Ugly rash all over my face

[Kookaburra]

I don't know what's causing it. Except for some eggs that I bought from a local farmer, nothing has changed in my diet. I haven't switched laundry detergents, and I only use mild cleansers and coconut oil on my face as moisturizer (none of that is new).

If any of you medical intuitives can pick up what's causing it, I'd be ever so grateful if you'd share. But really, I just want to know how to clear it up. It itches like hell, and there are some ugly sore places on my eyelid that actually look like the skin has cracked open. Really nasty. I look like a victim of some sort, and kind of feel like it too.

Thank you for your help.

[yellerpup]

1. You should be tested for MRSA virus.

It spreads by skin contact or contact with clothing that has been contaminated with the virus. I'm the first person to look for practical reasons why you've developed it, and it looks like you've covered all bases. But lesions, etc., could become dangerous very quickly IF it is MRSA. Please get it checked out as soon as you can.

[magical thyme]

2. just a nit, but MRSA is a bacteria, not a virus

It is quite difficult to treat, though, because of antibiotic resistance, and dangerous as a result. There are other bacteria that can cause serious skin infections as well.

How long have you had it? An itchy rash could be caused by emotional stress as well as physical causes. Or allergies. Maybe you've developed an allergy to something that you normally use. Or maybe the farmer fed the chickens that laid the eggs something that you are allergic too. If you have some benadryl or other over-the-counter allergy med on hand, you could try that to see if it subsides.

If not, and it continues, I'd see a doctor. Especially given the sore on the eyelid -- is that from scratching at the itch or did it appear on its own?

[yellerpup]

3. Thanks for straightening me out.

It was prevalent when we lived in Charlotte, so it came to mind immediately.

[Kookaburra]

4. Yes, I remember it showing up in a couple of the high schools

And the hospitals were hyper-vigilant about testing and preventing it.

I'll definitely keep a close watch on it and see if it gets worse. If so, then it's off to the doc.

[magical thyme]

5. it's prevalent everywhere, so your concern is very legit!

It is a major hospital-acquired infection, but in recent years has become community-acquired. Scary stuff. The bigger coming fear is vancomycin-resistant staph.

There also is a virulent strep bacteria that can cause "flesh-eating disease." So a skin rash with open lesions that don't resolve are a real concern.

[Kookaburra]

6. This just popped up overnight

Could be the feed that the farmer was giving her chickens. I'll have to find out. I know I'm allergic to soy, and if her feed has soy in it that could be the culprit, because I made a frittata with those eggs just yesterday.

And the eye that is so sore, was especially itchy to the point that I was rubbing at it, so I could have exacerbated the problem, but I'll make sure to note any changes.

Thanks for the advice -- I do have some benadryl and will take some and see if the itchiness eases off some.

[LiberalEsto]

7. Do you have any aloe?

If you do, try putting some on a small area of your face and see if that helps.

[TeeYiYi]

8. Apple Cider Vinegar...

...use Bragg's brand. It's organic and has what's called ”the mother” in it, which means its not clear like the regular store brands.

You should apply it topically as well as internally. If your rash is too painful, try diluting it some.

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/rash.html

Another thing I would consider is baking soda. A teaspoon in water to drink, as well as making a poultice. I would use zinc (diaper rash cream in a tube) or antibiotic salve to add the baking soda to and apply it to the rash after using acv with a cotton pad.

Good luck...

TTY

_{Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv.}

[TeeYiYi]

9. Turmeric...

...is another one that I absolutely believe in. Internally as well as topically, though you have to be careful of mild orange staining on your face, which is only temporary.

That said, here's the mrsa page at Earth Clinic for your perusal:

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/MRSA.html

Again, good luck...

TYY

[Kookaburra]

10. This is a great site TeeYiYi

Thanks for showing it to us.
The more I read about MRSA, the less I think that's what this is. It feels more like an allergic reaction. I just have to figure out to what it is.
Meanwhile, I'll try some of these remedies.

[Celebration]

15. When my granddaughter was born I used that site!

Oh, my gosh, I was out of town to be with my daughter and family and came down with a sore throat!! No kidding. It did not feel good. I absolutely used every single suggestion on that site, and then doubled it. It was kind of comical. But it WORKED. I never felt sick except for my throat hurting, and that was mostly gone after a couple of days. And more important, nobody caught it.

