Fostair and sunlight rash

[Camomile]

Has anyone else using Fostair experienced a sudden bright red itchy rash on the skin when the skin is exposed to sunlight? Just a few minutes in the garden makes it happen.The start of it coincided with me beginning to use Fostair, for asthma, over three years ago. Even in Winter, say standing at a bus stop and forgetting to cover up, the light can make my hands and ears itchy. It works through windows too.

It is particularly fierce when the weather is lovely like today. I put on factor 50 but it didn't prevent it happening. If I go indoors the bright red itchiness will calm down after half an hour or so and return to normal away from the sunlight.

Fostair has other side effects and I wonder if anyone had experienced this or do I need to look for another possible cause?

Thanks.

[Hidden]

Ask the doctors for help as you might have other medical conditions.

[Camomile in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply

[HungryHufflepuff]

When I was on Fostair I had very itchy skin but no rash. I wonder if you're taking some other medications that maybe Fostair is interacting with. My dad had a whole lot of pills and his skin would go red in the faintest sunlight, even indoors. He had to wear long sleeves, preferably light colour, and white gloves when going out.

[Camomile in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thanks for your reply. That is interesting about your Dad. I occasionally take Ventolin as well as the Fostair and I was taking other pills to try to minimise my asthma cough but not taking them at the moment. Thanks.

[Poobah]

I've just read the patient information for Fostair and a rash isn't listed. It maybe a coincidence and something else maybe happening.

I recall waiting outside in the morning sun one summer (we were going out and I was ready so waited for everyone else in the lovely sunshine). I can't have been out for more than 10 minutes when my arm came out in a prickly, pink, hot rash. I had to treat it with aloe vera gel as it was angry, like a burn.

I hadn't started any new meds and put it down to age and maybe hormone changes. I've definitely had to be more careful and cover up since then. But I've always been a fan of factor 50.

My siblings are on heart meds and they have to take great care in any season and cover up, including hat, even on cloudy days.

If you're worried about it then I would have a chat with your pharmacist as they are better when it comes to side effects and medicines. Then you can see your GP if treatment is necessary or if you think a blood test may highlight the underlying cause.

[Camomile in reply to Poobah]

Thanks for your reply and the information. I will try and speak to pharmacist

[Hidden in reply to Camomile]

Hi, I am intrigued by your account of sensitivity to sunlight and Fostair. I have been using Fostair for about 4 years and one puff before bed did the trick for me but recently I have had a drippy nose all day which was not helped by antihistamine. Finding this site I also found other users suspecting Fostair. Early this year in the spring when the sun came out I found to my surprise my arms and any exposed skin became red and extremely itchy after just a few minutes; could it be Fostair?Thank you for post I shall be more aware of possible side effects from Fostair.

[Camomile in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your message about Fostair and sunlight sensitivity. I have an asthma cough which can make me short breathed or wheezy. Fostair has helped to subdue the original very choky cough and reduce symptoms but has not completely stopped the coughing.

Fostair also has known side effects (shakiness, cramps) which I guess varies from person to person.

The sunlight sensitivity started at the same time as I began taking Fostair but I cannot be sure that is the cause but it does seem likely.

The sun sensitivity is all year round and even through windows. Have to remember to use sun protection and cover up when going out. It will fade after 40 minutes if I go indoors. Sprinkling cold water helps.

I have a post nasal drip and frequently bunged up nose (rhinitis symptoms) and guess this may be due to an allergy and may be causing the cough. I am currently trying anti histamines again. Tried them before with little effect but this time am going to take them for longer to give them a good try . Trying Clarityn (loratadine) this time. I think it is helping. I figure if I can pinpoint and avoid what I am allergic to then the rhinitis and cough will reduce and I may not need an inhaler. I have had lots of tests and been offered different remedies but the asthma cough persists.

I have wondered if it is a dust allergy. Could that be causing your rhinitis? We are all staying in a lot more lately and perhaps getting less fresh air.

Hope you can get rid of the rhinitis and feel better.

