Well misery loves company so if it's any consolation your road rash looks just like everyone else's... see this link for comparison:

http://www.bravesoldier.com/1/caring_rr.php

Warning - not for the squeamish. This link takes you one click away from actual photos.

So, I'd still try the Brave Soldier route, but if you can't find it locally, and don't want to wait for mail order, there are lots of antiseptic creams out there. Read the label to make sure you are not getting bacitracin or neomycins in the ingredients. (Note - these are not in the Brave Soldier product either)

I personally had excellent success and NO SCARRING by using Spenco 2nd Skin dressings. You absolutely HAVE to keep the rash moist and covered. The dressing will do that. There are all kinds of adhesive and paper tapes out there you can use to hold them on so if one bothers you, or doesn't stick so well you can try another. I had to butt 2 dressings together because I did not know or think to ask if I could get larger pads, but it worked so well even though it was a little extra work to care for the wounds that in the end I didn't care. I used the dressings for about 10-14 days, can't remember. Probably paid close to $200 in wound care supplies during the period, which at the time seemed a lot for glorified band aids, but in the end, was worth every cent.

http://www.spenco.com/images/pdf/SportSkinCare.pdf

A quick search on "Road rash treatment" showed a concensus on the moist covered dressing; here's a link for a typical report:

http://www.bicyclesource.com/body/fi...reatment.shtml

As far as the allergic reaction - it will probalby clear up in a day or two. If it gets worse or infected see a doctor. You could try the benadryl cream, or spray (I think it's kind of sloppy), and take a benadryl tablet at night if it's really bothersome.

But I am pretty sure if you do the moist dressing you will get a LOT of fast relief from both the allergic reaction, and continued benefits on the road rash healing. Unless you are allergic to the components in the dressing. Some say they are hypo-allergenic so I think you'd be safe but was not able to see the ingredients in a quick search.

I am not a doctor (but my father was) but I have survived lots of cuts, burns, road rash, and serious allergic reactions (skin and otherwise) and I speak from experience. No, I'm not accident prone, but when you do a lot of stuff you get a lot more opportunity to have accidents.

Good luck.
Martha