Mottling, red and white under skin

[Poppyfields65]

Hi,  I introduced myself last night.  I'm under investigation for lupus and other things and included on the blood tests was APS  and vasculitis amongst many others. I get this mottling under my skin intermittently  and my fingers go red, it also goes up my forearms,  red and white blotches . It's under the skin,  nothing on the top.   Last summer I had similar on my legs,  especially my thighs.  I haven't remembered to mention it to any doctor as it's way down my symptom list but I recently managed to get some photos.  Not sure how well you will be able to see,  but do you recognise this?  Thanks. 

[Manofmendip]

Hello

This looks like it might be Livedo Reticularis, which is a common symptom of APS/Hughes Syndrome.  Please bring this to the attention of your GP.  I note that you had blood tests for APS, do you have a diagnosis of APS?

Dave

[Yllek]

Hi

I have exactly the same just on my palms and soles of feet. I've been told mine is livedo reticularis. Mine is also intermittent and doesn't happen as much now I'm on warfarin but still occasionally. 

Xxx

[MaryF Administrator]

Hi it is on the symptoms list, and it's name is Livedo Reticularis:  hughes-syndrome.org/about-h...

MaryF

[Poppyfields65]

Hi everyone.  Thanks for your comments.  I'd seen pictures of Livedo Reticularis  but didn't think mine really resembled it much. Those of you that have it diagnosed does yours actually look like mine then?  When it's on my legs it is perhaps a bit more lace like but it's never very dark or purple.  I guess mine,  if it is this (or Raynaud's as I've had suggested on a Lupus group too)  is quite mild?  

I will tell my GP and the neuro who requested all the current tests and show the photos. 

Manofmendip,  just to confirm,  I'm not diagnosed with APS.  I'm waiting for blood results and other tests to rule many things out/in. It was just one of many bloods that were ran recently. I posted my intro last night. 

Thanks

[Lure2]

They say that Livedo Reticulatris (I had that before Warfarin) is a sign of APS.

 I must say that I can not see it on a photo of your hand. It is better to see it on the body. If you see it (I saw it usually when I took a hot bath or especially when it was very cold weather. Take a photo then and show it to your Doctor.  

Kerstin

[Fra22-57]

Yes I have it too which is more prominent on legs and arms.It's like a lace pattern.Told my consultant and he didn't bat an eye lid so presumed it t was all part of the APS parcel

[Frodo]

My palms look like this intermittently - I thought it was normal!

[Lure2 in reply to Frodo]

Have you been diagnosed APS?

Kerstin

[Frodo in reply to Lure2]

Hi Kerstin, I've posted before - no, looking into it due to migraines and other symptoms. Thanks.

[Lure2 in reply to Frodo]

If you have Livedo Reticularis all over you body I think you should see a Specialist of APS about your migraine. Has your present Specialist talked about APS?

Kerstin

[Nursewendy3761 in reply to Lure2]

Lure2, if I still have Livedo Reticularis and am on warfarin, does it mean my APS is not controlled?

[Lure2 in reply to Nursewendy3761]

I am not a doctor I just have APS and I had Livedo Reticularis at special times when I was very cold or warm. I do not see the pattern so clear (almost never) after I started Warfarin with a rather high INR. I have heard others here  say the same thing

It is important that you are properly anticoagulated at a steady and rather high INR. Most of us need an INR around 3.5 to feel well. Think about and talk to your Specialist. 

Kerstin

[Frodo in reply to Lure2]

In reply to Kerstin (above),

It's mild, only on my palms (like the above picture), and sometimes forearms, and it's episodic. I was just surprised because I thought Livedo Reticularis was much more severe and widespread and didn't link it with the occasional mottling of my palms and forearms. 

I've introduced the possibility of APS to my GP, who knew about it, but not the migraine link or who Prof Hughes is, but haven't got any further as yet. I may be seeing a headache specialist so will see what they know.

Thanks again Kerstin.

