OK, I have a 'new thing'!

[AmandaB]

:rolleyes: Just as I'm having a stress related 'mini flare' - I had these weird looking red marks come up on my arms - like the ones I've been getting round my eyes. Thought I'd do a bit of reading on the symptoms list and found that they look exactly like the rash shown in the 3rd piccie down in the Discoid Lupus section!!!!!

That'll be another one to add to the list!! :huh:

Oh well, could be worse, I'll have to find out if there's anything I can use to get rid of them - any suggestions would be welcome.

Amanda :wacko:

[Sannie]

Hi there

You need to get this looked at before you begin to guess what it is from looking at pictures!

Maybe they will need to do a biopsyy to confirm the diagnosis.

Let us know what happens.

Love
Sannie

[Dnabella]

Definately see a derm doc!

When I first started getting those little red dots under my eyes which turned to little brown dots I talked to my doctor and he suggested vitamin E 24,000 IU dabbed on each night before bedtime..it did help get rid of them..but then the problem starts all over again..he was stumped..im hoping my new doctor can tell me what is causing this...such a strange rash isnt it?

Love Donna

[martygas]

Hey Amanda,

I guess that if you haven't been dx. yet, you know that it would be a good idea to take pictures of the rash to show the dr. !!!!

Love, Cindy

[daniellerbailey]

Hey Amanda,
I was the same way, I used to have rashes around my eyes (the butterfly rash) but then I got a new rash all over my body. It is discoid lupus that I have. Mine is round and hollow in the center... but some are just big red dots. They are very itchy and they appear everywhere. First, see a doctor and a dermatologist that specializes in lupus and has seen its rashes. They may require bloodwork and a biopsy.

Don't make the same mistake as me and put it off... see a doctor and tell him that you've talked to other ppl about this and everyone requests steriods or steroid cream. It will not go away any other way!!!!! If it is discoid lupus then you want to get rid of it before it gets worse.. believe me!! It can be horrible if you don't. Just request steriods, take in the pictures that you have found on the internet and do a little research on discoid lupus. That is what I did and finally after 3 months, I finally got put on steroids. Despite the hatred of steriods, it's for the best.

Good Luck :luck: I hope everything turns out for the best!!!!!

Love, Danielle

[Clare.T]

I am sorry for those of you who have lupus skin problems and couldn't be more sympathetic from my personal experience. Discoid lesions must be tackled aggressively from the get go because of the risk of scarring but all need to be treated seriously and effectively because of the great emotional harm they can cause as well as physical discomfort.

While oral steroids may be used in an emergency to stop inflammation, the best treatment is the antimalarials : Plaquenil or Aralen , then either with Quinacrine.

These are disease modifiers and are thought to help stop the disease progressing to more systemic forms

While each person is different and has different needs, treating with the Plaquenil or Aralen plus Quinacrine is nothing new and should always be tried before going onto heavier duty drugs.

Ask your doctor about it if he doesn't mention it ! Actually I would look for a doctor who knows how to treat lupus if there are problems.

Medications for the skin should show some effect within a couple of months.

A thorough lupus check up must be done if there is lupus skin - it is negligent not to do so and tests should be repeated every few months.

We often have to be assertive ,proactive and be our own advocates.
After all we have to live with this misery :(

Good Luck!

Clare :luck:

[AmandaB]

Thanks everyone.

I'll email my Dr as I'm not due to go to see him until end of October as I've been doing so well up until now. I'm already on Pred & Plaquinel so I'll let you know what he suggests!

Amanda