Does anyone have problems with pathergy?

[Shell567]

Pathergy is when lesions can develop in an area where the skin is damaged or irritated. It affects some Sweet's syndrome patients but not all, and I appear to be one of them.

In my case, SS lesions can sometimes appear when I pluck my eyebrows; wax my legs (I have to carefully shave instead); when my skin is scratched; on my scalp if I brush my hair too roughly; in areas where my skin is irritated by health & beauty, cleaning products e.t.c.

I would be really interested to know if anyone else has problems with this.

Thanks.

Pathergy and skin sensitivity in Sweet’s syndrome: helpforsweetssyndromeuk.wor...

[REVIN4GOD]

Yes, I do have problems with lesions forming when my skin is damaged by cuts or scrapes. My wife was the one that pointed this out to me. She would notice a cut or scrape and the next thing i knew I was treating a SS lesion there. Since I get so many nicks and cuts on my legs I usually do not notice them, but she does.

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK in reply to REVIN4GOD]

Thanks Revin4god!

It's something that drives me nuts sometimes, but at least we know why it's happening.

[tamiwild20]

I also have had a cat or one of my dogs scratch me and boom leasion will be in the same spot in a couple of days. Also my razor can cause it when I shave I have had a really bad break out from shaving loads of times.

[BsusieQ in reply to tamiwild20]

Do you have to take alot of prednisone? I take 60mg a day. I'm also on dapsone 100mg and cholchicine. My skin is like parchment paper. I've been in hospital X 5 in the last 3 months. I have a pneumonia that will not respond. Also getting IVIG monthly. Can anyone think of anything that will help. They are always thinking bacterial rather than viral?

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK in reply to BsusieQ]

Hi BsusieQ,

As your pneumonia isn't responding to antibiotics, it might be your Sweet's syndrome. SS that affects the lungs is sometimes misdiagnosed as pneumonia: helpforsweetssyndromeuk.wor...

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK in reply to Shell567]

Here's a full-list of SS medications: helpforsweetssyndromeuk.wor...

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Thanks Tamiwild20,

Sometimes, it's good to know that I'm not going mad, and that other people have also experienced the same thing.

[BsusieQ in reply to Shell567]

One of my children think im doing it to myself, thats also maddening

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK in reply to BsusieQ]

It is! Sometimes Sweeties are accused of causing their own lesions.

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Blog information on pathergy updated: helpforsweetssyndromeuk.wor...

[grannyjones]

my hands get bad lesions but as soon as I see the smallest spot with a black dot use the cortisone seems to be cat and the garden but my tongue and joints burn also, not good for your mental state.

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK in reply to grannyjones]

Hi grannyjones,

Cat scratches can sometimes trigger my lesions too. Joint pain is a fairly common symptom of SS, and in some people can affect the mouth, including the tongue: helpforsweetssyndromeuk.wor...

SS negatively affecting mental state is so true, and you often find yourself worrying over the smallest spot or rash because you know that it might be the start of a flare-up: skinsupport.org.uk/

[grannyjones]

my last 2 blood tests are showing something like I am drinking alcohol which I don't could this be something to do with my sweets and my red cells are large

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Hi granny jones,

Large red blood cells (macrocytosis) are not a symptom of Sweet's syndrome. Large red blood cells can be caused by something other than too much alcohol.

Mayo Clinic: mayoclinic.org/macrocytosis...

Patient.info: patient.info/health/anaemia...

[TKRN]

Yes, I will cut a cut that (sometimes) turns into a lesion.