OpenHealth Q&A

Get answered by medical professionals

Persistent Red Spot on Chest

6/26/2025, 1:40:15 AMMale25-34

A 27-year-old male weighing 280 pounds, with no current medications or smoking habits, and without diabetes, is experiencing a red patch on his chest. This area, which has not changed for several days, is located in a place that is prone to sweating. He is unsure of the cause and claims he hasn’t been scratching it, playfully asking to be left alone regarding the matter. There is no additional information on potential treatments or home remedies at this time.

AgingWellnessLifestyle Changes

Answers (1)

Cony

6/26/2025, 1:40:29 AM

OpenHealth AI

It’s understandable to be concerned about a persistent red spot, even if it hasn’t changed and isn’t causing discomfort. In many cases, such spots can result from common issues like friction, heat rash, contact dermatitis, or even eczema, especially if they're located in areas prone to sweating.

Explanation

Given your age and the details you've provided, the red patch could simply be a mild skin irritation. Areas that sweat often can develop rashes due to moisture and friction, particularly if there is no history of scratching. However, it's always good to keep an eye on any changes in the spot, such as new symptoms or alterations in size or color.

Prioritized Next Steps

  1. Monitor the Area: Keep track of the spot for any changes over the next week. Note any new symptoms, such as itching, swelling, or pain.

  2. Maintain Hygiene: Wash the area gently with mild soap and water daily, ensuring it is dry afterward to reduce moisture accumulation.

  3. Avoid Irritants: Wear loose-fitting clothing to minimize friction and let the area breathe, especially during warmer weather or when you sweat.

  4. Consider Moisture Control: If sweating is significant, consider using powders that help absorb moisture, like talcum powder or cornstarch, to keep the area dry.

  5. Reassess If Needed: If the spot changes in appearance, doesn’t improve over the week, or you start experiencing other symptoms (like itching or pain), then it would be a good idea to seek further advice.

Make sure to take note of how the spot evolves and feel free to ask for more information if needed. Your comfort and health are important!

Related Questions

Seeking Relief: My Ear Won't Pop and It's Causing Me Distress

I’m feeling incredibly desperate and am reaching out for assistance. Despite trying yawning, chewing gum, and blowing my nose while pinching it, the pressure in my ear remains unbearable. This agony has brought me to tears. I’ve been suffering from a sinus infection, and just last night my ear seemed to pop, but now the pressure is unlike anything I've ever experienced. My hearing is severely impaired, and the pain is excruciating. Currently, my nose is clear, but my throat feels like it's on fire, and I can feel my voice fading. If only I could get my ear to pop, I would feel so much better amid everything else. I'm wondering if ear drops might be a solution. I often share my concerns, but it seems no one pays attention to my posts, which leaves me feeling quite alone in this struggle. I truly hope someone will read this and offer advice. Here are a few details about me: I’m a 23-year-old female, I smoke cannabis, weigh 145 pounds, and I'm taking no medications and have no prior health issues that might be connected. This has been an issue for the past day.

AgingFamily MedicineInternal Medicine
Male25-34
18 minutes ago

Distinguishing Between a Mole and Acne: Is There Cause for Concern?

Age: 30 years Gender: Male Height: 180 cm Weight: 90 kg Ethnicity: Caucasian Duration of Symptoms: 24 hours Region: Europe Pre-existing Health Conditions: None noted Current Medications: None prescribed Inquiring about a skin condition can raise concerns, especially when trying to differentiate between a mole and a pimple. If it's only been a day since you've noticed the change, that timeline indicates a fairly recent development. Prior history of skin issues or ongoing medication may provide valuable context; however, in your case, it appears there are no underlying health problems. Assessing your situation involves an understanding of skin variations, as moles typically appear as small, dark spots, while acne can manifest as red bumps or lesions. Consulting a healthcare provider will help determine if the lesion needs any attention or treatment, alleviating potential worries about its nature or severity.

