Huh. Whatever I have was worse during the summer--it seems like it's somehow caused or made worse by sweating, which I do a lot more and on a wider area of my body in my unairconditioned house when it's 85 or 90 degrees out than I do now. One of the reasons I finally got around to going to the dermatologist is that I really want to start exercising again, but have been reluctant because more sweat=more rash.

Susan, does the rash tend to be in areas where your clothes touch your body, such as around the waist?

Not around the waist, exactly, but there may be something to that. (whitefonted for possible TMI) It's mostly been armpits and places that are either under or close to the elastic bits of my (always breathable cotton) underwear--hips, inner thigh, etc. In the summer I was also getting it on my stomach and under and around my breasts, especially around where the edge of my bra hits.

Oh, and I always use unscented laundry detergents and never use dryer sheets, so that rules out some of the more obvious allergies for this pattern of a rash.

I ask because a rash associated with sweating is often related to being allergic to your laundry detergent. You might want to try Tide Free. I can't use anything else, and I used to recommend it in karate and it seemed to clear up rashes for a number of people. (You think people in karate classes are talking about serious martial arts philosphy? No, they're talking about how they wash their gis and what hurts.)

eta: Susan edited to make my post sound crazy. Is there something else that could be reacting with sweat, such as soap or lotion?

It sounds like it could be fungal to me, Susan. Have you had your blood sugar checked, recently? Do you consume a lot of sugar, and/or flour?

Is there any reason Tide Free would be better than All Free & Clear? Because the latter is what comes in giant vats at my local Costco.

Blood sugar is fine, right in the middle of the normal range. At least, it was six months ago, and I already had this stuff then. And my NP thought it was fungal, and treated it accordingly, which made it better but didn't cure it completely. The dermatologist is less sure, but that's why I have to leave it untreated and go back Monday. Grr. Itch itch itch.

I do love the carbs, and dammit, no one is taking my bread from me! If this is fungal, there should be a drug that kills it.

Susan, I'd try the Tide, as it might be some random chemical (ie not a fragrance). Body chemistry is a strange thing.

Tide Free has been better for me, although All is okay. As DebetEsse says, you could just use one box of the Tide and see if it helps.

Soap can be really tricky too. A surprising number of people are allergic to Ivory, for example. I stick with Dr. Bronner's.

Susan, it really sounds fungal. I only say that because I've had the same thing, and the only thing that made it go away for good? Tea Tree oil.

Yea, NY:

Two days after George W. Bush renewed his call for a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a court in New York has just ruled that gay men and lesbians in that state must be granted the right to marry.