Eureka moment?

[Barbara17]

Good morning everyone, I have scle and Sjogrens and have had a really bad summer with a rash spreading all over my body, starting on my face. I’ve been blaming the hot sunny weather but I never go outside uncovered or without factor 50 so I’ve racked my brains trying to identify the trigger and last night this suddenly came to me. In early March I broke a piece of tooth and had to have a large filling. I chose to have the white type that they set with UV light. Now that I think about it the rash started on my left cheek exactly where I’d had the filling. Am I being ridiculous or could this be the answer?

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Barbara17,

This could be a potential reason for the cause of your flare. UV nail drying lamps used for gel nail manicures/pedicures can trigger a flare in people with lupus. This could be the same principle for the UV light the dentist used to set your filling. It is best to discuss this with your rheumatologist and dentist to see if alternative ways can be used in the future to prevent this from happening again.

[Barbara17 in reply to Chanpreet_Walia]

Thanks for this, Chanpreet. I’ve got a dermatology appointment next week so will definitely discuss this.

[maggielee in reply to Barbara17]

Thanks for mentioning it as I too have SCLE & sjogrens & never thought this is a possibility especially as I would never thought light in my month could trigger a rash...

Are you on any medication?

Just sounds that your rash sounds like mine was when I had my meds & nothing to prevent it from spreading once it started ie autoimmune gone into full flare.

Hope it's under control now. It awful to be in a flare for so long.... Take care..

ML

[Barbara17 in reply to maggielee]

Hi Maggie. Yes, I’m on hydroxychloroquine and have dermovate and protopic for the rash. I never gave a thought to the uv light the dentist used. Vanity made me choose the white filling and it looks like I paid dearly for it! My skin has been ok for the last four years so I was so disappointed when it broke out again and, as you say, once it starts there is no stopping it. I don’t think the hot summer helped matters as with the best will in the world sometimes I had to go out in the sun. Fingers crossed it is finally starting to fade now.

[maggielee in reply to Barbara17]

Yes, fingers crossed your skin calms down.... very tiring too...

As we had a super sunny summer it was hard to avoid so much uv light....or cover up so much you over heat 😰...winter is coming ....

Feel better soon...

ml