skin rash flare-up after starting Bikram yoga

Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

Author

Posts
BellaB
Participant

April 29, 2013 at 11:22 pm

Post count: 1

#2520

Hi,

I really hope someone can give me some advice. I started Bikram yoga about 15 days ago and so far I’ve done 10 classes. I really enjoy it and I’d like to carry on. However, a rash on my skin has been flaring up since I started the classes.
I had this rash for over 18 months, sometimes it was hardly perceptible, sometimes it got worse, I travelled to New Zealand last spring and it got much worse so I tried all kinds of herbal and natural creams, but nothing worked. Actually some of them (especially oil-based ointments) made it worse. When I got home to the UK, I submitted to using a very mild steroid and anti-fungal cream from my doctor. It’s called Daktacort in the UK. Basically my GP said he thought the rash was ringworm (! gross!). Prior to travelling in NZ I had been working for 3 years in a community supporting adults with learning disabilities, and my doctor had seen a lot of people from the community with ringworm. So he was convinced I’d picked it up there. Another doctor thought it was just eczema.
The Daktacort cream cleared the rash up about 6 months ago, and it had been fine ever since.
However since starting Bikram, the rash has started flaring up again. There are little red spots and they itch. They feel worse when I shower – the heat and the wet irritates it. What is even more worrying is that although the rash is in the same general area (my wrist), it’s actually not affecting the part that I treated with Daktacort cream, but spreading round the sides, to skin that wasn’t affected before.
I’m worried it’ll just get worse and worse.

Shall I stop doing Bikram yoga? If this rash is fungal, it makes sense that the heat, sweat and humidity makes it flare up.
Do you think Bikram yoga can help to flush out this fungal problem?

Oh yeh, also just to mention, at first I also had really bad thrush (Candida) from the yoga as well. I woke up in the mornings with really bad itchiness, and burning when I peed. It died down as the day went on. I took 3 days break from hot yoga class, and the thrush went away. However the skin rash came back quite strongly.

In case it’s relevant, I have ulerative colitis and I take 2.4g Asacol Mesalazine medication/day. It’s an anti-inflammatory. I have been totally colitis-symptom free for 3 months and I hope to start reducing my meds soon.

Hope you can help, thanks a lot!
Bella 🙂

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

April 30, 2013 at 12:53 am

Post count: 3048

#10482

Hi Bella

Thank you so much for posting all those details. You must be very frustrated with what’s going on.

A guess: That extra information I think is likely to hold a key to a systemic issue rather than a localised one. I am just wondering about the different nutritional approaches that you’ve had to your ulcerative colitis (no doubt you’ve tried lots of things).

I just took a look at Google search results for “raw food ulcerative colitis” and found different experiences for those who have done raw, cooked and in between.

I had some thoughts too about approaching the rash locally! I remember a special natural based eczema cream based on banana (skins?) from many years ago. Have you ever heard of that? I know that placing banana skins on my daughter’s plantar warts miraculously cleared them up and within weeks. That was taping the skin to her foot. There are creams, lotions or potions making them easier to apply during the day. [Walking around with bananas strapped to your wrist would certainly be a conversation starter.] I remember watching some testimonials about a particular cream over a decade ago.

I hope that is interesting to you. A quick Google search just then shows it’s a very well searched subject. It may be a relief to consider non-drug based additions so as not to complicate your current situation.

Let me know what you think and how you go

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
Author

Posts