How can my mother get rid of her severe skin fold rash? Nothing seems to work!

Hi Susie,
Duplicate had to be deleted- which this site won't do. Below is the main message.

Hi Susie,
I saw all the answers here.
Anything- ointment, paste, honey, steroids,- that has a creamy base to adhere to skin isn't going to work.
I have something better.
In Korea, we use this on burn patients when skin pain is in constant pain.
Go to Korean supermarket and buy white potato starch. It's about $5.
grab handful (don't be stingy), and copiously, put on your Mom's folds/skin.
Doesn't matter if it falls onto her clothes.
Constantly, keep putting much powder on as possible.
This doesn't let skin touch the skin- keeps skin dry- powder is slippery.
this is superior than baby power- which is a horrible joke of a product with fragrance as irritant.
Also works for diaper rash- for babies & seniors.
Cara

wash, pat dry, blow dry with hairdryer whatever. Dust area with nystatin powder (prescription)and prevent skin to skin contact by applying a clean, dry pillowcase within the skin fold 3 x a day and the skin will clear up. Once the rash has resolved you could apply desitin (over the counter) ointment/cream after her bath. And again before sleep - wash off old desitin and then massage in new desitin.

I've used silvadine cream, diaper rash cream, or even monostat cream for female yeast infection. It's red and stinky because it's moist under her overlap. SDS or silvadine is a prescription the others are over the counter.

Nystatin powder works for mom's skin fold rash. Has her doctor seen it? I mentioned the rash to her doctor and she suspected even before she saw it, like it is super common

Needs air and light to the area. Lay her in bed, use a towel or a pillowcase to hold the folds up away from the area so it is completely exposed. Gently wash, pat dry, and leave it OPEN to the air. A light rinse of Apple Cider Vinegar, diluted, and patted dry may help acidify the area as well. If possible put a small low wattage lamp a few inches away, like we used to do to "light bulb bake" baby rashes. If it does not clear up after a few days of this strategy, have her doctor do a skin culture. A simple sterile swab of the area and sent to a lab can tell you if there is yeast, staph, or strep germs underlying the problem, and can reveal the best treatment. Yeast does not respond to antibiotics, Staph can become resistant, so a culture will tell you which she has and the most effective counter measure. I was getting recurrent yeast infections in my naval, I have a belly flap from having 4 kids, so it would collect the damp icky. Only way I got rid of it was the vinegar rinses and letting it air dry over sevral days. Nothing else helped, not even Rx creams. I also had a Shingles outbreak in the same area a couple years ago and still get random popups of little scabby bits. They also respond best to vinegar and air drying.

2 different things may be causing this chronic rash but the treatment is very similar. If the skin does not get "air" and stays moist and damp, she can develop a diaper rash type situation. Your treatments appear directed to treat her rash as this type, The second type of rash is caused by an overgrowth of yeast. Usually, this is present in people with diminished immune systems - the aged, babies, and chronic illness or cancer - in areas of skin that are dark, warm, and damp.

To treat: must create way that skin
gets more air - does not touch itself - use washcloths, towels... in folds
stays dry - after bathing, air dry without lotions or creams
stays clean - mild soap, warm water - daily
fight infections - yeast medication applied per directions

Depending on the severity of the skin rash and the person's immune system, it can take weeks for this to resolve.

