Malar Butterfly rash ?

[Aleigh44]

Is this a Malar rash? No diagnosis to date but been under a rheumatologist for ages and I’ve come up with this now just wanted your thoughts x

[Cas70]

It looks like mine - have they tested for Lupus ? Does your Rheumatologist have a knowledge/interest in Auto immune illness. My first TWO didn’t. If you need to look up hospital consultants near you who specialise and tell your GP you’d like a second opinion. We are entitled.

[Aleigh44 in reply to Cas70]

I was tested for lupus 2 years ago and was negative but they haven’t re run the tests and won’t ! I’ve been to my doctor today and they have said that this is ‘ acne rosacea ‘ im not convinced !

[Cas70 in reply to Aleigh44]

You are entitled under the Patients Charter to a second opinion. Did they give you medication for the rash? At least give that a try , so you can say you have, and then ask for a dermatology appointment. Good luck

[KayHimm in reply to Aleigh44]

I think Cas70 is probably right that going to a dermatologist is the best route. These rashes are very hard to diagnose even by the best of dermatologists. But there may be additional testing they can do. I do remember they did not want to biopsy my facial rash because of scarring.

The UK seems pretty strict about referrals. Many others have a thought on how to proceed. But I get the sense that the GPs have guidelines for when to refer. Can you see a rheumatologist privately? Some have had a good experience when going to experts in a particular illness.

Hope you get answers soon.

[KayHimm in reply to Cas70]

Just curious why you would think your rheumatologist had no knowledge of autoimmune illnesses. Some may have a particular interest in and do research in a particular systemic autoimmune disease, but, at least in the U.S., this is part of the specialty and probably the area with which they have unique expertise. Maybe your doctor seemed uninterested in autoimmune disease but, in fact, they cannot pass their boards without extensive training in autoimmune diseases. Just clarifying because it would be disheartening for patients to think the doctors treating their serious chronic illnesses had to demonstrate expertise.

[Cas70 in reply to KayHimm]

I don’t think, I know. It has been my experience and many of the twenty odd ladies who attend our support group that there is a massive ignorance of auto immune illnesses. If you read some of the posts on this site you will see how difficult it is to get recognition of your condition. It appears you are from the States where my sister lives, she says they are much more educated in this illness.

[KayHimm in reply to Cas70]

Maybe that is true. I was diagnosed a long time ago and have been around many doctors for care and in work. These illnesses are known to be extremely hard to diagnose. But I have never been around any American doctor with a massive ignorance of autoimmune illnesses. I have certainly heard some intimidated by the complexity. One commented recently, « Why do you think I went in to cardiology? » One day let’s hope the testing is better so patients don’t have such a struggle.

Actually, one problem some of us have is doctors over-testing because of trying to rule-out autoimmune complications. The U.S. is known to use specialists too much and order too many tests. The UK seems to do a bettter job in that area.