I have been on Prednisone since 2020 and down to 8 1/2 mg. All of a sudden I have noticed flat, dark red spots (not itchy) on my chest. My rheumatologist thinks it could be from the Prednisone. Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks for always being here for all of us.
Why would it suddenly be from the pred when you didn't have it at higher doses?
What do they look like? Size? Even if they aren't itchy - have you scratched yourself in some way with a blunt "thing"?
I have something similar , which flared up when I was at about 10mg and is continuing as I’ve reduced to 6mg. In my case it feels like an extension of the scalp psoriasis and tendency to sweat rashes etc that I have had for may years before going on steroids, but more extensive and slower to settle. It cleared up miraculously on the high doses and my skin was model perfect for the first time ever! Alas that steroid honeymoon is long past and whilst my rosacea has not returned my torso is the worst it’s ever been, so may be some rebound effect. Would be worth asking whether an antihistamine or a topical steroid cream might help ( though if it’s steroid induced that might be a bit counterintuitive). At present I’m just using a good emollient cream - epaderm- and trying to keep the area cool and clean, and it seems to be receding slowly.
note I do not have PMR but a rheumatoid condition called Stills disease diagnosed in 1979 aged 17. I’m 62 now and have been free of steroids and meds for this since my mid 20s. Some of my symptoms overlap with those of PMR hence my presence here.
I have skin issues, painful rashes, itching, brown growths that appear in spirals and so on. All have been dismissed by GP as age spots. Menopause brought lichen sclerosus and a steroid cream. In desperation I used this sparingly on my torso area and eureka!
Despite no diagnosis of any rheumatoid initiated rash I’m using this cream as it stops the itching and is keeping the thickness of the growths/rash as bay. I’m careful with it and never continually apply as it’s strong, not prescribed to me for this purpose and I have limited supplies but relief, relief, relief.
It may be in my head but I feel my skin is worse after eating lots of bread based food although I test negative for coeliac. Hope you find a solution.
Could be a wheat starch allergy - that is what I had, No problem with gluten-containing grains otherwise, including spelt and kamut, And interestingly - it is only the hard wheat used in the UK for bread, I could eat wheat products in France which are made with a soft wheat.
That’s interesting, I’ll research this thanks
I realised it was wheat and only wheat as a low carb diet stopped it, it always reappeared while on holiday in Italy (pizza and pasta!). Then I reacted to a Juvela gluten-free product that was made with washed wheat starch but gluten-free which suggested it wasn't gluten so I tried other grains like oats, rye and spelt and was fine. Now I eat everything - pred plus Actemra is very effective!!!!
I will start reading labels as it seems worse after a curry with popadoms .
Interesting!!!
I have been gluten free
Hi. Yes I've had marks and spots that appear in sorts of places including on forearms. I got them on quite low prednisone (8 to 11mg). I didn't get them on 40mg at the start. I have been told by a specialist this is due to how long I've been on prednisone (1 year now) rather than dosage. The marks seem to go after a time. I'm now struggling on 7.5mg but hope to get to 7mg by October.
Are yours purpurae/petechiae? I used to get them at higher doses of pred, just a minor scrape would cause them. But after 15 years on pred and now down to 7mg/day, I don't develop them.
I've had both sorts actually. Purpurae on higher doses on man bits. 😉 But on the lower dose they look a bit like brown bruises, but I can't recall knocking anything. A few on outer forearms like roundish solar keratosis, but these disappear in a week or so. Just weird.
Older people get Seborrheic keratosis which is quite common. Could they be Liver spots ( not the medical name!) Have a look at dermatology images on line and see if you can find anything similar
I finally got a dermatology appointment.
I also had a few small purpleish bruise marks suddenly appear on my arms when down to 7mg Pred, but after the flare and now steady at 9mg they aren't showing. I thought I'd just bashed something and the pred was making me more vulnerable to a slight knock.
But then I'm on so many different drugs at the moment that it could be anything! Aaargh this horrible condition makes you read many things into small body issues.
I ended up with these round red things on my calves. It just seem to hang around for the longest time. The dermatologist did a biopsy and it’s psoriasis. They gave me two creams to alternatively use and they do go away, but it takes a while. It takes about two week using the creams -and I’ll get them another place -Like playing wack a mole.
Thank you.
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