Embarrassing Body!

[Marilyn1959]

I know several members have written about thinning skin whilst on Prednisone but I don't know if what I am experiencing is'norm' or not.

Under my boobs, and to some degrer my stomach, I am losing layers of skin. It is like I am sweating, though I am not hot. As the skin is peeling it is itchy, but what is really getting to me is the horrid smell. Bit like aftermath of sunburn but with a nasty smell. It can feel sore especially first thing in the morning.

I have lost a bit of the extra weight I initially gained with pred since last taper from 7.5mgs to 7mgs. This peeling skin has been going on for a few months, though haven't been sweating generally since uk weather has been decidely chilly!

Currently on 7mgs from 15mgs July '17. Any ideas on what is is, whether it is common to PMR or pred and how to treat it?

[Hidden]

Hi Marilyn

It may possibly be Thrush, you may prefer to see your GP to check or ask the Pharmacist, which probably isn’t the easiest due to where it’s located.

Good Luck 🍀

MrsN x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I get thrush in my mouth and have been treated twice with a one dose only prescription... I love the one pill dose! Meanwhile, does your tongue have a white coating? That’s what I get. I find that drinking plenty of water keeps the tongue pretty much in check. My skin does seem to be getting thinner all over my body. Age related and not helped by having GCA and treatment for it? I dunno. It is what it is for now. 😉

[YuliK in reply to Hidden]

That made me smile. 😂

[SheffieldJane]

It could be Candida or some other yeast infection. A pro- biotic supplement/ additions to the diet will help plus a prescription from your doctor. Keeping the area cool and dry perhaps with an anti fungal powder and a pure cotton bra.

[Hidden]

I would say thrush absolutely. Just get cream and it'll go. My summer doses have started. Once it clears keep a eye on it. I find first symptoms are little pimples in the crease then i get up the next day and it's like red boob shadows! I keep a tube of cream in all the time and in high summer I suffer terribly.

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Hidden]

Yes red boob shadow describes it well. What is the name of the cream you use and is it over counter or on prescription?

[Hidden in reply to Marilyn1959]

Just the pharmacist version of otc clotrimazole,or canestan. If it just keeps repeating I take a capsule of Fluconazole. I checked I can take it.

At the moment I am considering taking a weekly dose for 6 weeks. I have had recurring bouts for past few years and need a good blast. I am.wondering now if thats why I have an itching problem over the most of my body periodically.

[Hidden in reply to Marilyn1959]

Ah ah. It looks like you had a few doses if abx for uti. That would explain the thrush.

[SnazzyD]

As the others say you may well have a fungal infection but also a secondary bacterial infection so a doc needs to see. Thrush tends to smell sour or cheesy and bacteria can be plain unholy or not at all depending on the type. If possible try to keep the skin surfaces apart such as with a daily clean 100% cotton handkerchief. Dry the area after washing with a cold hairdryer not with a bath towel or with clean kitchen roll by dabbing not rubbing.

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

The covering until it goes is a good idea. I used medical grade shower wash for ages as I was getting boils and carbuncles. That encourages thrush sadly. Nowadays as I get undress I get that whiff of yeasty smell and start treatment straight away. You have to air-dry ...at one point my skin almost split. I do try and use lady anti monkey butt anti-friction powder. It's stops additional chafing.

[SnazzyD in reply to Hidden]

That’s the trouble with antibacterial they kill the good ones as well. I wouldn’t touch any of the likes of these antibacterial body washes.

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

I didn't have a choice at one stage. The boils just kept coming no matter how many showers I had to stay clean. My clothes and towel were all on the hottest wash and still boil after boil leading to carbuncles managed to break through. I am allergic to Elastoplast and found during that time that I couldn't use micropore anymore or any of the low adherent hypoallergenic dressings. The soap was the only thing that got near helping them. They were soooo painful as in awkward places. I dressed with gauze/cotton dressing with magnesium sulphate as less painful once a head drawn. Since I have been on insulin they have gone thank god. And as pred lowered the thick black hairs that seemed to be the problem have mostly gone.

[SnazzyD in reply to Hidden]

Sounds awful. Also Sounds like until the blood sugar was under control you could have been using bleach but to no avail. Good old mag sulph, old fashioned but really good. Glad to hear Pred’s hair thinning property has had some good press.

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes. I was begging for 8 months for insulin. I suspect they were hanging on thinking as some drs do that their taper would work. Stupid though as Dr originally said it would be at least 2 years.

Rheumy suggest straight on insulin but go would refer until my hba1c was 114.

[SnazzyD in reply to Hidden]

🙄

[Marilyn1959 in reply to SnazzyD]

Sour and cheesy describes smell well. I am so glad I took the plunge and posted about my embarrassing body. You are all so helpful and reassuring.