I forget all that I did but probably lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, concoction that were made of onion and brown sugar. I did all that plus take some immune boosting herbs I found at the health food store. I am pretty sure I doubled everything.

I love Earth Clinic!!

[Kookaburra]

11. Update on the rash

It has subsided considerably. My eyelids are still swollen and there is one place that looks a little oozy, but for the most part it's only a couple of rough, scaly patches left.

I tried everything: aloe, turmeric, zinc oxide, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, cold compresses, benadryl. Last night would have been very comical if I hadn't been so miserable.

Anyway, something -- or some combination of somethings -- worked. Still don't know what caused all the chaos, and that's kind of annoying (just because I really don't want to go through that again), but at least for now things are going better.

Thank you to all of you for your suggestions.

[Tsiyu]

12. Shingles?

Sounds similar to shingles.

My mom got this on her eyes and it was extremely painful and like what you describe.

I hope you are feeling much better and the rash is clearing


Edit to add link (not a naturopathy site but good examples of the rash appearance)


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001861/

[magical thyme]

14. I've had shingles

To be honest, this sounds far more like allergies than shingles. The various topicals above would have soothed the itching from allergies, and the benadryl would stop the release of histamine.

Shingles doesn't generally itch; it's *very* painful like being stabbed over and over by needles. And it doesn't disappear overnight, certainly not with any of the treatments Kookaburra tried. It is treatable with very specific herbs, and if you catch it quickly enough you can get it to subside within a few days.

[FirstLight]

13. glad to hear it

i read your post last night but didn't have any good advice... but i am sooo glad there is such an abundance of healers and wise folks here.
if i were you i'd see my doc before it clears up all the way, see if he has any input or can do a swab or something?

feel better soon!

[Mnemosyne]

16. How's the rash doing, Kooka? Hope it's nearly gone or at least much better. :) n/t

[Kookaburra]

18. Sorry I haven't updated in a while.

Yes, the rash has cleared up. In its wake it has left a few scaly patches -- especially around my eyes -- but the swelling and oozing are all gone, as is the itching.

Still not sure where it came from, and wondering if it may have been stress induced. I've been under a mountain of stress lately, and trying to release and get to a place of trusting spirit, so that may have been the stress releasing. If so, then a couple of days' discomfort is a small price.

[Mnemosyne]

19. So glad to hear you are better! These releases can be just miserable.

Hopefully you've seen the last of it.

[southerncrone]

17. Could it be yeast related?

Try cutting out the sugar/carbs for a few days & see if that helps.
Could you have gotten some type of chemical on your hand & transferred to your face?
You might also try aloe vera gel on your face. It's amazingly healing & your skin will love it.

[Matariki]

20. Are you able to go to a doctor?

I'd be a bit worried about a rash around my eyes. Any possibility that you were exposed to poison ivy or poison oak?

[Kookaburra]

22. That actually is a possibility

I got into some poison oak a couple of years ago -- scraped by a sharp twig of it so that the sap got into my blood stream. Ever since, I've been extra sensitive to it. Anyway, we've had a very mild winter this year -- not much was killed off by frost, so it's entirely possible I may have encountered some at some point.
I didn't see the doc because it cleared up, but if it happens again, I'll make a point of getting it checked out.

[Remember Me]

30. Get yourself some plantain

plantain: plantago major or plantago lanceolata

If you are dealing with poison oak, poison ivy, and/or insect bites), there is nothing I know of that does quicker, more complete job. It "neutralizes the toxins." I've posted about it here before, when the subject of insect bites came up.

It grows as a weed nearly around the world. I think it's very pretty. If you can properly identify it for sure, pick some in your yard or garden and dehydrate it either in your oven on the lowest possible setting or a dehydrator at 116 or so. Store in a dark cupboard in an air tight container (e.g., old peanute butter jar, as long as it's glass). Or buy some either in capsules or in bulk from a trusted source to have on hand.

To use, fresh: Chew or rub between your hands to release some of the juice and apply the leaf to the site and hold on or apply a bandaid. For a large area I might try making a tea (infusion) with several leaves with hot water poured over the top and left to sit at least 15 minutes or so, possibly longer.

