beautician to see it. I'm hoping if I put the Bag Balm on every hour tomorrow, I may get it healed enough so I won't be so emarassed and I can get the haircut that I desparately need on Monday.

I think any heavy lotion or cream would help (petroleum jelly?). You just have to apply it VERY often, as soon as the rash starts drying and becoming scaly (if it is like what I have.) For me, that means almost every hour.

I would be concerned..
 

That this patch is infected. It sounds like it might be a fungus.
With all the steam, sweating at the gym etc, it is a possibility.

Covering over an infected patch with an occlusive ointment may make it
worse. Also staph is often on the skin, and can complicate things.

I'd do an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin first for a few days. If it does
not clear up, I'd add an antifungal like clotrimazole cream or Lamisil and see
what happens. Once cleared up/healed then any barrier ointment may work.
I prefer A and D ointment for this. But Aquaphor is good too.

A & D 'rocks' !!
I use it for all cuts, scrapes, scratches, etc.
Better than any first-aid creme I've ever used.

Hi Bob, and Mrs. D

I really don't think it's infected because his doctor once gave us A & D ointment and it did the trick. I completely forgot about that. I do believe the plastic in the glasses is affecting the area. And Alan does have patches of psoriasis all over the body and this looks exactly like that.

I'm hesitant to put clobetizole cream on the ear part because it looks red and raw (at times, not ALL THE TIME, just sometimes). So it's a toss up between the acqauaphore and A&D. I think I'll go and buy some A&D.

As we left to go to Dunkin Donuts for our Sunday Breakfast (it's the only time we get to out to eat, it's really a treat for us) and for me because now that I don't have a micro anymore, well all I do is cook and bake and jeez, once in a while it's nice to sit and eat what someone else has prepared.

Anyway, as we were walking around the corner, I looked up and said "let me check your ear (I forgot to put on Vitamin E oil on it yesterday). Obviously if I miss a day, WOW,!!!!! I looked at the behind the ear area and said "Holy Moly, it's really bad. It was all scaly. And dried up scaly. Not the kind you want to pick because it would bleed.

So in a while, I'm off to my local pharmach to get the A&D. I really should keep this stuff in the house.

Oh, yesterday, Alan had a bad period of PN. He lied down on the bed and started jumping and I said: "what's the matter" (the weather has been changing from the 70s to the 40's over here) And as it changes, his toes go nuts!!!. He said "My feet are killing me". I immediately got out my Super Blu Emu that I just bought the day before. Well, I immediately coated the three toes of his left foot, and in 1 minute, he fell asleep. It really works, that Super Blue Emu stuff. It expires in 2009 and the jar is a nice size jar that cost me $14 and change. A good deal actually!!!!

So we shall see what the A&D does.

Thanks so much guys!!!

P.S. I really have to go and get a micro. We don't drive but I'll find a way. I might even buy it from Sharp on the internet. They have one for $79.00 with free shipping. Can't beat that. This cooking and baking all day is NOT FOR ME!!!!!

I wasn't meant to live in the 18th century. I LOVE TECHNOLOGY!!!!

lol Melody

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...)

Forgot to include a link describing the Japanese study that provides a possible correlation between atopic dermatitis and spondylosis (arthritic deterioration in the neck).
http://www.cababstractsplus.org/goog...No=20043167866

(FYI - I'm being treated for spondylosis hoping that this will actually fix or alleviate somehow my larger problem of peripheral neuropathy in both feet which I've had over 10 years, I think maybe 13 years now.)

Hi there Texas Geek:

Well, ever since I began putting the A&E Ointment behind Alan's ears, he has stayed scaly free ever since. He does have excema on his legs. Sometimes, it flares up but when he puts the A&D ointment the scales go away and it is just red. Right now, it looks the best it ever looked.

Good for you that you were able to correlate the visits to the chiro and your dermatitis thing. You're a smart cookie.

Take care,
Melody

The ears...
 

Gee whatever happened to the wet med on dry and dry med on wet skin medication rules? I know that's what they used to tell us in the old days...Showing my age here. :)

When hubby first got this, they thought it was Dermatitis and treated it for this for quite some time. It was only when we changed docs, that the new doc diagnosed psoriasis. It is red, scaly, itches like mad and gets red, swollen and oozes fluid...

Hubby is taking Fish Oil capsules and has discontinued the flax seed oil, because he feels like it works better. I noticed last night that he had a flareup on his chinny-chin-chin, but this seems to come and go. Behind his ear looks good. The fish oil has Omega 3's and he takes 1,000 mg 2 times a day. I know Alan cannot take this, but perhaps this may help others. I wonder if topical application would affect his other meds.

Every now and then I catch him using cortisone cream on the area behind the ears. I have to get after him over this, because this cream can cause thinning of the skin, so when he does that he gets in trouble... I just called him to check on all of this, and he admitted to using the cortisone again... He swears he only uses it occasionally. I really wish he would NOT do that, but you know how it is, Mel... :)

A lady in our area has the worst case of psoriasis that I have ever seen. She has a standup tanning booth in her garage that her doc prescribed, and she gets in that all of the time. She says it really helps.

Cathie

Cathie. When I was 22 I worked in an office as a typist. I KNEW NOTHING OF PSORASIS, NEVER EVEN HEARD OF IT.

So there's this other secretary who was 19. She always wore turtle necks and full cover blouses. Never sleeveless or anything low cut.

Even in Summer.

I never understood. UNTIL ONE DAY, when they took up a collection because she got engaged. I was happy for her. One of the guys said 'jeez, what about her wedding night". I said "what about it"?? and he said "oh you don't know do you?" I had no clue what he was talking about.

So we are sitting one day and she casually mentions that she has had psoriasis all her life. Since I had no idea what she was talking about, I just said "you have what??" And she opened up her blouse, and raised her skirt and rolled up her sleeves. I have never in all my days seen this in my life. Almost every inch of her skin had the red scales. Only her face was untouched.

I just stood there looking absolutely fascinated. Then I said "but it's not on your face, how come?" And she said "no one knows". And then she said "do you know how lucky I am that my boyfriend loves me??". I didn't know what to say so I just hugged her and wished her well.

And that was almost 40 years ago. I do hope she was able to get some help as she got older.

Melody