[Hidden in reply to Marilyn1959]

That’s what we are here for! 🌷

[PinkertonCat in reply to Marilyn1959]

Courageous post! Don’t know whether to laugh or cry at responses. Good gods!! The things we endure!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At a guess it is thrush, a candida infection. Speak to your GP because it sounds well set in. Mine was entirely due to an allergy to wheat starch and eliminating wheat from my diet got rid of it - the wheat caused the skin reaction which then became easily infected - it was nothing to do with pred because I had it from the early days of PMR and it is something to do with the effect of the underlying cause of the PMR symptoms on the immune system and allergies.

As Snazzy says - there is probably a secondary bacterial infection. I found about the best result was with Trimovate cream and not being able to get it here where I now live is an absoute pain! But avoiding wheat does the trick for me.

[YuliK]

Do the pencil test 😳

I put a Cotton handkerchief under my boobs and that helped a lot. I changed the hankie every couple of hours.

Sounds to me a slight fungal infection. ( that's what I was diagnosed with ).

When drying yourself don't rub, just dab the area dry.

I know someone suggested me using a hair dryer, but I nearly burnt myself. Ouch. 😩

It will clear up if you keep the area dry. Don't use regular talcum powder. There is special powder for that problem

[SnazzyD in reply to YuliK]

Yes, the hairdryer should be on cold. Good point about the talc; if very wet it just turns to ‘toothpaste’.

[Hidden in reply to YuliK]

I would never see that pencil ever again. ✏️

[Purplecrow]

Also...wash your bras frequently, and rinse them with mild vinegar water. Miserable experience!

[SnazzyD in reply to Purplecrow]

Yes, these low temp wash fabrics mean nothing is killed and fungal spores are really tough.

[Hidden in reply to Purplecrow]

If people use biological washing powered it effects the elastic in all underwear. The enzymes do something to the tiny elastic bits. Horrid. Really irritate my skin so used non bio for years.

Up to 40ish I never had a skin problem except for Elastoplast. Now anything can set of some skin reaction.

[jinasc]

Ask your GP to prescribe Double Base Gel and follow the instructions fully.

When I was diagnosed with GCA, I ran into the same problem and a good friend who had both PMR & GCA at the same time and had skin thinning her GP had prescribed it and bingo.

If they won't you can buy it over the counter.........but they really should prescribe it.

At the same time, do not shower every day, you are stripping your skin of all the natural oils, that is why the DBG which you put on before you shower protects and helps.

Use soap (pure as possible, little as possible - just use water to get clean when you can. Baby shampoo for your hair.

5 years with GCA and inot 8th with remission and still using DBG and still have smooth skin - although those bruises do keep appearing.............but that is a common part of getting older.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

I am picking some dbg up tomorrow. When I read it it said it would basically get on my bedclothes and I would have to change the bedding daily or it would build up. Surely not!!!!

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

That did not happen to me and still does not and I use it everyday and have done for the past 111 years.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

jinsac how old are you? 😂

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

OOps............as old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth and often make typo's, which should make you 😄 and Into 11th year of overdraft time🤔

I will tell you if you put the correct figure in - last birthday 24th April and I learned to type on a steam typewriter...............

Look at the Newswire Page 4 and see if you can guess who is who 😉

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Typos are often the best sort of entertainment! 😂

[Blearyeyed in reply to jinasc]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

😂😂😂 it IS good stuff then......

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

Yup it is and I hope you 😄 as well.

PS I never could add up🤔

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

It's very weird looking....I want to taste it 😂😂😂

It doesn't feel glaggy so that's a big bonus.

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

You are Northerner using the word 'claggy'?

It sorts of vanishes and leaves no trace either............which I loved as other stuff seems to leave a 'claggy' feeling. Except for Morrision's hand cream which is the only one other I have come across that vanishes quickly. Odd I am🤔

Let us know if you get on with it OK.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Loving it so far. It's always a hit if there's no residue that is sticky....it will help my hands enormously as I am obsessive about washing them since I got flu the first year of dmards.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Yes. A northerner indeed.

[jinasc]

I live in the second closest county to the border with Scotland..............Geordie Land.

No-one else in the UK seems to use 'claggy' which I love.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jinasc]

Cleethorpes ... Or maybe more generally Lincolnshire though I'm not sure.

[Smokygirl in reply to jinasc]

Me too! Xxx

[Marilyn1959]

To all who responded thank you. I have made an appointment with Practice nurse for Monday since it may well be bacterial infection. I will see if she will prescribe trimovate or double bass gel since I have pre paid prescription and every little helps. Many thanks, especially to those who have also smelt 'cheesy' at some stage!

[Hidden in reply to Marilyn1959]

How did practice nurse appt go...what sort of treatment did they give you. I am bound to need something this summer!!

[Marilyn1959 in reply to Hidden]

Haven"t been yet. Go first thing Monday. Will let you know.

[Hidden in reply to Marilyn1959]

😂😂😂 sorry forgot NHS!