Q: For the last 2 years I have been suffering from one or all of the following - 1. Itch on the skin below the knees and above ankles particularly after taking off shoes in the evening after a days work. 2. Itch in the armpits and groin area between the legs, aggravated in the evening after undressing and 3. Itch around the anal opening. On doctors prescription I have used the following medicines at different times, with limited success - Canestan cream, Permite cream, Beclate-c, Beclate-m, Cotrin, Surfaz powder, Flute cream, Mycospor cream, Gris tab. OD, Atarax tablet etc. Please help.

A:You probably have seborrheic dermatitis, a condition characterised by remissions and exacerbations. Aim of therapy is to give relief and induce remission for as long as possible. Severity of the attack will dictate the choice of medication. Ketaconazole therapy helps in a large number of cases, but it has to be taken under supervision.