WellnessLifestyle ChangesFamily Medicine
Male25-34
39 minutes ago

Seeking Expert Insights on MRI Scan of Left Knee

Hello everyone, I'm looking for expert opinions on an MRI of a 32-year-old male patient. The injury occurred while he was playing football, and he experiences pain primarily when making sudden changes in direction. However, the patient is able to run in a straight line without experiencing significant discomfort. As for his physical stats, he stands 174 cm tall and weighs 77 kg. Thank you for your assistance!

AgingFamily MedicineInternal Medicine
Male25-34
39 minutes ago

Unraveling the Medical Enigma

A 30-year-old Caucasian woman residing in Tennessee, USA Life’s presented quite a challenge lately, yet I believe I might be onto something significant regarding the connection of my varied symptoms. It’s a bit reminiscent of a conspiracy theory, but the links are starting to emerge logically. I welcome any opinions that reinforce or dismantle my hypothesis. I’m feeling optimistic, as this insight could potentially answer numerous questions not only for myself but also for my family, particularly my mother and sister. A brief overview of my family’s medical background reveals a history of both anatomical and neurological disorders—including dementia and surgeries related to the throat—as well as chronic tonsil issues observed in my maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother, alongside a tradition of cigarette smoking. My mother faces challenges such as Chiari malformation, chronic headaches, spells of dizziness, sleep disturbances, and constipation. Meanwhile, my sister endures idiopathic migraines treated with Botox since the age of ten, displays symptoms akin to ADHD, has suffered a concussion, struggles with memory retention, and experiences chronic colds and joint pain, coupled with heightened muscle tension in her neck. Additionally, she has a history of disordered eating and is prescribed Vyvanse. As for me, my ongoing issues include sleep disruptions, mood disorders, panic episodes, TMJ, changes in appetite, weight reduction, gastrointestinal concerns (possibly Crohn’s), exposure to mold, a history of smoking, a reliance on THC for managing pain and appetite, migraines triggered during puberty, joint pain, neck tension, recurring belching, poor dietary habits, disordered eating patterns, potential STIs, depressive episodes, and a notable dry mouth. In terms of treatment, my regimen consists of mood stabilizers, an antidepressant, an SSRI, Wellbutrin XL, an APAP machine (which I find challenging to use due to airway blockage), Adderall for daytime fatigue, and cyclobenzaprine as needed. Recently, I faced acute issues such as mold exposure and an encounter with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Klebsiella aerogenes), likely stemming from mold proliferation due to sewage flooding in my apartment. My landlords failed to adequately clean the area, which exacerbated the mustiness in my living space during the final six months of my time there. I also contended with COVID for the fourth time, severe constipation, mucus in my stool, colon inflammation, potential hormonal imbalances, enlarged adenoids, a sensation of obstruction in my throat, ear pain, dysfunction of the Eustachian tubes, tinnitus, light and sound sensitivity, ADHD-like symptoms, declining memory, the emergence of new allergies, fluctuating mood, panic attacks, dehydration, intermittent nicotine use, reliance on THC for pain relief, disordered eating, and OCD-like behaviors regarding counting and tapping. I’ve even noticed gray residue leaking from my skin while bathing and struggle with maintaining a stable body temperature. I’ve undergone extensive blood testing that revealed several irregularities, including abnormal blood cell counts, inflammation levels, and kidney function metrics. I’ve visited the emergency room four times due to issues potentially linked to a structural infection in my adenoids. The first visit occurred shortly after testing positive for COVID when I experienced unusual, intense pain radiating through my right cheek, likely involving the trigeminal nerve that has seemingly been affected by the virus. In my treatment attempts, I’ve been prescribed three different antibiotics, which offered only temporary relief before symptoms returned. I recently began a course of metronidazole aimed at treating stomach issues—what's your take on the idea of a fourth antibiotic? I have also used a ten-day dose pack of prednisone, probiotics, magnesium oxide, fexofenadine, famotidine as needed, chlorpheniramine as needed, fish oil, NAC, magnesium citrate, several enemas, and have