Red and scaly skin patch with low urea level

Resolved question:
I have a patch of skin that's slightly red, has scales and not noticeably raised. It's not itchy, not painful and not oozing or bleeding - I only noticed it after looking in a mirror.

There's been no recent trauma to the area and I'm unable to find another patch anywhere on my body.

I had Eczema when I was a child followed by boils - both went away by the time I reached my teenage years. Although my hands get a little dry but rarely itchy. I recently had blood tests done for an unrelated issue (pre-op tests) and they came back fine apart from a lowered Urea level (they carried out a FBC + U's & E's - sorry if that's not the correct terminology).

Please see the attached photos.

Submitted: 4 Days
Category: Family Physician-GP

Expert:  Dr. Kruti Jobanputra Banodkar replied 4 Days.

Dr Kruti Banodkar's, Dermatologist reply to your query -

Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

From the pictures, I came to a probable diagnosis of
Contact dermatitis
Psoriasis

In my opinion, it is most likely contact dermatitis since you have provided the history that it's not present anywhere else.

The second diagnosis was made keeping in mind the morphology of the lesion and the fact that it's not itchy nor oozing.

I would recommend that you need to apply a prescription strength corticosteroid cream like mometasone on it for ten days. Also application of a moisturizing cream will be helpful.

In case you get similar lesions elsewhere, the diagnosis of psoriasis needs to be kept in mind.

Psoriasis is a condition where the turnover time of the skin is very fast and hence there is accumulation of scales. This condition is not contagious. It can be kept in check with appropriate treatment.

Hope I have answered your query. Please feel free to discuss further.

Take care.

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