HomeAnswersDermatologyichthyosisWhy is my skin scaly and itchy along with hair loss and geographic tongue?

What do my scaly and itchy skin, hair loss, and geographic tongue suggest?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. K. Shobana

Published At June 14, 2022
Reviewed AtSeptember 13, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi,

I have had the condition shown in the attached images for some weeks. I initially started having problems with my skin some eight years ago. Nothing has changed yet, and it seems it is getting worse. The rash sometimes itches, but it is not intense. I also have a geographic tongue, low vitamin D, and some form of hair loss. My lips usually develop some whitish powder, and I have chest discomfort most of the time. I also developed stretch marks on my thighs. Please recommend any medical lab tests I can undertake because I have been on different medications. Currently, I take vitamin D supplements (50000 IU). I used antifungal medications like Itraconazole, Griseofulvin, and Lamisil three days after noticing the rash, but nothing improved. I had chickenpox when I was young. And my father had shingles at some point. But I am not sure if it is related to my current condition. Please help.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern. It is most probably a fungal infection. Please answer a few questions. What were your KOH (potassium hydroxide test) and fungal culture reports? Can you take a picture of the patch from a little distance so that I can understand the size, location, and distribution of the lesion? What other parts of your body have these patches? Are these patches growing in size? Please revert with the answers for further assessment. Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello,

The KOH and fungal culture tests came out negative. I tried these tests at different labs, but all results were negative. The rash is now over the whole body, but the one developed on the left leg started about three weeks ago. I have attached an image for it. It started small but looks like it is getting worse. I believe that it is a contagious infection because one of my friends also started complaining of a rash and dry skin on his hands. Initially, he had no rash at all. Please help.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. If your tests were negative, it is not a fungal infection. Also, it is not a contagious infection. It is dry, scaly skin, and the condition is known as ichthyosis. People with vitamin B deficiency can show this skin and the geographic tongue. Definitive confirmation of the skin lesion can be done only by a skin biopsy. I have these suggestions for you. You can take a vitamin B complex capsule daily after food for two months. You can apply a urea-based moisturizer (20 % urea) once after a bath during the day and once at night. This should help you to smoothen your dry, scaly skin. Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Nidhin Varghese
Dr. Nidhin Varghese

Dermatology

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