Go to Amazon buy medical grade Manuka Honey. It’s a antibacterial healing honey and it’s wonderful. It’s the only thing that healed my husbands skin graft after surgery I swear by it. It can also be used on the face for acne, or wrinkles. You can also eat it for stomach issues. Gird etc it’s gods gift for healing. Buy a good grade it doesn’t have to be the expensive one just make sure it comes from a reputable company usually Australia they have to stand by regulation. Also a low heat blow dryer to keep the skin dry blow dry once or twice a day. Do not use anything that has alcohol based product it’s too drying I would just wipe with a good baby or facial wipe then put the Manuka honey on . When buying make sure you pay attention to the ounces the bottles or tubs look bigger in the pictures. Over 8 ounce sizes are plenty a little goes a long way o bought a 10 oz jar it lasts over a year using regularly. Good luck PS also check a small area to make sure it’s tolerable some medical grades can sting or give burning sensation for s few minutes. If moms not allergic to honey it should be tolerated. Also if you can find Desinex powder and or gold balm powder in the baby section in the grocery store Wal mart sells it . It a foot powder really. !! But I used on my baby diaper rash and my babies never got diaper rash it works wonderfully too. Be careful of the zinc products though they are also very drying. For itch use cortisone cream not ointment it absorbs better than the ointment. Hope this helps I am a retired RN for Swedish hospital. And yes always follow or call you physician first before trying new medications on mom to make sure they are tolerated with the medication she takes orally if any, some oral medications can interact with topical creams and ointments so call first to make sure what you purchase are okay to use on your mom .

I went to a wound care seminar once. Clean area with Hybiclense or other Derm recommended anti bacterial wash.

Nurse gave this rule of thumb: if wound is WET--dry it out with frosting of powder, like zinc oxide, cover with absorbing gauze, change often. Zinc oxide is drying. Aveeno Oatmeal products are soothing, take away itch.
If wound is DRY--provide moisture, cover with Aquaphor ointment. Leave uncovered or cover with light gauze. Repeat three times a day.
Unscented products only, recommended by Derms.
Use proven medical products, not tea tree oil, mannukah honey, Bag Balm, Shea butter, because people have sensitivities to many things. Read ingredients, diaper rash ointment has cod or fish oil which some are allergic too.

I haven't read any of the comments yet. The first thing that crossed my mind was bag balm ointment. Originally used for chafing on cows udders due to milking. I've used it for years on chafed hands and feet as well as skin blemishes. The ointment is more effective than the cream.
What I would try would be to clean the area with a cotton ball soaked in a solution of witch hazel with a couple drops of tea tree oil. Then I would apply the bag balm to the affected area. A little goes a long way. Next I'd cover the affected area with sterile gauze. I'd do this two or three times a day.
Vermont's Original Bag Balm comes in a green tin for about 8$ at Wal-Mart, pharmacy store, or feed store.

Try cornstarch.

There are absorbent thin sheets used for moisture management for skin folds and wounds. I got some from Amazon long ago and still use them from time to time for my mom under her breasts (I just cut small pieces as I need them). I use them in conjunction with Calazime cream. Probably any zinc oxide cream is fine - I've seen several others mentioned here - but I swear I have seen improvement in a matter of hours using Calazime.

It's true that you need to make sure it isn't a yeast infection - that may require other specific creams. (And I believe the cornstarch in most regular talcs is not good for yeast infections.) But I would still use any specialized ointment together with the absorbent fabric sheets.

Best of luck to you, and encouraging hugs to all on this forum!!

When my mom was still at home we used athlete's foot spray on her folds, and it worked *pretty* well.

Now she's in a nursing home they use something else. It keeps it under control much better. You doctor's PA should know better than what she's recommending.

Keeping it clean and dry is the only way. And that means dry all day. The doctor may say it's not fungal, but a moist, warm area is a breeding ground for fungal skin infections. All my mom could get from doctors was ointment type meds that just kept the area moist, so I tried powders.

At a facility she is probably getting showers instead of a good soaking bath. Probably not much you can do about that. Probably the best route for her would be to lay down in the bed after the bath with a fan or heat lamp to dry the area completely (and then some). There are two good powders to use - the Desenex that is used for athletes foot and another called Zeasorb AF. Hard to find the talcum powder puff boxes like used to be common Christmas gifts, but Walmart does have them. I dump out most of the scented powder and fill it up with the Desenex and Zeasorb and use the puff under stomach and boobs for my mom. If your mom is able to dust herself, leave it setting out where she can use it several times a day - definitely each time she goes to the bathroom.

