Butterfly Butterfly how do i make thee fly away?

[goody_gum_drops]

I'm fifteen and with butterfly, i guess it likes me alot, it's a love hate relationship. lol ( i know this is sounding weird but true style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif ) my butterfly seems to be less active in the summer and viciously attacks me in the winter and spring. for two weeks this rash viciously attacks me and then i have nice skin for a week. it attacks me with flaky dryness, it's a bit inflamed, raised bumps, occasionally it breaks out in itching fits, does occasionaly act like a blister, cracked occasionally and i wake up feeling like and looking like my face is one of an eighty year old women, which i find (no offence) to me since i'm fifteen is a very hard punch in the ego and self esteem, plus my ethinicity (chinese) and family has very flawless and ever youthful skin, and usually it's pretty hard to guess our age due to the blindingness of our skin. lol. my mother even went as far as while she was doing the dishes one day dropped a plate and shuffled on over to me and stared at my face and the butterfly and all it's glory and looked genuinely concerned and gasped, so concerned she has cut down on my chores style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif . what is the malairia rash? i've also had eczema in my past. my face has always been sensitive, it's been exposed to steriod creams at a young age, thinning the skin a bit considerably on the upper lip and certain areas, and is lightly sensitive to scents and perfumage. i've used lubiderm in the past, it burns WAYYY tooo much for my liking on the rash and doesn't last that long on my face, aveeno is slightly better lot less burning and holds moisture a bit better but still doesn't hold enough, currently i'm using nivea, it's very thick and i can get for like seven bucks and a huge jar of it at Walmart. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif . i've been really hurt in ego, because i'm afraid i'll look old before my age, and it's already started to happen. please help! some kind of miracle treatment! cream? lotion? I've been so desperate as to sneak a use or two of my mom's Elizabeth Arden anti aging wrinkle cream to see if it helps! i have dark cirlces around my eyes, and lines!*gasp* i'll all up for advice, something i can use in the long run would be nice and not too expensive, compare it to walmart or target, but if it's expensive and works in the long run and my face doesn't become immune to it then i'm all ears. because i'm tired of doing this style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/afraid.gif everytime i got out in public, or see a mirror, it's so painful, it really does hurt me. sometimes i feel i'd rather die. but unfortunately i'm too much of a coward to commit such an act.

smiles and hugs,
Jessica

[oesa]

Hi Jessica!

I also had the butterfly rash off and on when I was teenager (I'm 33 now., was dx'd at 14) I didn't scar, but we're all different as you're probably discovering! The butterfly rash is also called the malar rash (nothing to do with malaria thankfully!)

Have you been to a dermatologist ? They could probably make some suggestions for non-irritating moisturizers. I use Spectro-Jel for cleansing (no soap, no scents, and cheap) and Clinique moisturizer - it's a bit on the expensive side, but I don't use the whole product line (which they always try to sell me!) and it seems to last forever. You could also ask for a sample size to try before you buy. That goes for just about all of the big cosmetic counters - most of them will give you a sample to try at home if you ask nicely and they think you might buy some later!

From a purely cosmetic point of view, if your skin can tolerate it, there are some green-tinted bases that you can put on before your makeup - it sounds weird, but it actually tones down the red a lot. It won't cover the raised rash, but if it's just redness, it's great camouflage. Just make sure you have a foundation that matches your skintone to go over the green!

And finally, but most importantly.... try not to worry too much about what people think - I know it's hard, but in the long run, you are still you, regardless of what your cheeks look like!

Lisa

[LaraBara]

I am very new to the board but have recently starting using a product that's made a HUGE difference for my butterfly rash. It's called Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer with feverfew - I got it WalMart and it's really working for me.

I DID see a dermatologist - he recommended pancake makeup!! Wild what doctor's will tell you sometimes.

I think a lot of us have difficulty dealing with not just the physical symptoms of Lupus, but also with the cosmetic effects. When I find myself feeling really bummed about my giant moon face, weight gain, rash, etc. I try and remember that a lot of people are FAR worse off than I'll ever be. I'm grateful that I have friends and family who love me no matter how weird looking I get! *smile* Keep your chin up!

Anyway, if you can find some - try the Aveeno. Maybe it'll help.

[ironcaster1]

I too live with the butterfly rash- mine lasts year around although it does seem to look less red in the summer-
the only thing that i found to help me is a steroid cream called Betamethasone Dipropionate
it is a perscription. it takes about 24 hours for the rash and redness to go away- and will stay away for about a week- then i reapply.
hope that helps
Todd

[goody_gum_drops]

Want to hear the fun part? I have stretch marks, my doctor dubs are there to stay. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif I can't wear shorts without questions like are you pregnant? that's kind of odd for me considering i'm 15. and also occasionally they remind me they're there when i'm running or changing in the locker room. Pancake make up??? What's that?

Todd, doesn't sterodial creams thin the face skin?

It's friday the thirteenth and so far it's been bad. My skin is dry on my legs sometimes i feel like a crocodile style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif. I put mositurizers on it but it does dry up fast sometimes and i'm going to be going to a formal dance, so I'm like style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif because i have scars and my butterfly won't cooperate.... it's my first high school dance style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif . But so far I feel like i'm one of the only people with no date and it sounds like it too. O well. it's ok.

smiles and hugs,
Jessica

[Vida]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wavey.gif hi jessica

i also have really dry skin on my legs it's so bad i think my skin looks like snake skin style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif anyway i use aqueous cream it really is good for moisturising dry skin.

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif

[goody_gum_drops]

vida, where do i get this? where do you usually get it? I'm having a few days of nice skin style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/coffee.gif hurray! how you ladies doing?

smiles and hugs,
Jess

[Clare.T]

Hi Jess

I'm glad your skin is looking better !
Aqueous cream apparently consists of

Emulsifying wax, Liquid paraffin, White petroleum jelly, Phenoxyethanol, Water purified. The phenoxyethanol is an anti microbial preservative.


I don't know what the USA equivalent is - you could ask a pharmacist.

Ir can be used for cleansing and softening the skin (" emollient" ). It's especially useful for flaky scaley skin . You can put it on at night with a clingfilm cover , saranwrap, called " occlusion" that will soften the scales and allow them to be gently removed. Do not use any steroid creams in this way unless your doctor has advised.

If you google "skin camouflage" you'll find a number of companies selling specialist make up, for body too. Not cheap but they are waterproof and can last two or three days on the body. Of course they don't provide any sun protection at all.

Good Luck !

Clare