Dear Dr. Gott: I am writing in hopes you or some of your readers can help. My back and arms are covered with eczema that itches something fierce. I've been to eight different doctors and dermatologists with no relief.

I'm enclosing three colour photos. While I understand you can't share the photos with your readers through your column, I'm hoping someone can give me some direction that all eight doctors couldn't.

Dear reader: Well, you're right that I can't reproduce the photos through my column. However, I will do my best to help. You are standing near a table that contains a three-dose-a-day, seven-day-a-week pill container with a number of prescription bottles stacked side by side. I can only assume you or a member of your family take multiple medications.

If the drugs belong to you, I was not provided your medical history, nor do I know what medication you are on. This opens up a huge Pandora's box. All drugs carry side effects.

Beyond that, when more than one drug is taken, there is always a risk of drug interaction between some medications. The five prescription bottles in one box could be causing the very symptoms of which you complain.

Dermatitis is best described as an inflammation of the skin marked by redness, pain, swelling, and itching. There are several forms of dermatitis, each with its distinct signs and symptoms.

You could be suffering from plant dermatitis; however, this reaction should wax and wane with exposure or a lack thereof.

Beyond this, you could be allergic to a laundry detergent used on your clothing or bedding, to animal dander of a beloved pet, to environmental contaminants or a dozen other things.

Eczema, still another possibility, is best described as an itch that rashes. Yes, you read this right. The itch is first, followed by the rash.

This condition may result from a malfunction of the body's immune system. Irritants, climate and stress can be to blame.

Then there's psoriasis. This condition is related to white blood cells in the immune system called T cells. Their function is to detect and fight bacteria and viruses.

People who suffer from psoriasis have T cells that attack healthy skin cells, mistaking them for ones that are not healthy. The condition can flare up for weeks or months, disappear, then appear once again.

My best guess is that you are experiencing a continuing medication reaction.

One possible reason for this is that with the number of doctors you are seeing, perhaps your primary-care physician is unaware what another has prescribed for you.

He or she should consult a "Physician's Desk Reference" or another reliable source for unusual side effects or drug interactions.

Today, many pharmacies offer computerised analyses of medication interactions. If all prescriptions are filled at the same location, this can be a helpful way to prevent this from occurring. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Consumer Tips on Medicine." Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a check or money order for $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dear Dr. Gott: I read about a reader who had trouble with the skin on her thumbs splitting. I've had similar problems for years. A nurse suggested I try medicated lip balm, and the results were incredible.

Dear reader: Medicated lip balms contain a variety of ingredients, such as beeswax, coconut oil, lanolin, white petrolatum, aloe and a long list of other wonderful products designed to soften lips. Damaged skin areas can certainly be treated successfully with them. Thanks for the tip.

Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet' and 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook'. Contact him c/o United Media, 200 Madison Avenue, fourth floor, New York, New York 10016.