fragile skin

[NCB1983]

Random question to you all….I have ET, I’m on Pegasys and have been for a few years, I also take aspirin. This year I’ve been bitten a lot (I have always been a tasty meal for little bugs!) and whilst I try not to scratch the bites we all know that sometimes it’s not possible. I’ve found that my skin is quite fragile and a little scratch has caused a lot of damage to my skin. Has anyone else found this? Is it due to the meds or ET? Or is this unrelated and just a symptom of getting older (I’m only 40)?

I’ve now discovered citronella bracelets and they seem to be keeping the bugs at bay.

[hunter5582]

While Pegasys can cause skin reactions like rashes and itching, I have never heard of it making the skin more fragile. There are other medications that can cause this issue as well as aging. You seem a bit young for aging to be the issue though.

I wonder if part if the issue is that the propensity of PEG to cause itching + a bug bite = more itching than usual. Not sure that there is any science to that thought.

PEG did cause some significant itching/rashes for me. Fortunately, a daily antihistamine (Zyrtec) resolved the issue.

Glad to hear you found the citronella bracelets. I use a similar carabiner tab I can attach to my belt or backpack.

All the best.

[NCB1983 in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks hunter. You could be right about itchy skin plus itch from an insect bite.

And yes, I’m too young for fragile skin!

Thanks for your reply!

[Joetcalr]

I like the idea of the citronella bracelets, will try those, I get bitten a lot and use a few drops of citronella mixed into a small tub of skin cream-I use E45, put it on everywhere skin is exposed, very effective against midges.

[NCB1983 in reply to Joetcalr]

I’m wearing one on my arm and one on the opposite leg as an anklet. Seem to have been effective this far! I like the citronella in moisturiser idea! When I’ve run out of bracelets I might try that!

[Hopetohelp]

Can’t put my finger on what is different, but before I was diagnosed I remember if I scratched my arm because of an itch, a spot could appear that bled a lot and would take a while to heal and if I knocked it, it would bleed again. I even went to the doctor once as on close inspection it looked like a tiny hole or minute crater, for want of better words to describe it. She did a referral but it never came through and I didn’t chase it because suddenly it went as quickly as it came. Have had a few of these occur over time but less since I have been on peg. I could even go as far as to say I think skin on my arms has thickened slightly but have noticed it has always been able to produce a ‘little spot’ if I scratch it too much. Not sure if this is similar to what you are experiencing but I put mine down to the ET when I look back in hindsight.

[Janis12]

Hi, I have no experience of Peg but when my nephew who was in the army told me many of them take a spoonful of marmite every day 'to keep the flies off' I tried it on my horse, she loved it and it seemed to do the trick so I started taking it myself and had very few midgie bites after that. When I started on hydroxy NOTHING including my once loving cat would come anywhere near me....so hydroxy may be a bad boy but at least it keeps the flies off!

[NCB1983 in reply to Janis12]

I am so going to try the marmite trick!! That would be amazing if it works for us! Beats smelling of citronella (which I don’t mind but it means there’s no point in wearing perfume!)

I’m glad I asked the random question on this blog site. Thank you everyone!

[Janis12 in reply to NCB1983]

I love everyone's 'random' questions, it brings up some many interesting and often humorous responses. To be honest I dislike marmite but apart from 'keeping the flies off' it is also full of B vitamins so everyone's a winner.

[russkatt]

I am also on aspirin and a blood thinner which I believe is the cause of my easy bruising. I had the problem long before I started Peg. So no I don't think it is the Peg.

[Wyebird]

Have you thought of taking anti histamine tablets ? I found it helps enormously.

As for fragile skin no it isn’t an issue for me I’m also on Peg