[Hatty]

Hello

I just wondered if anyone else had a facial rash that appears with alcohol? I am 31 and seem to have just become more sensitive to UV light, but I've noticed that suddenly I get a rash across my face if I take just a sip of wine. I don't know if this has anything to do with lupus, or is just a coincidence. It's extremely annoying as I look like a right boozer after half a glass of wine!:lol: I'm sure it's not rosacaea as there is nothing there if I've had no sun or wine.

xHatty

 

[Katharine]

Hi Hatty,

I don't know if it is the same thing but many of us here can't touch red wine at all as it has a very bad effect on us in general due to the sulpha in it. That would include possibly the facial rash but also other symptoms like joint pain, fluey feeling, increased exhaustion...

I can't seem to drink white either as it will instantly make headaches (which I get very easily) worse and I just don't seem to tolerate it.

I don't drink anyway now with the amount of meds I take and never did much. Thankfully I'm good at going along with the general group atmosphere wthout needing the actual alcohol to do so.

Katharine

 

[Clare.T]

Hello Hatty

The reddening might be because alcohol acts as a vasodilator. I find that anything that expands the blood vessels makes my skin and therefore my rash redder and more inflamed as in sore and itchy. This includes heat whether from weather or artificial sources like fire or an oven. Not that I put my head in the oven :hehe: but when the door is opened to take things out. Another cause might be emotions

Cheers
Clare

 

[x_claire_x]

Hi Hatty.. the first thing I had was pink cheeks that worsened with sun or alcohol, the funny thing is that after the first drink it settled a bit!! I was told when diagnosed with MCTD in Nov that I had probably had lupus type symptoms from when my cheeks first started to show such sensitivity, at least five years previously. I thought I had a glowing complexion. Since I have started on the meds the flush is much reduced unless I have overdone it etc... I am achey day today, had a busy weekend but was careful of wine intake as if I overdo that it makes everything much worse.

 

[onetay]

Hatty,
Sorry that this seems to be putting a damper on your fun, but you know what they say if that hurts don't do it lol. I would have to say you should give up wine and as much sun as possible. I know it is impossible to avoid the sun all together but when every you can you should. I hope you are feeling well today.

 

[Smile Of Life]

Hello Hatty,
I have had a similar red area around my nose for years. I noticed that it got worse when I ate dairy products and cleared up some when I didn't. Red wine made no difference to it, or any of my symptoms for that matter. I have now assumed that it is an allergy, as the majority of lupus people suffer allergies in some form. I started prednisolone steroid and it cleared up completely, which has allowed me to drink milk, hot chocolate, eat porridge, etc. I'm having a ball!

So if you start on steroids see if that clears it up. If so, keep drinking wine!! I wish I could. I decided to go completely off alcohol a year ago when I was diagnosed to avoid putting too much strain on my liver due to the strain it was already under with all the meds. I have vowed to buy a favourite expensive champagne 3 months after stopping the last med that is heavy on the liver. I don't know if that day will ever come but it's a nice goal!

Good luck.

 

[Hatty]

Thank you all for your help. I think it is probably not going to be a summer of sangrias in the sunshine....:hehe:

xHatty

 

[KarolH]

Well non alcolholic pina coladas are very good too.

I am not a drinker so I cant add my 2 cents here but it seems you got good acvice from others.

 

[peonyprincess]

Hi Hatty,

I am going to agree with Clare om this one. When my Lupus came out of remission, my drinking days were put on the shelf. There are a few exceptions that I make............a trip to Vegas and the occasional celebratory drink. My favorite potion is Jose Cuervo and while he has been a very good man to me:wink2:, I notice that my face immediately starts to turn red and feels like it is on fire. I did find a champaign that I can drink that doesn't effect me to awful much and that is called Verda, I think, I cannot remember the correct spelling. Anyway, as mentioned above, alcohol can tamper with the effectiveness of our medications and if you are on pain killers, then it is really not adviced. Sorry.


I also love those fruity mixed drinks.....with no alcohol:worried:.

Nancy