Skin soreness how to make better

[Sirtomas]

What can I do to save my skin. It is so sore and painful especially under my chin and above my breasts and getting worse. I saw a different rheumatologist who said it'the steroids and to get off them as quickly as possible. I'm now on 10.5 down from 40 in January 2022 . Any suggestions please

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

“said it'the steroids and to get off them as quickly as possible”

Not sure that’s strictly true and certainly not helpful!

Do you have a rash as well? Or is it dry?

Have you tried any emollient creams?

Is it your skin or do you think it’s just below the surface?

If it were steroids would expect it to improve as you reduce, not get worse as you imply. How long have you had it?

More info might helps us to narrow the cause.

[Sirtomas in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your help, it makes life so much easier to be able to discuss with someone who understands. I went to see a very pleasant rhumatologist who went through all my notes and tried to be helpful but insisted that my pain was being caused by the prednisolone. I went onto a high dose in Jan 22 after spending over a year on a low er dose because my GP thought I had PMR. I had been diagnosed with GCA in January 2001 in a large Bristol hospital and on pred at that time but when I was sent to a rheumatologist in our local she informed me there was nothing wrong Such an arrogant doctor begs belief and I reported this back to my GP hense the referral to Bristol, I know that he was trying to help but I know that the lower dose does not control my pain. I'm not sure what to do now.

[SnazzyD]

Hello, a clear description of the rash and how it feels would help. Sometimes when people get to low doses a few allergy type symptoms crop up but you’re still a bit above 10mg.

[Sirtomas in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks, I don't have a rash just very tender painful skin I have never had a rash of any kind, it's just so sore and painful to touch. I have tried covering with Dermol 500 which I have on prescription for my legs. At present I still take 10.5 pred

[SnazzyD in reply to Sirtomas]

so nothing to see at all? What aggravates it? If the doctor couldn’t explain it, I don’t know how they could say it was due to Pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

Handy to blame pred and sound clever ...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sounds a bit of a non-sequitur to me! Had it been under breasts I'd have wondered if it was what I had, but it was due to PMR, definitely not pred as I wasn't on it. The creases would get sore and the skin was raw and got infected, probably with thrush but also something bacterial as I needed a triple cream with cortisone, and both antibacterial and antifungal components.

"your pain is due to steroids" - I've heard that a few times recently. Er - how?

[piglette]

I seem to have had a lot of side effects from the steroids, but I have never had soreness. There is red skin syndrome which can be caused by long use steroids, but it does not sound like you have that. I suppose it could be an allergy to the steroids or to something else if it comes to that.

[Sirtomas in reply to piglette]

My husband says that my skin is very red, he thought I had been scratching but I haven't so I will look into the red skin syndrome to se.e if it's what I have got. Thank you for your help

[piglette in reply to Sirtomas]

If the skin is red perhaps it is red skin syndrome then. I am sure Dr Google will explain!

[Sirtomas in reply to piglette]

I have checked red skin syndrome and discounted it so . will discuss with my own GP after Xmas thanks for all the help

[piglette in reply to Sirtomas]

Oh well it was a thought.