PMR and facial flush/rash

[paskymom]

Hello all....all the posts and comments are always appreciated. I was diagnosed in Jan of 2021 with pmr and started on 25 mg of prednisone. Imflammatory markers stared in 90’s and now down to 4. Prednisone started at 25mg for 2 weeks then 20 for 5 weeks and currently on 15mg for the last 2 weeks and feeling pretty good. Abit of slight pain in morn....more in left upper arm and sometimes neck but usually gone after a couple hours. Not completely but pretty good. The concern I have now is I have noticed that when I get warm or have finished doing some housework or even after a shower that my face and sometimes neck is flushed. Almost like a lupus face rash. Has anyone had any experience like this..... could this pmr have turned into lupus or can prednisone also do this? I am worried about summer coming with the heat....will it get worse? Anyone ever develope this after their pmr diagnosis? So worried that it may be lupus now!?!? Even tho I’m feeling good. Thanks!

[SnazzyD]

I don’t know but at some point some weeks in I used to flush in the face and neck pretty much every time I exerted myself or got even a bit warm. My face would looked like a polished ‘Snow White’s’ apple in the summer. I hasten to add that it did improve on the way down the dose ladder.

[YuliK]

Paskymum Hi

Flushed red face and front neck area has happened to me a number of times. It passes after a few hours. No temperature involved.

I understand that this can be one of the side effects of prednisone.

Stress, anxiety, hormone changes and any emotional state can also attribute to getting a red flushed face.

It’s a very worrying time for most people. The Covid19 has caused many of us to worry and get stressed out.

I don’t believe your flushing can be lupus, but if you are sincerely worried, then I would suggest you make an appointment with a dermatologist to get confirmation that it is only temporary flushing due to stress.

Hope this information will help you.

YuliK 😷

🌹🌹🌹

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is a not uncommon side effect of pred. The malar rash doesn't only appear in lupus but similar rashes are found in a variety of things. But pred itself can cause this flushing and even sweats and it usually improves as the dose reduces.

[piglette]

I not only had the flush but I also was drenched with sweat as well. It did get better as I reduced though.

[YuliK in reply to piglette]

Piglette perspiring happens to me too...I also find, that as I have reduced Pred, I am having less perspiring episodes...I’m now on 3mg. Maybe the colder months..

It happened more often during the summer months, like I had just walked out of a shower, absolutely drenched. Pretty embarrassing indeed.

Yulik 😷

🌹

[piglette in reply to YuliK]

I used to say I had been swimming! It could be snowing and it made no difference in my case.

[YuliK in reply to piglette]

Not a comfortable situation at all. 😱

[Coffeebeans in reply to YuliK]

I've just realised that I've stopped sweating too - got to grab these positives when they occur 🙂

[YuliK in reply to Coffeebeans]

You are so lucky. 👍

[autumnlass]

I noticed a facial flush a month before I was diagnosed with PMR last July, and thought it could be a pollen allergy. It did respond to a hay fever medicine, and it’s appeared again temporarily within the last few weeks, as with mild sweating as wel. I assumed it was within the context of PMR and Prednisolone. It didn’t last and I had no other symptoms. Hope it goes soon. 💐

[2013mayo]

Hi, I too get the facial flush after taking pred, I look like a gnome. At the start of GCA/ PMR I thought I had lupus.

I take piriton to calm things down.

I’m afraid it’s all part of taking pred and this illness.

X

[Coffeebeans]

Very likely to be the pred - up at doses between 20 and 13mg I would have a very 'active' flushed face and would be drenched in sweat for very little effort.

Anything such as a temperature change' sun, hot food etc would set it off. It helped to use a good sun screen and also use foundation.

It will hopefully reduce for you as you taper down.

[mtrafter]

I get redness across nose and cheeks all the time no matter what my pred dose, worse in warm weather. I wear a green based primer cream under my foundation to hide the redness, works well for me.

[Pixix]

Yes, & the red rash under chin, front neck is permanent now! Doctor has given me some cream to use, but it’s still there & spreads in evenings when warm or just when it feels like it!

[paskymom]

Thank you for all your responses.....this site is always so helpful! 😊