WTH? How did my dry skin lotion give me a rash???

[CTyankee]

Here I was, putting Sarna lotion on the dry skin of my upper arms and BAM, I wake up the other day with red bumps and itching on both arms (no place else where I applied the Sarna).

Sarna, in case you don't know, is .05% camphor and .05% menthol. I hear it is recommended by lots of dermatologists.

I am now applying hydrocortisone and camomile lotion to the affected areas and taking small amounts of Benedryl.

What's going on? I realize that as a senior in my 60s I have a greater chance of dry skin in winter, but this is such overkill!

Anyone else have this problem?

[DarkTirade]

1. I think you OD'd on irony.

[CTyankee]

5. I can't decipher what you are talking about....can you explain it?

I don't get the reference to irony. What am I missing?

[DarkTirade]

9. The irony being that skin lotion gave you a skin rash.

[CTyankee]

10. Of course. How oblique of me!

Yes, I never thought that a lotion touted as a help for dry skin would have a paradoxical effect!

Odd, isn't it?

[MissMillie]

2. lanolin?

my sister has an intolerance to lanolin

[Chovexani]

3. Now it has to get the hose

Sorry, I can't help myself with the Silence of the Lambs jokes.

[Donk Yore]

4. you probably made a common mistake

"bottle o' lotion" or "bottle o' rash"

it happens more times than you may think.

Keep them separate from now on.

[CTyankee]

6. Well, Sarna is recommended as a "bottle o' lotion" for dry skin. Hence,

my usage of it. So I am not sure I "should" have known it was NOT good for dry skin. Please explain...

[Donk Yore]

7. I'm just kidding

and have no clue, but wish you the best.

[pitohui]

8. i sometimes to react to either camphor or menthol

it's probably one of these that causes the rash, as i've forgotten which chemical causes the problem for me, i've been avoiding both for years

sorry i don't think it's a rare rare allergy unfortunately

[CTyankee]

11. I really think I used too much of it. Every day for the past month, prolly too much!

It surprised me; I've never had such a reaction before...

[KitchenWitch]

12. I have a friend who is allergic to camphor.

You may have acquired an allergy.

[CTyankee]

13. Wow. Thanks, I had no idea.

However, it's strange that it's just on my upper arms, not my legs too, where I also applied it.

I'm trying to avoid yet another drs. visit...