[Lure2 in reply to Frodo]

If you have a GP you can talk to,  ask him to test the APS-antibodies (all three). The bloodsamples must go in a special way to a laboratory. Some  precausions he must follow I think.

hughes-syndrome.org/abo...

Also read on the charity website hughes-syndrome.org/   and perhaps show your doctor.

Do not see a Neurologist as they do not "get" what this illness is about  -  too thick blood. See a Rheumatologist (a SPECIALIST) from the list in case you are positive and also for you migraine.

Kerstin

[Frodo in reply to Lure2]

Thank you.

[Herbs77]

It looks like livedo reticularis which is a commin symptom of APS, i have it, nothing to worry about.

[LauraKlumpp]

I have this also it is especially bad when I get cold.  At its worse my extremities turn purplish.  I am on Plavix and that seems to help and has lessened the flare ups.

[Bre_ash]

My hands don’t just periodically look like this. They haven’t been normal for years. My feet also periodically look like my hands. I told my endocrinologist because I thought it may be my diabetes but he said it’s not and it “looks like” rynalds but key word is “looks”. He gave me a referral to another specialist that would know more specifically what it is and i respect him for looking out for me like that. My general doctor however didn’t even care when I asked him what it could be. I told him about my trouble breathing, discolored hands, random unexplained bruises and some of my beauty marks changing color and shape. He didn’t care one bit about any of it. He claimed because I’m a “college student with a stress load” that I’m anemic but provided absolutely no proof and sent me out the door. I know for a fact that I’m not anemic enough to cause symptoms unless something other than that is wrong because I eat a balanced diet and take all the supplements I need. I also donated blood a few years ago while on this diet and all my levels were very closely checked and normal (because they don’t want to give someone bad blood in an emergency). Long story short let specialists be the ones to diagnose you and help you or make referrals.

Someone else online mentioned Sjögren's and I’m going to ask in my next visit if it’s possible but it sounds like what I’ve been going through. I have relentless cavities that cannot be tamed by brushing my teeth and flossing, dry eyes, the discoloring in my hands, pins and needles, stiff joints etc which all fall under the symptoms. I would check it out if any of those symptoms ring a bell. Hope something in this comment helps. Best of luck. & if I remember I’ll come back and update on further diagnosis on what the hand coloration thing is, but my appointment is months away.

[Yllek in reply to Bre_ash]

Hi this thread is three years old but is still relevant to me. I commented three years ago and still I have different doctors say it’s different things!

My haematologist says livedo, my neurologist says raynauds. However, I’ve also read it could be related to Sjogren syndrome and I’m seeing a Sjogrens expert in a few weeks.

I’ll let you know if I finally get a definitive answer!

Out of interest, does it feel prickly (mine does) and my tongue can go numb at the same time!

Take care

Kelly 🇬🇧

[Bre_ash in reply to Yllek]

My tongue does get numb as well as my lips fingers and toes but I just thought it was my diabetes. My rheumatologist says it’s Raynauds and sent me out to get 10 blood tests done at once. It certainly fits the symptoms but there are so many other symptoms that I feel they just overlap.she did say that Raynauds is a symptom of many other disorders so it’s very possible something else is causing it. I still have my free preventative scans so it might help me understand my arrhythmia and troubles breathing. I’m hoping to get more answers soon.

Whatever is happening to me thou is getting much worse. My arrhythmia is now very frequent and I collapsed in the shower because my arrhythmia started and I couldn’t breathe and later on my knees gave out from under me. Im only 20 and I feel like I have the body of a 90 year old that’s tired and run down.

[Lure2 in reply to Bre_ash]

I wonder if you have got relatives with autoimmun illnesses? Try to find a Specialist of autoimmun illnesses who works with these illnesses daily (Sjögrens, APS, Raynauds etc.)

Also ask your GP if you can try a Baby-Aspirin and find out if the numbness in lips and tongue, finger and toes will disappear or ease a bit. Aspirin will make your blood a little bit thinner.

I do not know if they test antibodies for APS when you give blood. Get tested for APS!

[merda]

It looks like Bier Spots