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Posted 1/21/2008 1:41 PM (GMT 0)

Does anyone know if dry skin patches are a symptom of uc or a side affect of any medication?  I've had a number since not long after I was diagnosed, my consultant doesn't really give me a straight answer when I ask him if there's any connection.  One of the patches is on the top of my foot where it joins my ankle, it's perfectly round and about 2cm in diameter, it's very rough and dry and is raised into a slight bump.  It looks a reddy pink colour and has recently cracked open.  It's numb to touch but painful if I press on it.  I have another one on my arm and neck which aren't as bad and come and go.

If anyone else has experienced these patches and can advise me of any treatment I'd appreciate it.

Dan

Posted 1/21/2008 1:53 PM (GMT 0)

What you're describing sounds like eczema.  People with Uc do have a higher chance of getting skin irritations and infections because of our compromised immune system.

http://www.dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/dry-skin.html

Posted 1/21/2008 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I have a spot on my right shin. It usually dries up over the summer and as soon as i start wearing socks and pants for winter it flares back up. It is sooooo itchy!
Posted 1/21/2008 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
I used to have one just below my right elbow. It went away when I started taking Azathioprine, and it hasn't come back.
Posted 1/21/2008 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Best to get any patches checked out by a dermatologist...some can be a sign of cancer...reason, I had one on my face for about 14 years assuming it was eczema..it was basal cell (surface) carcinoma and I had to use a cream to "kill it" and all the precancer cells...wow, what reacted to the cream was mind boggling...but what didn't was even more interesting.

q
Posted 1/21/2008 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
My son started getting these dry patches not too long after he was diagnosed with UC, our PCM first thought it could have been ringworm, then mentioned that it looked like eczema, but wasn't as pronounced, anyway once all was said and done they determined it was probably just very dry skin due to all the meds.  They gave him a prescription lotion to use which seemed to help alot.  It's called Lac-Hydrin or Ammonium Lactate Lotion 12%. careful tho, it stings if you put it on broken skin,  I have to remind him not to scratch the patches, but to put the lotion on instead. never scratch then put it on, he learned the hard way, poor thing.
Posted 1/21/2008 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm no dermatologist...but my 2 1/2 year old has eczema and he gets it in patches on his legs and feet. He doesn't have UC but it does sound like what you are describing. We were given a prescription eczema cream and it has really helped.
Posted 1/22/2008 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I used to get patches like that on my arms and legs when I was flaring.  The dermotologist gave me cream and they went away.  Once I got into remission I haven't seen them there anymore.  Now I have a psoriasis-like rash on my scalp.  Very itchy and scaly and quite annoying.  Went back to the dermatologist and he gave me some other stuff to treat it - Clobex and Lidex. 

Posted 1/22/2008 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I get dry skin patches right below my elbow bones. They can be red from irritation & hurt if I put my weight on forearms. Using a hypoallergenic skin cream containing petroleum jelly & vit E nightly eliminates my problem. The trick is to keep after these patches so that they don't reach the point where skin cracks! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
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