Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eah367]

I have had a horribly itchy rash for over 2 months now, visited 3 Korean doctors (2 dermatologists and a gynecologist)...they've all said they think "eczema," "heat rash," "dermatitis" or "environmental conditions" are responsible for it (and its "definitely not scabies" or anything sexually related according to the gynecologist), but their medicines, creams, cortisone shots in the butt haven't helped and I am at a loss. (I've spent over $400 in medicine and doctors visits.)

The most recent doctor I visited put me on a very strict diet: only vegetables, nuts, poultry and fish. He said sugar is bad for my body because the pancreas is what regulates glucose and metabolism in the body but it is also the organ that makes the allergy-fighting chemicals for the body. I've been on this diet for a week and to no avail.

I'm beginning to think I am allergic to Korea - the pollution, the intense weather shift from super dry/cold to hot/humid in a span of only a few weeks. Has anyone heard or experienced ANYTHING like this here before???

[pangaea]

A few questions...

How long have you been in Korea?

Is the rash all over your body? You mentioned a gynecologist. Is it confined to your, um, panty area, or is it in other areas as well? Have you changed your detergent, fabric softener, or soap? I had a horrible allergic reaction to a detergent once and it took me weeks and two visits to the doctor before I figured out what was wrong. It was another month before it cleared up.

Are you eating anything new that you weren't exposed to at home?

What does the rash look like?

[nautilus]

I usually get this every summer around June and July.
Its just caused by heat and humidity...It dissapears with cooler weather in september.

[Lee Myung Bak]

I would have to see pictures, but sounds similar to what I developed when I first cam to Korea, Tinea versicolor. It appeared during the summer months. Google it to find pics and symptoms. Its easily confused with eczema and heat rash. For me, it appears wherever I sweat the most as it is a fungal problem. Similar to athlete's foot, but on your upper body. Your skin has natural fungus, but overdevelops due to the sweat covering the skin. I get it on my arms, chest and back. I went through a similar situation with derms telling me it will only go away if you go home to your old climate, or dont sweat at all. Well in July here, its almost impossible to not sweat, unless you are always in a climate controlled building.

Found a good dermatologist, who went to Harvard, near world cup stadium. He works for woo skin clinic, which also has its headquarters near sinchon, and is contracted by the US government for dermatology needs. He works at one of their branches. They are legit, at least in my experience.

Anyway, he gives me a combination of cream, soap and pills. I apply the cream before bed. Wash affected areas with the high concentrated sulfate soap during the day. It helps a lot but doesn't really go away until the weather cools down.

Hope this helps, i know how annoying a condition like this can be, so feel free to PM me if you have any further questions

[eah367]

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions...

@pangaea:

- I've been in Seoul since mid August 2009.
- Yes, the rash is all over my body - it went from being individual large red bumps (I thought were flea bites at first) then to large splotchy patches and now its almost invisible (at times there will be smallish patches) but still itches just as bad as it did at the beginning.
- I've been using the same detergent for about 6months now...I semi-recently switched fabric softeners (maybe 3 months ago) but at the suggestion of several people have stopped using it all together

@Lee Myung Bak

- One of the dermatologists I had been seeing actually worked at Woo Skin Clinic near Sungshin Women's University. He seemed really knowledgeable but after 3 weeks with no improvement, I decided to see another doctor. He did a blood allergy test and found out that I have a mild cow's milk allergy so I haven't had any milk or cheese for about 2 1/2 weeks.
- I looked up Tinea Versicolor and while they symptoms sound similar this rash doesn't look the same at all...

I'm almost convinced it must be some sort of fungal skin rash...humidity being the main culprit. There is nothing I can do to stop myself from sweating in this heat, so I guess I will just have to wait for fall...any suggestions of topical cream or home remedies would be greatly appreciated. I seem to have tried every thing: pharmaceutical creams, Benadryl, Gold Bond, baby powder, oatmeal, special lotion, etc etc.


Thanks again so much for your help and suggestions!

[Lee Myung Bak]

Id recommend "sulfur+plus" soap. Or any other sulfur and salicylic acid soap. There are some shampoos that have these active ingredients as well, usually produced to tackle dandruff. Selson blue having the highest concentration I believe. So you can use those on your body also. Sulfur of sulfate kills fungal build up. I would suggest lathering up and leave it on for a solid 5 minutes before rinsing.

As you mentioned any anit-fungal creams help as well.

One good thing(thinking in the long run here!!) that I have have heard from my Doc is even though there is no real cure, these conditions typically appear in young adults and will disappear come your mid 30s.

[pangaea]

Lee Myung Bak mentioned Selsun Blue. I worked with a lady once who had a dark patch underneath her skin. Her brother was a doctor and he said it was a fungal infection underneath the skin. He told her to put Selsun Blue on it. Maybe lathering up with some anti-dandruff shampoo will help.

Has powder helped at all? If the humidity makes it worse, maybe taking a break or two during the day to wipe off a little with some wet wipes and put on some powder would help. I've been carrying powder with me because I feel so sweaty and gross in this humidity.

[eah367]

Do either of you know of a place in Seoul where I could buy a Selsun Blue and/or a soap with sulfur and salicylic acid? Is the "sulfur+plus" soap available in Korea??

The Gold Bond/baby powder has temporarily helped with itchiness but its usually back within an hour or two....

[crossmr]

Nizoral is an anti-fungal shampoo and you can get it at any pharmacy, just koreanize the pronunciation "nee-joe-ral".
Typically though if the fungus is under the skin, anti-fungual cream or shampoo isn't going to help. Most don't really sink that far in. There is a Lamisal pill you can take for internal fungus, but if you have any liver trouble at all you can't take it, it's pretty hard on it.

[carpetdope]

How many showers do you take each day?
Do you take hot showers?
If so, reduce the temperature and frequency of showers.
Worked for my persistent rash.
Might work for you too.

[oldfatfarang]

Interesting advice, thanks. I got a severe rash on my arm last weekend. I woke up scratching like hell and the itch just wouldn't go away.

I'd been fishing up in the mountains (deep forest). I was wearing a short sleve short and so I thought I'd been stung my a poisonous vine/tree.

The school nurse put some cream on it (5 times in 4 days), and the cream stopped the itching. However, the rashbumps are still there (although they are slowly decreasing in size, I think).

I could get the name of the cream if you need it.

Good luck.

[Skipperoo]

Have you tried changing your washing detergent? I had the same problem on a holiday to America a few years back, one brand (I forget the name) gave me rashes all over my body; changed brand, rewashed my clothes and they were gone within a few days.

[Faunaki]

Are you taking meds? I took meds once and got a reaction to it but didn't realize it so went to a skin doc and he made me do all these expensive things then I stopped taking asthma meds and my skin cleared up.^^

[Faunaki]

Since living in Korea I've developed exczmea (?) on my face. I've never had something like this before. It's terrible. I don't know what the problem is. So I understand where you are coming from^^

[Milwaukiedave]

I have also been having problems with rashes. My doctor says it's hives and an allergic reaction to something, but they can't pinpoint what it is. After reading the OP, I am wondering if it is something similar. The thing is, I've been in Korea for over six years and never had this happen. They show up on my arms and stomach/chest and occasionally my leg and then disappear. This happens about every two to three days. Yesterday, I had it really bad on my arm and stomach. The doctor gave me some medication but only 7 days worth, so I don't take it very often.