Psoriasis and contact allergy

[TheMoaningViolet]

Good morning everyone. I am approaching one year since I stopped steroids, and thankfully, I have no reason to think that my PMR is not still in remission.

However, starting early this year and growing in the area it covers and the intensity of annoyance it causes me, I appear to have developed patches of psoriasis on my scull (mainly on the bottom half and mostly under my hair - some on the top of the neck just below the hairline, and behind my left ear. I also have a little patch on the right side of my chin.

In addition, I have also developed what behaves like a contact allergy on both legs just below my hips. These areas are very itchy and inflamed, and my skin only responds to Sudocrem. It also appears to be spreading. Last night, I had to take an antihistamine to be able to sleep.

Clearly, I need to see a dermatologist, so if anyone can recommend a good one in London, I would be extremely grateful. I have a telephone appointment with my GP on Wednesday morning, but I doubt they can refer me to the NHS as swiftly as I need to be seen.

Also, if you have stopped steroids and subsequently developed skin conditions, let me know. I would be interested to find out whether this is connected to PMR or steroids in any way, and if your condition has improved and disappeared, I would appreciate the ray of hope. This condition does not appear very dangerous (no hair loss so far), but as you can imagine, it can be very irritating.

The worry that it may be connected to an underlying issue that has yet to be discovered is obviously there.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hard luck - sorry to hear that, If it is psoriasis, I suspect a lot of diagnosis and management is done by GPs.

If it does turn out to be psoriasis - there is also the possibility that what you had wasn't PMR but a polymyalgic presentation of psoriatic arthritis.

[TheMoaningViolet in reply to PMRpro]

Well, at no time did I have any join swelling and this only started relatively recently, so I wouldn't think so.

I would like to see a dermatologist as I have various issues in different areas and I need someone to connect the dots. Since I only managed to get a telephone appointment with my GP, I doubt they will prioritize coordinating my care.

Thanks, and we'll see how things go.

[Ashington52 in reply to TheMoaningViolet]

Reading your post could have been me writing it!

I was diagnosed with PMR in October 2020. I finished Prednisolone a year ago.

Initially my GP felt there was no need for me to see a Rheumatologist as he felt that he would be able to manage my treatment. How wrong he was.

6 months ago I began to experience pains in my wrists and knees, a rash on my tummy, itchy scalp and several flaky patches. I was convinced I was having a recurrence of PMR.

My GP eventually referred me to a Rheumatologist, who I saw in June. The Rheumatologist was very thorough, spending 1.5 hours with me. At the appointment I had bloods taken and X-rays on my hands and feet. I subsequently had an MRI scan of my hips and scans of my hands, feet and elbows.

As a result of the tests, I have now been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. I have started treatment of Salazopyrin.

I really do hope you manage to get treatment very soon.

[TheMoaningViolet in reply to Ashington52]

I am so sorry to hear that, but hopefully the treatment is working and you are a lot better. Let’s see what my GP says tomorrow. My rheumatology appointment has been rescheduled twice by the hospital and once by me and it’s not meant to be happening until February 2025 now. My symptoms seem ominously similar, but so far I had no other joint pain, so we’ll see. Thank you for responding. Vx

[CarolF1312]

Hi Violet,Sorry to hear you're having problems.

I took my last Prednisolone at the end of April. Feeling fine so far and gradually getting stronger. However, when I stopped the prednisolone, I seemed to develop sensitivities to some cosmetic products I've been using for years without any problem. In particular anything containing hyaluronic acid. I mentioned this to my Rheumatologist at my final appt. but she dismissed as " never heard of anyone having allergy issues after Pred"

I haven't tried any of the products again as it took weeks for my skin to settle down. Hope your problem is resolved soon.

[TheMoaningViolet in reply to CarolF1312]

Hi Carol, thank you for responding. I though it very likely for patients to start experiencing a range of allergic issues once Prednisolone is stopped, which is one of the reason I asked the question. It's interesting to hear of your experience, as this may be my issue. I am not entirely sure what I am reacting to and I need a specialist to look at my skin and tell me what it looks like to them (psoriasis is obviously what it looks like to me).

[CarolF1312 in reply to TheMoaningViolet]

Please let us know how you get on with the dermatologist. Good luck 🤞

[agingfeminist in reply to CarolF1312]

I wonder if you had those sensitivities and the pred suppressed the reactions. Remove the pred and the allergy/sensitivity was no longer suppressed.

[CarolF1312 in reply to agingfeminist]

Hi, I understand the logic. However I was using the same products for years prior to starting Pred without any sensitivities. I have thought that perhaps skin thinning due to using Pred for 4 years has caused the sensitivity ?

[agingfeminist in reply to CarolF1312]

skin thinning does make the skin more fragile and perhaps more sensitive...interesting idea

[agingfeminist in reply to CarolF1312]

skin thinning does make the skin more fragile and perhaps more sensitive...interesting idea

[AtopicGuy]

Getting a proper diagnosis is key. The wrong treatments can make things worse.

[jarn]

Since PMR is an autoimmune disease, there are so many other results in the system. I formerly had a small patch of psoriasis at the nape of my neck and once I started prednisone, it disappeared. As my prednisone was reduced, and for a few weeks I was down to a zero, or thought I was, the psoriasis reappeared. Now that I am back to to milligrams of prednisone, the patch is disappeared again. So I don't know the relationship as such, but I just know with autoimmune diseases so many changes seem to appear. Good luck with your doctor visit then hopefully you post what the result was

[TheMoaningViolet in reply to jarn]

Yes, I am resisting the temptation to pop a Prednisolone pill, which I know would take it all away. 🙄

[Sunnyday365]

Sorry for your issues, but always glad to hear that there is hope to get off prednisone. There is an issue with topical steroids - TSW topical steroid withdrawal, that can cause extreme skin issues with many, but not all. I wonder if the oral could also cause some withdrawal issues. Good luck and let us know any results.