New Here - Malar Rash or bad complexion?

[RedSpoonie]

So I’ve been having symptoms on and off for years now. I’ve been told it’s stress, anxiety, vitamin deficiency (without any evidence) and told there’s nothing physically wrong. I’ve been seen my multiple GPs and a neurologist because MS was suspected. The neuro ruled out MS but said it could be FND, ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia and recommended I see a rheumatologist. Now I’d never even heard of rheumatology before this so naturally I looked it up and some of the related conditions and started to notice that my symptoms fit lupus.

So my question is - is this Malar rash or just bad complexion? I’ve had a red face for years and just put it down to bad complexion but I am quite self conscious of it. What do you guys think? The way it avoids my under eyes has always made me suspicious but never enough to mention it!

[OldTed60]

Hello. I don’t have Lupus but have closely related autoimmune diseases. Looking at your face I can’t see a lupus rash and was told, when lupus was suspected for me, that the rash usually skips the nose folds - can’t recall the proper name but your nostrils and the area of skin directly above. Your skin complexion doesn’t look obviously bad to me but if it’s a bit flushed and sore then it’s more likely Rosacea I would think? But really you’d have to see a dermatologist to be sure.

It took me 12 years under 7 rheumatologists, several neurologists (I didn’t leave most of them but they moved or retired) a dermatologist, seeing two eminent special rheumatologists privately as one off consults and a couple of temporary misdiagnoses, to finally get the right diagnoses for me last year. So don’t give up until the diagnosis feels right to you. X

[FredaN]

I think it's too difficult to say it looks like lupus from any redness in the face really. I'm not actually diagnosed with Lupus (yet), but I get a very defined red strip across my nose and cheeks, but normal (very pale) skin tone over forehead, below the nose, lower cheeks and chin. If it's red all the time, it might be rosacea, but everyone is different. I sometimes look flushed from having a shower, but that looks different to when I get the defined patch.

My GP initially thought I might have MS and sent me for an MRI, which was "normal". I tested positive for antiphospholipid antibodies at my last appointment, but they have to test it again 12 weeks apart to be sure. Upon reading about antiphospholipid antibodies, it seems the symptoms can cross over with MS. I don't think they diagnose you with antiphospholipid syndrome unless you have had a blood clot or something, but I think the antibodies can be part of the picture of Lupus. I'm not an expert, as I'm only just figuring all this stuff out myself, so maybe do a little research of your own on that. It's a good idea to take a list of all your symptoms to the rheumatologist - I always get a bit flustered and forget things if I don't.

[BonnyB]

My rheumatologist kept telling me it's not molar rash . Eventually got an appointment with dermatology. She said its 100% molar rash. Telling me that a molar rash avoids the nasal folds(I have white patches either side of my nostrils) can be on forehead and chin aswell as cheeks. Hope this helps x

[robertbob]

Hi

I dont have lupus but have a couple of other autoimmune diseases.

I think it is quite common for MS to be the first (and often only) autoimmune disease that a GP tests for and then common (when MS is ruled out) for a neurologist to suggest FND and/or fibromyalgia. This often seems to be done despite the person not meeting the diagnostic criteria for either or even having FND or fibro symptoms. And sometimes seems to be a kind of fob off i.e. patient thinks he/she is ill but isnt and so will send them off with convenience FND or fibro diagnosis. It is worth looking at the diagostic criteria for these and seeing for yourself whether you meet them. For instance, fibro I think requires a certain number of pain points and also some other things like insomnia. But check, as I cant really remember.

If you think it could be lupus or another autoimmune disease, it might be worth asking your GP to do do the two main blood tests for autoimmune i.e. the ANA test (which covers lupus and other conditions) and the ENA panel (which covers for instance sjogren's). There are other tests which can be done if you have relevant/suggestive symptom. However, a percentage of patients are ANA and ENA negative but still have an autoimmune condition - either because they have say sero-negative lupus or an autoimmune condition which is not covered in the ANA or ENA tests. Having said this, you would I think usually but not always have symptoms additional to a rash if have systemic lupus (e.g. hair falling out, fatigue, sun sensitivity etc).

I think someone metnioned seeing a dermatolgist which would seem to make sense.

hope this helps. Am not really awake yet and so bit rambling.

gl with finding answers that help you.

bw

R

I

[RedSpoonie]

Thanks for all your responses! Somethings definitely not quite right but every test seems to come back negative. I'll be booking a GP appointment imminently to discuss the outcome of my neuro appointment, next steps and such. I often feel uncomfortable asking a doctor if it might be a specific thing because in the past they've branded me as anxious when really they've not been doing their job properly.