To use, dried: Mix the powdered herb with anything that will moisten it to make a paste -- water (incl. river or lake water or beer!), aloe juice which will aid healing, anything liquid that's okay for skin. Apply and cover with a bandaid to keep the "paste" on there because when it starts to dry it will flake off and make a mess. Even for fire ant bites, I've only had to reapply a 2nd time for the pain, stinging and godawful itching to be gone. It neutralizes toxins.

It can also be used internally as an internal cleanser, purifier, etc. Wonderful, powerful (meaning highly effective, as opposed to harsh) blessing of an herb. Research in Germany, China, India and Russia show it "helps stop coughing, wheezing and chest pain, even from bronchitis." I'm finding it in formulas for the kidneys (incl. kidney stones).

Plantain also helps stop bleeding (as do yarrow and agrimony). "You can either sprinkle the dried and powdered leaves of these herbs directly onto a bleeding wound" or make a mashed or chewed fresh leaf to apply.

It's also good in a salve with any of these: calendula, chamomile, comfrey, St. Johns' Wort, and/or Lavender for burns and other skin problems, tho I strongly prefer the quick simplicity of a good quality (therapeutic grade) lavender essential oil for burns and some other skin problems. For burns, the pain stops literally within seconds for most minor burns but if the burn requires a 2nd application, it will obviously take a little longer. (I've only had one burn in the last 15 years or so that required more than 1 app.) And then you also don't blister.

[Gin]

21. Keep this on hand

Aveeno oatmeal bath....comes in 5 packs...wall-greens has it......make a paste of it with water.....put it over the itchy area...works wonders....I barely use a whole packet


Thought I had shingles in December...swollen cheek...blisters that oozed....itched so bad it drove me nuts....but...no pain"...so it probably wasn't shingles"......looked like I had been in a fight.......this aveeno paste worked immediately.....it ran along the nerve in my cheek and when I feel itchy...anywhere....i put the paste on and it feels better immediately.

gin

[Ecumenist]

23. Kookaburra, what you're dealing with is ATOPIC DERMATITIS. You are having an allergic

reaction to mold spores. don't think that it's the eggs you bought but a bloom of mold in your area in reaction to increased humidity in your suroundings, I feel like it has to do with your home. It's not what you're eating BUT what you're BREATHING. I want you to check your roof/attic area. REALLY feel that you have a leak that has caused a bloom of mold, ASPERGILLUS, (seems to be a black mold but not the life threatening Stachybotris).

Have you had a warm up in the last week or so that followed wither rain or snow which melted?

[Kookaburra]

24. Yes we did

It has been unseasonably warm and relatively rainy lately.

Also, I had a flood in the house a couple of weeks ago, but the H2O extractors have checked twice for mold since removing the water, and have found nothing. I'm assuming it's coming from outside, then? Maybe in the mulch around the flower beds?

[Ecumenist]

25. Did they check in your attic? COMPLETE attic? Also, did they check in the walls, since

you had a flood and how'd they check for mold? When we were checking for mold i a condo we were living in in 2004, we had to take a culture and send it off to a lab. It took a couple of weeks to get the results back. TRust me, Kookaburra, it's mold related ATOPIC DERMATITIS.

[Kookaburra]

27. I believe you

They're coming back next week, so I'll talk to them again about it. I really don't know how they tested, but I feel that they are a trust-worthy company.

It won't take them long to check out the attic -- it's unfinished, so will be easier to examine.

[Ecumenist]

26. I can tell you how to calm your skin down...WHEATGRASS TABLET AND FISH OIL..

I know from first hand knowledge. You need to take at least 10 wheatgreass tablets a day and 12 grams of fish oil a day. Not only will it calm the rash pretty quickly but it will PREVENT recurrence

[Kookaburra]

28. Good to know

Are the tablets more powerful than wheat grass juice? I usually get a shot of it in my blueberry smoothy.

[Ecumenist]

29. I have liquid wheatgrass and tablets and the tablets seem to work better, don't know why

other than the fact they are compressed wheatgrass. From my experience, the tablets seem to work better.