Prednisolone and skin thinning

[calibriel]

I think I’ve heard that long term use of steroids can cause the skin to get thinner - is this a thing? I’m wondering if it’s a cause of my difficulty shaking off the cellulitis that’s been bugging me over the past few weeks. Has anyone else had this? The skin is always damaged after an attack, which makes it hard to be sure it’s completely gone, and mine seems to be particularly fragile and sensitive, especially if I’ve increased my activity a bit (I’m really not doing much at all at the moment).

Thank you

[piglette]

My skin became very thin and will bleed at almost just being touched! I also bruise very easily, although that seems to have got better on lower amounts.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Absolutely-listed as a side effect in the Patient Information Leaflet [PIL] - and plenty of related posts now you have asked the question.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is a thing for some people yes. And it may be part of your problem though the systemic steroids won't help fight off the infection either.

[calibriel]

Thanks for the replies. It explains a lot 🙄

[Merryfield]

Steroids of any kind for PMR can thin the collagen. Very easy bruising and tearing. Sorry to tell you this.

Edited by Admin to remove incorrect information.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Merryfield]

I have already explained that it is NOT a precursor. Either you have misunderstood your rheumy or he is ill informed. I have just checked with an accepted world authority in PMR who says

"Not a precursor. If we thought that were true, we would be sending all our PMR patients to haematology for surveillance. And we do not.

The 2016 paper describes an association, but there could be lots of potential reasons including lymphoma as PMR mimic (ie lymphoma as another cause for high ESR), or a common underlying cause in some patients (age related mitochondrial dysfunction for example), or a detection bias of some sort. Detection bias most likely I think.

Long-term uncontrolled inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with increased risk of lymphoma but it’s a numerically small increase. We don’t say that RA is a precursor of lymphoma, either. "

It is another case of correlation is not causation. Any long term, uncontrolled, even low level, inflammation increases the risk of cancers developing. But PMR itself is not associated with an increased incidence of cancer except in the first year or so after PMR is diagnosed. This may be due to misdiagnosis in that the PMR symptoms were being caused by the underlying cancer, whatever it is. PMR is not the disease, it is the name given to a particular set of symptoms that are due to an underlying pathological condition. In our case it is an autoimmune condtion but there are several disorders that should be part of a differential diagnosis. And of course, as in your case, having PMR doesn't excuse you developing other illnesses.

[keeptalking in reply to Merryfield]

Precursor or not I’d like to hear from anyone else that has had a blood cancer diagnosis along with PMR.

I was diagnosed with PMR then chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the same year. I’ve always felt there is a connection and when I’ve spoken with doctors they’ve always shown an interest but generally felt it isn’t connected.