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I need some advice. My wife has been getting a rash under one boob. I think it's from dribbling water when drinking out of a water bottle in bed. I try to keep a straw there by her water to cut down on the dribbling.
I've been doing a 3-step protocol to treat it which eliminates the itching & tenderness for several days then I must repeat it. I've done it 3 times. But I'm wondering if I need to do it every day or just how often for how long it should take to clear it up. When she first had me look at it, it was really angry. Now, I can barely see it.
I'll be taking her to her PCP this next week and I'll have them look at it. But in the meantime, if there's something I could do better, I'm all ears.
Step one: I wash it with soap & water on a washrag. Step two; wipe it down with a baby wipe with isopropyl alcohol on it. Step three; apply a liberal amount of manuka honey cream.
The manuka honey cream (found it at CVS) isn't nearly as sticky as Medihoney and much more user friendly.
There's got to be some good ideas here on how to deal with an under boob or any kind of skin fold rash. Can I say boob here? :)

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Finally someone is talking about this. This is something my friends, nor my Mother ever talked about. I am glad I am not the only one who gets these under boob and body fold rashes.


I might try one of those new body deodorants that one sees on TV and see how it works. As I type this I have a t-shirt tucked under a boob (don't wear a bra when I am at home... ahhh, what freedom).
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Reply to freqflyer
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JoAnn29 Sep 15, 2024
The aid swore by Almay. It comes in stick form. I don't like that TV ad. I don't think anything should be used down there. The lawsuit for talcom powder was because woman used it down there. I also feel if you have a smell that bad, there is an infection going on. Should be going to the doctor not covering it up.
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Make sure she isn’t wearing clothing that doesn’t breathe. Cotton is best. Clean with a simple soap like white bar dove. Then dry by blotting with a soft towel or hair dryer on low cool (not hot) gold bond powder works. My mom used nystatin powder, prescription.
I wouldn’t use the alcohol. I’m not familiar with using honey. Good idea to ask her doc and it does sound like it’s almost well so it sounds like you’re doing a good job.
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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Since you can barely see it, sounds like what you are doing is working.
I would do the following :

Place a piece of dressing , you know like the 4X4 gauze pads in the fold to keep the skin surfaces from touching . This will soak up any sweat which usually is the cause . Some only get the rash on one side .

Or if she doesn’t wear bras , have her wear a men’s cotton undershirt and tuck the fabric in the fold . This worked well to prevent rash for my mother , once I got it cleared up .
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Reply to waytomisery
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This is almost certainly a yeast rash. Yeasts love folds where it stays slightly damp and moist. Get monistat cream at your pharmacy. Gently wash with water only. Pat dry. Put the cream on. An INCREASE in redness is common for a day, two at most. Then this should be gone. If you like, you can buy something called ABD pad, and put under the breast to keep area dry, but not needed.

If that isn't the cure then you need a doctor consult.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Thanks for all the great replies!
I knew I'd get some straight answers here.
I really appreciate this site and all of you.
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Reply to jwellsy
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I don't know how she is tolerating the alcohol being put on it! Ouch! My Mom had large breasts, and at the end of her life, she used to get very bad rashes underneath in the skinfold. We treated them with antifungal cream and Miconazole type creams from the doctor for over a year - but this was just a bandaid. I did some research about the causes of these rashes and one day came across a youtube video - I wish I could find it to share it - but the answer was simple - Skin to Skin contact! I made barrier cloth from straight cotton - the rash is caused from moisture and heat, etc. and skin to skin contact. So when the skin of the breast rests on the skin of the torso - it can cause contact rash in many people. So the way around this was to put these strips ( I made them from new white cotton t-shirts -wash them first and after each days use) they were about 3" wide x about 18" long - I kept a good supply on hand to change them out 1-2x per day if they got moist. I would place these strips between her breasts and torso making sure there was no skin contact - no medicine was used just the cotton strips - and happy to say for 2-1/2 years Mom never had a single problem with rash again. She passed away peacefully and rash free! Skin to skin contact is not our friend - this can also be used with people who have issues with belly flap as well. Good luck to you - I hope it all works out and your wife is more comfortable moving forward. It can be very painful. No alcohol please! My Best Wishes to You!
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Reply to Mamacrow
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I have skin fold rashes under my right armpit. They hurt in addition to itching, and they also smell bad. I apply neosporin for a couple days, and they go away.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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These can be yeast infections and need to be treated accordingly, while medi-honey is antifungal you might need something stronger. Applying a barrier cream (our nurse recommended a silicon cream wellskin from barriere) and keeping a soft cloth in the area to help keep things dry may also help. If she's big breasted an over size, soft, sports type bra may help.
And you might want to investigate different spill proof cups, there are several on the market
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Reply to cwillie
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You can say boob here :) or should I do this ).
Any way....
what you are doing sounds like it is working. I would not use alcohol I can imagine that burns like crazy.
One/some of the things you might try at night would be
Place a mini pad under the breast to absorb fluid and wick it away from the skin.
Replace the water bottle with a sippy cup they usually have a straw or sometimes just a protrusion that will let the water out but not allow a lot of spillage. That might help.

A barrier cream might help I used a combo of A&D and an ointment like Desitin but there are other barrier creams that will help. You don't need a lot.
You could even try products for fungal infections like Monistat, any for "jock itch, athletes foot.

And maybe try placing a wedge to raise her head so that she is not having to tip the bottle, cup so much that it dribbles.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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These rashes are easier to prevent than to cure. My Mom wore cotton bras. No skin on skin. I did use Desitin when she first showed signs of redness. I tend to get a little redness thatbis sore. I use hydrocortisone cream and it clears up. Be aware that antibiotics cause yeast infections. A former aide who worked with me said for the redness/rashes in skin folds use Almay deoderant frangrance free.
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