Prescription treatments: Your doctor may suggest one of these approaches for a more severe rash.
- oral steroid drugs such as prednisolone
- topical steroid drugs like Triamcinolone applied to the affected body areas.
- cyclosporin A cream: This specially compounded ointment's preparation and use was described by Schamun et al in a letter to the editor of the journal Blood, which is free-access at this link. It worked for the two patients whose cases are described. Your doctor could access this letter and prescribe this.
- Sarna lotion
- prescription compound of 50% Eucerin CR and 50% steroid (Triamcinolone 0.1%). Apply to affected area sparingly twice a day', and also keep skin protected with sun-blocking clothing, hats etc.
Non-prescription strategies: Below are some anti-itch strategies that have been used in cases where a doctor says the rash does not warrant treatment, or in combination with prescription medications.
- Benadryl tablets (OTC antihistamine)
- Gold Bond cream
Personal experiences
My husband was on coumadin for several weeks; he had scary looking deep red splotches all over his chest and arms and now I think these were caused by the combination of the Gleevec and coumadin.
I have had psoriasis since I was a child. It flared up after a couple of months being on Gleevec. They lowered the dose from 400 mg to 200 mg one day, 300 mg the next day. Within weeks the psoriosis called down and went away. I now take 300 mg a day and have not had a flareup since.