How can i get rid of my shar pei's rash and smell?

I have a ten month old shar pei, she has itchy skin and bites it till it bleeds, her skin also smells very bad. she has allways had this problem and after a couple of treatments at the vets all he now can suggest is monthly shots. She has had antibiotics a couple of times before for an earinfection and her skin seemed 2 clear up only when she was taking the tablets and returning as soon as she had finished the course. Could the rash be some sort of infection?

My family all have Shar Peis. My sister has had a total of three, my father has one, and my mother has one. If there is one thing I can say about them, it is that they tend to all have skin issues, and they smell very bad.

One thing they've all started several years ago was putting them all on a chicken and rice diet, as many Shar Peis are allergic to corn, wheat and soy. And feeding them basic store bought dog food, which is full of the stuff, can irritate those allergies and cause skin infections. My families Shar Peis have gotten much healthier after this change of diet. No skin infections or swollen hocks.

Also please read about the breeds other health issues; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familial_Shar_Pei_fever

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shar_pei#Health

Good luck! They are great dogs, but they can require more care than many other breeds.