We report the case of a 30-year-old man with a background of eczema who was referred with a 6-week history of a widespread, pruritic rash. He described an associated persistent headache, nausea, sore throat and malaise. The rash was nonresponsive to topical corticosteroids and progressed despite the patient completing a course of oral prednisolone prescribed by his general practitioner. He denied any recent illness, contact with individuals who were sick, travel, new medications, vaccinations or new sexual contacts.