engaged in practices for emotional well-being and muscle relaxation. Additionally, I relocated from the mold-infested apartment and performed a thorough cleaning of all my belongings. I was without a primary care physician during much of this journey due to insurance complications and employment challenges, which led me to depend excessively on urgent care services. Unfortunately, this meant I was often receiving only temporary solutions for my ongoing problems while a more serious underlying issue festered. Too many physicians dismissed my chronic symptoms despite my significant weight loss of approximately 75 pounds within a year. My initial adult PCP brushed my concerns aside, even prescribing cyclobenzaprine for my TMJ without taking my situation seriously. After the COVID lockdown ended, I quickly regained the weight plus an extra 25 pounds, largely due to unhealthy eating habits and reliance on fast food. My mind-body connection felt utterly disrupted, leading to some distressing moments. The one consistent professional throughout this process has been a physician's assistant who specializes in mental health, the very same who diagnosed me with bipolar disorder in 2019. I've developed a theory suggesting a hereditary factor on my mother's side could be responsible for the malformed development of facial structures, possibly linked to connective tissue issues. There’s a notable pattern of these abnormalities across various family members, indicating a genetic predisposition in my case. I suspect that the adenoid lymph nodes, located at the upper mouth, could be at the root of my structural concerns. Such an issue might exert pressure on nearby tissues in the head and neck, resulting in inflammation and obstructing airflow during sleep. My battle with sleep apnea has been ongoing and started to severely impact my college experience, making early mornings and long days nearly impossible. Conversely, during summers spent in the Blue Ridge Parkway area, I thrived, engaged actively in the outdoors, and felt rejuvenated despite averaging only six hours of sleep; at times, I even soared into a manic state. Unfortunately, I became easily emotionally overwhelmed both during school and summer months. My smoking habit began in 2018, relying on cigarettes and marijuana, which I used as self-medication for pain and appetite management. My addiction fluctuated—ranging from heavy use to relying solely on oral nicotine products. After successfully quitting nicotine for six months, I relapsed following my latest infection, returning to those oral forms of consumption. I suspect that smoking may exacerbate the condition of already swollen adenoids and may lead to infections. This ongoing struggle has caused me to lose jobs due to frequent absences caused by sleep disturbances and mood issues, with numerous missed shifts attributed to panic attacks right before work. My resume reflects considerable hardships, despite my intelligence and extensive research into my condition. Yet, I faced setbacks that resulted in dropping out of two master’s programs because of my challenges with sleep and emotional well-being. After one and a half years at my current job—the longest tenure since high school—I still feel I’ve accomplished little due to my ongoing symptoms hampering my progress. With a background in anatomy from my initial nursing aspirations, and some familiarity from my master's program in psychology, I hold a reasonable understanding of the facial and brain structures. It’s striking to realize how profoundly such a condition could affect so many aspects of my life. I’ve gathered a plethora of information and realized that many of my thoughts might indeed interconnect. What are your thoughts? Have I cracked the code on this medical mystery? This post and my journey are lovingly dedicated to Taylor Swift—put on ‘This is Me Trying’ and let it resonate with everything I’ve felt throughout this ordeal. Or perhaps ‘my tears ricochet’—don’t judge me for my basic taste, but it’s just who I am!

AgingWellnessFamily Medicine
Male25-34
48 minutes ago

Navigating Class 1 Medical Requirements for Aspiring Pilots

Hello, I'm aspiring to become a pilot with my regional airline. I've learned that during the Class 1 medical examination, they inquire about any family history of heart-related issues. Unfortunately, one of my parents died from a heart attack, and I'm concerned about how this might affect my medical clearance, despite my own tests reflecting good health. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. Currently, I am not on any medication.

SupplementsLifestyle ChangesFamily Medicine
Male25-34
59 minutes ago