A Case of Granular Parakeratosis Caused by Benzelkonium Chloride

6 months ago

This is the story of a woman who had rash at the lower part of her body and had used topical creams to make it go but it didn't. The rash wasn't itchy and it got her worried because she hadn't changed her soap, shampoo, or cream and she was becoming stressed. Hello, this is another medical case, and we are going to be delving into it without any delay.

This is a medical case of a 42 year old Reddit User u/rattedjen who began to experience rash in her genital region in November 2022 and decided to visit the r/30PlusSkinCare forum to sought for solution. The doctor in her actually allowed her to suspect contact dermatitis, or chemical burn, so she went to get self help from the forum. She had thought it was from the toilet cleaner her husband used in the toilet named Exit Mould Extra Strength.

She thought it was the cleaner and asked her husband not to use it anymore. The rash was not itchy at all, but was very painful. The rash went from her upper thighs, to her inner thighs then it went backwards. She started using Novasone ointment for the rash but it only made the rash worse and her ability to walk difficult. Since it didn't work, the pharmacist in her went on to self-medicate and she used Lidocaine as well as antibiotics and pain killers but the pain was excruciating.

Because she was not confident in herself as a result of the region where the rash was, she decided to visit reddit for a solution but got a different advise as people advised her to see a medical doctor and nor be embarrassed so she did. She later wrote on reddit after her appointment that it was a chemical burn with a staph infection. She said the pain was reducing and the medications were working but was it truly working?

Later that night, her pain became worse and she had to visit two other doctors who gave her medications but it didn't have any effect. Soon the rash areas began to develop blisters. Then she had to visit a dermatologist who at one glance could tell what was wrong. The dermatologist asked if the woman was using a hygienic rinse in her laundry, and she confirmed that she did and hadn't changed it for 10 years. Hygienic laundry rinse is an additive to a wash load used to disinfect the laundry due to antiseptic properties to kill bacteria and fungi.

She was asked to dispose the product as well as dispose off any product with Benzelkonium Chloride as her condition which was diagnosed as Granular Parakeratosis was caused the ingredient affecting body folds such as armpits, and other folding in the body. It can be caused by friction, and sweat in middle aged people especially women but can also be caused by Benzelkonium Chloride. Disposing the agent is the first step as treatment can be very difficult when dealing with Granular Parakeratosis and if patients continue to use the agents, they develop dermatitis plaques which looks like blisters.

Looking at this woman's case will make us understand the complexity taking cleanliness to the extreme and not properly rinsing clothes. It also underscores the importance of professional medical guidance, as even seemingly minor elements of our daily routines can trigger unforeseen health issues.