Since hers is already bad, I would use some soft flannel type fabrics to place in the skin fold to keep the two layers of skin from touching each other for now. As it dries out more, you can do away with that. That's how I got my mom's all cleared up and have had no problems since. The most important thing, I think, is that this is a daily/all day thing to reapply the powders.

I se4e a lot of good suggestions. I've used with success A & D ointment for babies and cover it with gauze or bandage. I get the A&D in my super market, but it is available in most places. I've also used Calmoseptine Ointment that is available in drug stores. If not go to Amazon on line. I know they have it. If the rash gets bloody then I use Silvadene cream. I always cover the effected area with padding.

I live in Canada and we can go to a medical supply store and buy a cloth product called Inter-Dry. Clean and dry the affected area and place the cloth in the fold allowing a couple inches to stick out This will help. The secret is to keep the area clean and dry. Hope this helps!

Witch Hazel works well.

I use smith&nephew SECURA protective ointment on my wife and it works great. Amazon has it.

I agree with many who suggested Desitin. I also use sensicare with zinc for Mom (I think it's number 3). I buy it from Amazon, but can be found many places on line, stores don't always carry it. There is also an Aveeno baby eczema cream. I found all of these work.
Whatever you use, make sure that skin is washed and gently dried. At first use cream several times a day. I think your Mom will be pleased.
Personally, I would not suggest a powder.
Hoping for a quick recovery!

So many great suggestions but try getting her to eat yogurt everyday and start a probiotic. Also reduce sugar/carbs in her diet.
My mom swears by the monostat chafing powder gel daily and aunt uses desitin daily.
The real key is washing with warm water and soap daily, use baby wipes if irritated instead of a wash cloth and patting dry.

I’m not a nurse or physician, but my mom’s skin became broken down and 2 things were especially helpful. First manuca honey that’s flattened out will aid healing. It almost looks like a fruit roll up with the paper over it. It heats up from body heat and is super healing. My personal favorite is fresh aloe Vera from a plant. Mom healed the most quickly when we put that on her and let it air heal.

I feel so sorry for your mother for her pain and suffering. My mother had the exact same thing and it was red and peeling and shaving and we were able to get rid of it completely by using a wet washcloth to wipe it every day morning and night , and put a light coat of A&E diaper rash ointment on the area. After each wash with the warm damp cloth. I had to employee caregiver to do this and it was gone within about four days. In order to keep it away I know ask everyone to wipe her there on a daily basis with a warm cloth every morning before she gets dressed and it has stayed away. My mother refuses to shower but once a week and once I see this rash start I know I have to get on it right away before it gets out-of-control My mother refuses to shower but once a week and once I see this rash start I know I have to get on it right away before it gets out-of-control.
during the worst painful periodFor her, for the area under the breast, I had her sleep with soft cotton comfortable (no underwire ) bra to keep her breasts from touching other skin.
I hope that helps.

Try Mediated Gold Bond powder (recommend by Dermatologist) or try baby Desatin or AD ointment which I found that works pretty good. I too have an issue with stomach over lap after a weight loss and like your mom I would love to have a tummy tuck, but can't afford it. As for the Gold Bond powder when you first put it on it feels like it is bad cooling or burning, but after a few minutes it quits and it does work. Once the irritation is gone you don't get that feeling. I switch out between the Gold Bond and baby ointment. I hope these help your mom.

Get a script for Nystatin Powder (100,00 units/gm) to sprinkle on the skin folds 2-3 times daily. It works.

I am an RN and have used it many times on patients. And on a personal note, went to the dermatologist for skin checks and have some skin tags removed, and mentioned I was having this issue. She prescribed the above med which is the same one I have used on my hospital patients. It works.... totally.

