Q: Last night my husband used my shaver for shaving his underarm hair. He used it after washing the blades but suddenly after cleaning under arms area he got some rashes, redness, some swelling and pain and was unable to put his hands down and together. He could not even wear his shirt due to this problem. He did not even go to his office. Please suggest me something to heal it fast? He cleaned the area with savlon and used betadine ointment and a cold cream but it did not help. Now, he is only using a powder but of no use. The pain and rashes are still there.

A:Your husband could be suffering from an allergic dermatitis or folliculitis. Does he have pus filled lesions in his armpits? Allergic contact dermatitis is an itchy skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to material in contact with the skin. It arises some hours after contact with the responsible material, and settles down over some days providing the skin is no longer in contact with it. Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles. Although I need to see your husband personally to make a positive diagnosis, I think the following should work for you: Topical emollients Topical steroids/ steroid-antibiotic creams Anti-histamine tablets Oral antibiotics - if required Oral steroids - if allergy is severe