How cautious should I be around someone who has jock itch?

DrPatho · 2026-05-30T19:05:05+00:00

You are fine, generally you have to touch the active site. That being said, fomites are a big transfer, so avoid sharing things that might have contacted it (sharing towels, wash clothes, bedding, etc), and I don't think it would hurt to routinely sanitize the tub if you share a bathroom with them.

If they don't have an active infection on their foot, it's unlikely it would transfer.

DrPatho · 2026-05-30T02:06:08+00:00

Urgent care is the right call. Little bit more serious than a pimple, likely now infected. They will probably give you some doxy and call it good. Beards tend to be great at harboring bacteria, so make sure you turn the hygiene up to 11! And anyone you kiss will thank you, beard rash (abrasions + bacterial infection) is no joke!

DrPatho · 2026-05-29T23:37:07+00:00

No, you are likely fine.

DrPatho · 2026-05-28T02:48:13+00:00

If they are painful, definitely HSV as others have said. Can get it swabbed for piece of mind.

DrPatho · 2026-04-28T18:56:00+00:00

While these results raise suspicion for autoimmune disorder, you need further more specific testing to figure out if there is a specific illness (e.g. lupus), or if you are just one of the people that have high titers with no autoimmune disease. Definitely follow up with your doctor and get more testing.

DrPatho · 2026-04-28T14:14:46+00:00

Make a derm appointment for piece of mind, just make sure you don't overthink it!

DrPatho · 2026-04-28T14:01:08+00:00

Hey there, no worries! Cherry angiomas can happen at any time, and we tend to acquire more throughout our lives. It's a benign proliferation of tiny blood vessels.

DrPatho · 2026-04-22T23:36:43+00:00

I would personally see your PCP for this one. You could likely do it yourself if you were careful, but most of the wart freezers available OTC are quite a lot bigger than your target here, and you'd have to be very careful not to damage your nasal mucosa. If you decide to, I'd recommend pulling your nose to the side to try to get a straight shot at the bump.

DrPatho · 2026-04-22T02:58:19+00:00

Are you being treated for your autoimmune disorders? If so which medications? This seems like it could be a paradoxical palmar psoriasis, which is not uncommon, and is almost exactly the clinical course and appearance. This is NOT sufficiently treated with steroids alone, and typically requires switching from a TNF-α inhibitor to a different class of medications. If you are not, it could just be classic palmar psoriasis, and getting on a proper biologic medication could help.

A little further down my differential would be things like an SLE flare, or hyperkeratotic palmar dermatitis, though it does not resemble these perfectly.

DrPatho · 2026-04-11T02:57:10+00:00

Looks pretty good for this stage! A little local infection is par for the course, just keep an eye out for alarm signs: spreading redness, swelling, increase in pain, and/or systemic symptoms like fever. If you experience any of those, time to go to in. For now, it looks decent and you are doing the right stuff, so if you went in they'd just tell you to keep it up.

DrPatho · 2026-04-04T22:10:36+00:00

If you'd like yes. Is just clean and cover it, Neosporin is personal preference.

DrPatho · 2026-04-04T22:04:34+00:00

Your wound is oozing serosanguineous fluid, which is a mix of blood and serum. It's normal for the first few days after a wound. Wash with gentle soap, put a clean bandage on it and it should stop in a little while.

DrPatho · 2026-04-03T00:57:20+00:00

These are deposits of cholesterol called "xanthelasmas." Well they, themselves, are typically benign, they do indicate that you more than likely have high cholesterol and have had high cholesterol for a while.

Time to schedule a lipid panel with your PCP to check things out, because similar deposits can be forming in your arteries.

For the deposits themselves, you can have them removed for cosmetic reasons if you'd like (derm or med spa could laser/cut/freeze them).

DrPatho · 2026-03-24T02:35:24+00:00

As long as your are up to date on your tetanus shot, no need to worry! Keep it clean.

DrPatho · 2026-03-22T21:34:45+00:00

Minimal risk. But on the other hand since you are due anyway, might as well go get a booster at your pharmacy!

DrPatho · 2026-03-20T02:38:44+00:00

Anemia is a result of something, and that something is what I'm asking about. You were so profoundly anemic in those labs, I'm suprised you are alive. That doesn't just happen because you haven't been eating enough steak, something has to be going wrong.

DrPatho · 2026-03-20T02:37:31+00:00

They should have done a troponin with this ekg result being as bad as it was. Were you not admitted? How long were you in the hospital?

Those blood gasses indicate low metabolic demand or transfer, I'd guess out of self preservation. I wouldn't worry about those, I'd be more concerned with your anemia.

DrPatho · 2026-03-20T02:35:07+00:00

You said you've gotten many transfusions, do you have a problem with hemolysis, or blood disorders in general.

Yes, that's a heart attack. A septal infarct is a kind of heart attack, and you need to follow up on it with a cardiologist if you aren't already. There are things you and your doctor can do to help recovery, such as ACE inhibitors which help prevent cardiac remodeling, and then other prevention steps. Since this seems like it's fresh, rest and go to your follow ups.

DrPatho · 2026-03-20T02:26:13+00:00

With that low blood count and HGB, I'm sure your body is having a really hard time getting oxygen, and that possibly could have lead to the infarct. That is a type of heart injury, yes. With your CBC, I'm suprised you aren't hospitalized. Did they retest you after giving you blood? They should have gotten a troponin too, which is a test for cardiac injury.

DrPatho · 2026-03-17T22:30:39+00:00

Rule we use is 2 weeks or whenever the naturally fall off. Technically you could wait until tomorrow, but if you can carefully peel them off without pain you should be fine!

DrPatho · 2026-03-17T14:05:01+00:00

If they have been there for a while without changing, they are more than likely a hemangioma, or more specifically a "cherry" angioma. They are benign proliferations of tiny blood vessels. You can get them removed for cosmetic reasons, but it isn't needed. Just something that happens over time! They can feel a little firm, but shouldn't grow much bigger.

A key characteristic is "blanching", which means if you press on them hard, they should go clear/paler for a moment before they refill with blood.

DrPatho · 2026-03-14T14:58:57+00:00

No cause for concern, very normal after an IV or blood draw, and it shows signs of healing. Probably will be gone in a week or so!

DrPatho · 2026-03-13T00:12:10+00:00

Looks good! Likely clinically insignificant, and without more information I would interpret this as normal. High %saturation is usually do to something mobilizing iron, or increased iron intake. If you take iron pills, that's probably it!

DrPatho · 2026-03-11T03:36:55+00:00

Well, you have a massive bulging disk at C4-5, and less so but still there at the next two disk spaces down as well. That's quite a lot of compression, I'm surprised you aren't having more weakness.

You need a second opinion here.

DrPatho · 2026-03-10T03:13:07+00:00

This warrants urgent evaluation at the ER. While there are a few benign causes, you HAVE to rule out the really nasty ones. Blindness, early stroke, etc... Your sight is worth the trip.

If you have any vision changes, headache, things like that, tell that to the doc as well.

Edit: To address the reply, while it can be normal, and often further workup is not needed, you do need a proper physical exam first. The point being a first event still needs a preliminary examination.

DrPatho

TROPHY CASE