I’d recommend anti-fugal powder for this and it works wonders. We first discovered it when my mom was in the hospital. We order from Amazon the brand is Remedy Antifungal Powder. Haven’t had a problem since using it. I’ve also used it if I get overly sweaty and get a rash under belly and it is very soothing.

I feel for your Mom. I am 81, but in my late 50's and early 60's I lived in a very 100% daily humidity, and had constant rashes under my breasts, which also broke from the bra and got infected, I was still working so couldn't take bra off. I did use men's handkerchiefs under my bra against my skin, daily. I too used all kinds of creams with no help. At 61 I was able to get a breast reduction due to severe rashes and possible infections. That helped me a lot. Now I get rashes, look like mosquitoe bites, but doctor said not. They are now on my legs and itch like heck with scale around the site. Doc prescribed 2.5 percent hydrocortisone cream. Takes a while for rash to go away, but the wound from hitting a cabinet still has some rash around it occasionally. I use the 2.5 % hc, but also put benedryl cream on it too. All of the recommendations in this post should be considered, as they may just work on your Mom. I wish I had those recommendations when I was experiencing excruciating pain from rashes.

Hi there. This is going to sound crazy but my mom gets those too. She talked to a pharmist once about them and he told her to get the cream that men use for jock itch. It works great for her getting rid of her rashes. You might give it a try.

I agree with the people who have said to try over-the-counter medicines for fungal infections. In the Ladies Hygiene section, you'll find ones like Myconozole for vaginal yeast infections, In the footcare section, you'll find products like Lotromine for athlete's foot. These are all basically the same, but notice that the products made for ladies have 2% of the active ingredient while the foot products have only 1%. I would definitely go for the ones with the higher percentage. When my former-Marine fiance was still alive, I used to buy female products to treat his athlete's foot! LOL

My wife would get candida under her breasts armpits and groin.
It smells like stale mouse urine.
I had a spot under an armpit once and it is horrific.
Burn and itch and touch really lights the fire.

Her doctor also said it is not fungal, but Desenex foot powder cures it overnight.
We researched and found that it is related to gut flora imbalance from antibiotics.
That was recently verified by experience.
She had not had candida in several years until a severe UTI required antibiotics.
Now candida has been appearing again.
Desenex foot powder and absolutely no polyester.

Be very certain that the absorbing cloth is 100 percent cotton, no polyester, no blends,
The resin in polyester manufacture is a toxic irritant.
It leaches into any moist skin and will cause those welts, and the welts worsen if wiped with polyester cloth.
We do not allow polyester in our house.

She sits and sleeps on washable bedpads with a 100% cotton overlay quartered from a quality bedsheet.
Some bedpads are polyester or blend,
Even the disposables are usually polyester.

Our skin normally has yeast on it. When there is an over growth we get a yeast infection. Tercozanale and nystatin work well if you want to go to a doctor. If not, just buy an over the counter product for a yeast infection. It's the same type of medicine. As others have said the yeast grows fast so needs daily washing off and drying well. Hairdryer works well. If you do take her to the doctor they might want to prescribe flucozanole by mouth. I would only use this if topicals don't work. It's a very strong medicine and can cause all kinds of side effects. Doctors will tell you that you get side effects when on longer term but that's not completely accurate. Some people can get them from one dose. Flucozanole is very hard on the liver as well. Please be aware yeast infections are itchy and scratching can leave yeast under her fingernails. Fingernails can get hard, discolored and disfigured if left to grow there unchecked. Make sure her hands are cleaned and nails soaked if scratching. It's hard to get rid of once embedded under the nails. It would require months on flucozanole and you don't want that. Densitin will definitely help with pain and itching and provide a protective coating so less urge to scratch. If she is diabetic make sure her numbers are under control. High sugars will feed the yeast. If she is diabetic check if she in on an sglt2 inhibitor like Invokana, Jardiance, etc. as these type of medications drive yeast production and might be causing frequent rashes. Good luck.