Cassie,
Hi, I too am on the same medications as you. I have SLE. I use to live in Florida but 8 years ago I moved to England. I love the sun, I use to be able to sit in it all day long while living in Florida however, I often got funny rashes and very itchy with welts but I put it down to just a sun rash or heat rash, too much chlorine in my pool and so on. Once I moved to England I was put on just Plaquenil. The sun sensitivity went away believe it or not. Then I was put on Methotrexate and I must say I have never had so many problems with the sun. I can’t even go out in it as it causes sores, dry, scaly skin, sun burn and the burning sensation can’t be described and it feels as if someone is burning me with a lighter. Since I lived in Florida for 10 years I have a permanent tan. You can see my white bits as they glow in the dark. Although I have had SLE for 13 or so years the sun never really bothered me nor did it cause flares. Since being on the Methotrexate I can’t go out in it otherwise I suffer with sores, pain and bad sunburn. I have put it down to the Methotrexate because that is the only new medication I was on when this happened. In my opinion, yes, Methotrexate causes more sun sensitivity then SLE itself. It may not be the case in everyone but it sure is with me! I hope you get to the bottom of it all!
Stacie
Hi, I too am on the same medications as you. I have SLE. I use to live in Florida but 8 years ago I moved to England. I love the sun, I use to be able to sit in it all day long while living in Florida however, I often got funny rashes and very itchy with welts but I put it down to just a sun rash or heat rash, too much chlorine in my pool and so on. Once I moved to England I was put on just Plaquenil. The sun sensitivity went away believe it or not. Then I was put on Methotrexate and I must say I have never had so many problems with the sun. I can’t even go out in it as it causes sores, dry, scaly skin, sun burn and the burning sensation can’t be described and it feels as if someone is burning me with a lighter. Since I lived in Florida for 10 years I have a permanent tan. You can see my white bits as they glow in the dark. Although I have had SLE for 13 or so years the sun never really bothered me nor did it cause flares. Since being on the Methotrexate I can’t go out in it otherwise I suffer with sores, pain and bad sunburn. I have put it down to the Methotrexate because that is the only new medication I was on when this happened. In my opinion, yes, Methotrexate causes more sun sensitivity then SLE itself. It may not be the case in everyone but it sure is with me! I hope you get to the bottom of it all!
Stacie