[Hidden in reply to Camomile]

All of your symptoms are familiar to me. Like you I wonder if being indoors so much is making things worse. At the moment I am trying to limit Fostair puffs to when I definitely know I am struggling such as when walking up a hill during my daily walk, but still only do one puff each day. I sleep ok but have an hour of blowing my nose when I get up. Alcohol is a nono as a glass of wine will mean 4 hours of sneezing. Although I have not had a sense of smell for 10 years, miraculously it sometimes reappears to my delight and I go round sniffing all the things I love. Best wishes and good luck with persevering in finding a path out of this.

[WordsleyGirl]

Hi, I've been using fostair now for over a year and I've not had this happen. I would suggest you speak to your gp as sounds like it may be an allergy to something or even prickly heat.

[Camomile in reply to WordsleyGirl]

Thanks for your reply. I think I need to follow it up with pharmacist or doctor.

[Starstream]

Hi, I have this rash and do associate it with Fostair as it started around the same time I started using it. Mine isn't particularly itchy but does worsen in the summer months. It is on the bottom part of my legs and looks awful tried lots of lotions and potions but nothing really helps 🤷‍♀️

[Camomile in reply to Starstream]

Thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear about your problems with the rash. It sounds a bit different to the reaction which I get in the sunlight, which happens even through windows. My skin turns bright red and itchy but If I go indoors it goes away after about forty minutes. It happens all the year round. Have you tried covering up in the sunlight? I am on 100/6 Fostair. Hope you find what is causing it.

[Starstream]

Hi, oh yes yours does sound different to mine. Being on lockdown, must say I have been sat out more reading with my legs in the sun😎 dont suppose that's helped.

[Channti]

I've been diagnosed with perioral dermatitis and I supsect Fostair triggered it. Last year in the sun my face just kept burning and tingling and then these tiny raised bumps/pustules started to appear around my mouth and cheek. If I had light skin I'm sure it would be red too. All of a sudden my face would burn if I ate hot food or went out in the sun, none off those things were an issue before. I did an allergy test and it, and I wasn't allergic to any of the foods they tested for. I asked to come off the Fostair, but the rash remained, (as the Dr didn't give me treatment for it) but I wasn't feeling the constant tingling anymore. It would only trigger if I attempted to put a face covering on (within mins, more pustules will appear and the horrid pins and needles sensation in my face happens).

Recently got treatment for the rash, but at the same time, Dr has put me back on Fostair at higher dose. The rash had started to clear, but now it's reappearing with avengence and I'm starting to feel the burning/tingling sensation more often. In addition I keep getting strange pulse like feelings in my leg and I've noticed that I've had palpitations a few times in the few weeks that I've been back on it. I think it may be too strong for me.

[Camomile in reply to Channti]

Thank you for your reply about Fostair and the effects of the sun. I am sorry to hear you are having a difficult time with that rash. Have you asked to try another inhaler? I haven't tried an alternative myself but other people in the posts (experiencing various side effects with Fostair) say that they benefited from changing to a different inhaler

You say your rash started to clear so that is a hopeful sign that it can go away. I hope that you

can work with your health support,( doctors, asthma nurse, dermatologist) to find the right treatment for you.

[Channti in reply to Camomile]

Thanks Camomile. In the period when I was off the Fostair, I was switched to symbicort, but when I called the surgery to discuss several things including the rash, they put me back on Fostair, because I think I sounded breathless, and I mentioned that I wasn't sure If i was taking the symbicort properly, as I had several doses left even though I'd been using that inhaler for several months. The dose of Fostair I was prescribed this time round was higher than when I was originally on it last year, (so I'm not surprised I had side effects again) but they provided me with a chamber to help with the distribution. I've now recently switched to Seretide, only tried it once so far, so not sure if it's a good fit for me yet. Tbh I'm a bit wary about taking any ICS at the moment as I'm still feeling the side effects from the Fostair. Plus the notes page for Seretide, explicitly mentions the medication that I've been prescribed for my rash as being one that should be mentioned to your Dr, as it might have an adverse reaction, when used in conjunction with Seretide. Lol

I never used to be too worried about my asthma, but ever since I got switched from Clenil to Fostair, after an attack, I've been paying more attention as the increased steroids has had more impact on me.