Malar rash skincare

[AcheyAnnie]

Hello! Please forgive me for being here as I don't have a diagnosis for lupus yet but am suffering with (confirmed) malar rash. I have had a lip biopsy and various bloods and having more bloods this week, but looking like at the moment I have Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease which rheum tells me can develop into lupus (hopefully not!).

Anyway what I'm looking for today is skincare I can use on my face whenever I have a malar rash - yesterday was OK - red and hot - but this morning under my eyes are swollen and my face is much itchier. I know it will pass in a couple of days but I'm wondering if there's anything I can use to soothe it - I'm scared of irritating it further.

Also then I suppose what do people use day to day to wash their face, my skin is sensitive but now I don't know if that's as well as the UCTD or because of it.

So annoyed, this all started 5 years ago after having my second son (huge blood loss and transfusion), then in April I had my 3rd baby and felt amazing during pregnancy and good until now, but it seems to be ramping up again!

Thanks so much in advance!

[Turquoise-1]

Hi AcheyAnnie,

Like you, I suffer with a terrible Malar Rash with all the same symptoms you describe. I was only diagnosed by a Rheumatologist in June of this year as having SLE Lupus. I have also recently seen a Dermatologist as I have problems with skin lesions on my hands & face plus a very troublesome, sore, itchy, taut scalp.

I do not currently take any medication specifically for Lupus as I have unfortunately had severe reactions and been unable to tolerate the 3 different drugs prescribed to me thus far.

I wash my face with plain, cool water & pat gently to dry.

Having a shower is more difficult as the hot water aggravates my face & scalp. Also finding toiletries, (shampoo, shower gel, bar soap, moisturiser etc) which don’t aggravate my skin is trial & error. In fact most of the ones which claim to be for ‘sensitive skin’ do not suit my skin at all!

I so hate having a bright red face ….. it’s embarrassing & demoralising, explaining to people, “no I’m not blushing nor having a menopausal flush” is tedious….

Wearing makeup is a pain but green foundation under normal foundation does cover the redness, however I very, very rarely wear makeup.

I use baby soap bar, shampoo & baby bath which are all very mild, sometimes I’ll risk it & try a different product without suffering….any I can’t tolerate get demoted to dog bathing products for my dog Eddie!

I have Dermol Lotion on prescription, (I have a prepayment certificate), which is an emollient you can use to wash with then use as a moisturiser on your body once you’re dry. It’s very slippy as a washing product though, so I avoid it at home & only use in the showers at the gym after swimming. I sometimes use it to cleanse my face - squirt it on a fragrance free baby wipe or cotton wool, rinse & use it as a moisturiser if I’m staying indoors. (It doesn’t have any SPF).

Facial moisturisers are a nightmare for me & finding a suitable one is tricky especially if the formula gets changed in one I can use. Having Lupus, we are advised to use total sunblock or at least a moisturiser with high SPF & avoid being in sunlight - Really hard for me as I’m an outdoorsy person! I do always wear a hat & keep in the shade as much as possible.

This cold weather aggravates the rash too though, so I can’t win whatever the season! Facemasks also make it worse too.

When my cheeks are burning, cooling them with a tepid flannel or dabbing with cold water/cotton wool or just putting my freezing cold fingers on them seems to ease the inflammation. Occasionally I’ll take antihistamines but don’t get a lot of relief?

A few frozen garden peas/sweetcorn etc put in a small bag, (I use biodegradable nappy/dog poo bags), wrapped in a cloth (cut up t-shirt/duster/rag etc), placed onto skin brings relief. Re freeze the veg ready for next cooling session! Those small ice-packs you use in sandwich bags can also be used……NB As a former Paramedic I strongly advise putting anything frozen directly onto your skin.

You have my empathy & I hope you can get some relief somehow 🙃

Ps, After my long reply I forgot to mention Sudocrem! This is something I often use on my malar rash, (when at home or night time). It contains Zinc Oxide which is a brilliant ‘healer,’ & does seem to soothe the redness.

Long before I was a Paramedic I was a qualified Dental Nurse for many years; Zinc Oxide is used in dentistry, mixed with oil of cloves to form a temporary dressing in a troublesome tooth prior to permanent filling.

[AcheyAnnie in reply to Turquoise-1]

Thanks for replying, sounds exactly like what I’m experiencing. Thanks for all the advice I will look into those products -with three kids at home I certainly have sudocreme in the house 😁 didn’t realise it’s zinc.Really appreciate Your thorough reply!

[Hidden in reply to AcheyAnnie]

Hi

Thanks Turquoise for this information, it’s so very helpful. I’ve tried so many skincare brands, even those for intolerant skin and many so things cause my skin to feel it’s on fire. Avene - Tolerance has been reformulated and is now like putting DeepHeat on my skin, but La Roche Posay - Toleriane range is ok 🤞🏻at present. The one thing I found that helps my malar rash (or when I get a patch of it starting) is Sudocreme. Doesn’t heal much quicker but it helps sooth the burn phase - never heard anyone say that before other than Turquoise, so I feel validated now! 😆 Also, my icy fingers have some use when the rash starts! ✨

[CecilyParsley]

Hi Annie, love the name 🤣. My skin was always dry and sensitive but now I feel like a crisp dry hair, skin, eyes, mouth and vagina. When I first had the malar rash , pre diagnosis, my GP said it was rosacea. The gel she gave me caused severe burning, I just coukd not tolerate it. I was prescribed steroidal cream which I was not happy to use but desperate. It took the edge off the heat of the rash but not the redness. My normal skincare irritated it, even E45 irritated it. I tried many reputable brands and eventually tried Elemis SOS cream. It is aimed at menopausal women and it certainly worked well for me. Mine is never completely gone but so much better. I hope that you find something that works for you. I use Epinax ointment on the rest of my body, greasy but necessary xx

[AcheyAnnie in reply to CecilyParsley]

Hi Cecily (love Beatrix Potter 😁 ) I was also given rosacea cream, didnothing for me and didn’t make sense to me as had to apply for a month when my rash only ever lasts a couple of days and it just didn’t seem to fit. I will try this SOS cream as it sounds good thank you !

[CecilyParsley in reply to AcheyAnnie]

I love Beatrix Potter too 🐰. If you try it from QVC and it does not suit you you can return it. Believe me I tried three different ones from there before the Elemis and all I ended up paying was the postage. Good luck xxxetely

[MrsMarigold]

Hi Annie. I keep 2 products in my refrigerator. Aloe Vera and Avene Water spray. Aloe Vera is bought on Amazon; if you buy it get the true aloe Vera with no other ingredients except preservative. Sometimes I have to put it on every 30 minutes for a couple hours and skin is about pale and not burning.

[AcheyAnnie in reply to MrsMarigold]

Thank you for replying! I will look into this water spray for sure.

[WinterSwimmer]

I use fresh aloe vera gel, straight off the plant. Break open the leaf and squeeze the gel directly onto my skin. Probably useless in a medical sense, but it is very soothing.

[AcheyAnnie in reply to WinterSwimmer]

Hi! Thanks so much for replying. I actually have an aloe Vera plant so will try this tonight! But now I need to learn plant care as well as autoimmune self care 😅 In a weird way I’m glad that it these replies seem to confirm that what I’m experiencing is the same as everyone else’s Malar rashes… horrible but in a way good to know what it is. Thanks again!