The diagnosis | Skin rash in the crook of the arm

The diagnosis

If a skin rash does not disappear on its own after a few days, or if it is accompanied by agonizing itching or fever and joint pain, a visit to your family doctor or dermatologist is recommended. The dermatologist can make a surprisingly accurate estimate of the underlying cause from the appearance and distribution pattern of the rash and from the patient’s reports on the development of the rash and accompanying symptoms over time. If there is still doubt about the exact diagnosis, however, a blood test may be necessary to look for the antibody circulating in the blood against a specific pathogen.

The treatment

In general, the use of skin care creams is recommended for the initial treatment of a rash. Here care should be taken to use a pH-neutral cream. In addition, the further treatment of a rash in the crook of the arm depends on the underlying cause.

If the rash is a manifestation of neurodermatitis, it is usually treated with ointments containing glucocorticoids; in advanced stages, drugs in tablet form are also used. In psoriasis, the focus is on dissolving the dry skin scales, for example with the aid of salicylic acid or urea-containing creams or oils or by UV radiation. If the rash in the crook of the arm results from an infectious disease, the therapy of the rash consists of eliminating the pathogen. Lyme disease, for example, is usually treated with antibiotics such as amoxicillin or doxycycline.