Hi,
I have a re-occuring ailment, which I can only describe as "sore skin". I have been noticing these outburst every couple of weeks for about the last 18 months. It feels a little like sunburn; is sore to the touch and slightly itchy. I would say its more uncomfortable than painful, but uncomfortable enough that I've taken paracetemol on occasion to relieve it.
I've thought in the past that it could be "laptop burn", but since I now use a thick pillow and a 4 inch wooden board to rest my laptop on, I think that is unlikely.
Right now I have a patch the size of a palm (hand) on the inside of my left thigh high up near the groin, and another patch of roughly double this size on the outside of the same thigh, just below the buttock. I tried gels and creams, such as Nurofen gel, antiseptic cream and Deep Heat freezing cream in the past. Only the freezing cream brings momentary relief, but I've found that an outbreak lasts 3-4 days, gradually fading in intensity and nothing much reduces that duration.
I am very healthy otherwise and take no regular medication.
I have not recently changed any soap, shampoo, detergents, etc. or radically changed my eating habits.
There is no visible testament to these outbreaks; the skin is not reddened or different in any other way to the surrounding skin... it's just sore in patches.
My concern is that it keeps on coming back.
What could be the cause of this and should I be concerned?
I'm 53 years old and female.

Many Thanks,
Griffi

Speaking as someone with sensitive skin myself, especially in the winter (in New England), I think you will find that most likely you have a loosely defined dermatitis, just a medical term for any skin inflammation. People find that cortisone cream or sprays, and maybe Benadryl (antihistamines) work as well as anything. It's important to keep hydrated in winter, to get air around your skin, and to have some humidity in the air. Wear loose fitting cotton clothing, use unscented soap sparingly, and unscented lotions on the rest of your body. If it gets worse, a doctor can prescribe a stronger % of cortisone, and or discuss possible skin conditions that might be developing that aren't evident yet.