Red blemishes

[Jamie345]

Has anyone got dark red blotches, I have on both my arms looks awful and I have now started to get small pea size red marks on my breasts, I'm presuming it's the steroids, they are hard to cover with concealer, lots of people think I've had a bad accident when they see my arms, has anyone got any idea what or why ?

[piglette]

Yes it is the steroids, purpura, I sometimes look like I have been fighting with a wild animal. They do fade after a week or two though. They have improved a bit at lower doses although I still get them at 5mg.

[Jamie345 in reply to piglette]

I've had them for a long time as I was put on budesonide 3mg twice daily for autoimmune hepatitis for at least 18months, now I have GCA/polymyalgia for around 5 months only just told me about the GCA, and have put me on 40mg pred and I'm now getting more red tiny pea shape blotches on my breast! More each day appearing, just need to confirm its all ok? I go back to the rheumy in two weeks time to see if the pred have brought down the inflammation

[piglette in reply to Jamie345]

I went to my GP who did not have a clue what they were. I then discovered several other people on pred had them, although they are not exclusive to pred users. The GP checked my blood platelets which were fine and the gave up. As I said mine do fade after about a fortnight.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Your GP didn't recognise purpura?

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

My GP would not recognise flying pigs. There is a rumour she has been fired, she leaves next week!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

At least you know she is - er - unreliable. Pity the new subjects...

[sondya in reply to piglette]

Good thing he is not a pig doctor then!

[Flateric1 in reply to piglette]

I am so glad that this has been raised ..... I have been getting these for a while ... only on my right arm .... but they can look awful ... at least I know the cause now .... and yes ... they do fade away ..... thank you x

[piglette in reply to Flateric1]

Hi Flateric, that is interesting, I seem to get many more on my left arm although I do get them on my other arm and occasionally legs too.

[Mary63]

Yes I have them too.They get worse in the sun and seem less now my dose is lower...10mg going to 9.5

[SheffieldJane]

It sounds like a side effect of something you are taking or a combination of drugs. There are some clothes washing liquids like Ariel and Persil that make me itch like billyo.

[Tiny_Tim]

Yes it is definitely due to steroids.The skin becomes much thinner and any small knock or scratch can leave horrid dark red patches which take ages to go away .. I was wearing short sleeves for my son's wedding so was very conscious of a large blotch on my arm which was difficult to disguise despite application of blemish cream .I do use a lot of moisturising cream but am not sure how effective it is. Oh the trials and tribulations of PMR.

Tiny _ tim

[PMRpro Ambassador]

They are called purpura or petechiae depending on the size. The pred makes the capillaries (the tiniest blood vessels) fragile and they leak easily if knocked.

Strangely, despite 8+ years on pred and also being on anticoagulant therapy I just develop 3, always in the same place just above my watchstrap!!!

I maintain my lack of delicate skin problems is due to never (well, hardly ever) using soap on my skin. I shampoo my hair in the shower and that is it. If I use soap (i.e. anything that foams) my skin shrivels and peels immediately! Doublebase/Diprobase are both felt by many people to reduce such problems - they have shower products too, as well as moisturising products. In the UK, nice GPs will prescribe them but they aren't very expensive if you are still paying for your scripts.

[sondya]

Oh yes. Thin skin. At first, I thought it was the low-dose aspirin to thin the blood but it is the prednisone. Doesn't need to be hard knocks . . . handshakes are the worst causes. Little rivulets of blood streaks on right hand. Disappears after a few days for a new set!

[tgca]

Apparently Superdrug sells doublebase... the joys of pred ! At least the red blotches do vanish but you won't catch me in short sleeves or a swim suit next summer.

[Hirwaen]

I look like a self harmer!!! Forearms and shins very susceptable. I have bought arm protectors for that big on line store beginning with A, so that I can prune roses etc, otherwise there would be a blood bath not to mention purple patches!!