butterfly rash of lupus?

[anbuma]

is this typical butterfly rash of lupus .over nose and cheeks + swelling

[RedApple Administrator]

The pic is a bit too small for me to tell much, but I'm commenting here because I got similar symptoms when first diagnosed hypo and put on levothyroxine. My GP also thought Lupus and had me tested, but thankfully it was negative. Never did understand why it happened, but as time went on it seemed to happen less and less. If you're experiencing facial swelling (with or without a tingling sensation), you could try OTC generic antihistamines such as loratadine and cetirizine to see if it helps. This is something I also experience with levothyroxine.

[anbuma in reply to RedApple]

btu you have to be prescribed these?

[RedApple Administrator in reply to anbuma]

If you are referring to my suggestion of 'OTC generic antihistamines', then no you don't need a prescription. OTC stands for Over The Counter, which means you can just buy them yourself from any pharmacy. Most commonly sold for hayfever, but that is in fact only one of the things that antihistamines are used for.

[Tatty10]

Hi i have a similar rash, and was diagnosed with rosacea, i have had a tt and have many other skin problems vitiligo, fungal and bacterial skin infections, as well as having a malignant melanoma i think they are all related to thyroid problems.

[anbuma in reply to Tatty10]

I have never been referred to a dermatologist even tho asked my GP for referrals and fro referral to ENTagain to sort my nose out he hasn't done so

hope when I see my rheumy in march he will listento me this time and do something.who diagnosed you did oyu see a dermatologist

[marram]

There used to be a term used to describe a well known (but obviously since forgotten) term: Malar Flush. It described the butterfly-effect flush which MANY hypothyroid women get when they have severe, untreated hypothyroidism.

This article was primarily about the mental effects of hypothyroidism (Myxoedematous Madness, they called it ) but the photographs are very interesting particularly as most of the women in the 'before' photographs exhibited this Malar Flush. You might find it hard going to read the article but the pictures are amazing:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Thank you, Helvella, for posting this originally.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to marram]

Thanks for the reminder Marram. I had completely forgotten that the photos in this article show the malar flush in severe hypo. For me, the flush did not become evident until I had started thyroid hormone treatment. Before that my skin exhibited the typical waxen colour. I remember looking in the mirror and wondering who the waxwork face looking back at me was.

[Lizzy1606 in reply to marram]

Very interesting ,my left eye closes when i am hypo ,more proof to show gp ,thanks for posting.

[Hidden in reply to marram]

What a great doctor this was, and how illuminating his comment that the best proof of diagnosis was to take a photo, give thyroid treatment, then take another photo a few months later.

And how chilling the comment that women were left uncertified so he could give thyroid treatment - how many women have been locked up unnecessarily over the years?

[Framboise]

I had a neighbour with Lupus, she had a very dark rash across the top of her nose and under her eyes which looked like a bad bruise, almost black, it was in a very distinctive butterfly shape i.e. like a bow with the narrow bit in the middle of her nose. This photo doesn't look the same - which I hope is good!

[helen0701]

I think it looks like rosacea xx

[bantam12]

Yes it does look very like rosacea.

[Clutter]

Yup, looks like Rosacea to me, too.

Sis had Graves and rosacea. Skin was incredibly oily and lumpy. She saw a dermatologist and was prescribed long term antibiotics which controlled, but not cured, it.

Post RAI she still has flare ups and resumes antibiotics which also contain a sedative for a period until it calms.

[anbuma in reply to Clutter]

my skin doesn't feel oily but quite dry.what I can feel is the prominence of my cheek and brow bones which are painful to touch especially at the top of my nose

[anbuma]

have thought it could be rosacea btu as dismissed by dr and rheumy and no referral to dermatologist and having fibro which was just muscular until 2011 when htinsg got worse and affected joints skin bones etc.and this is when problems with gP began as gave me no clue to anything. there are sero negative bloods so still could be lupus .rheumy never told me he had tested for lupus.so many diseases have similar symptoms

[Ann689]

Hi Anbuma,

This sounds like Rosacea, I too was diagnosed with this and find the antibiotics keep it controlled.

Also during flare ups (really red and hot to touch) I use a cooling cream for Rosacea that seems to counter act the redness and heat. Clinique have a range of products for Rosacea which I find help too.

I found this website helpful rosacea.org/

I hope this may give you information you need to help diagnose or disregard.

[anbuma]

aren't antibiotics only prescribed short term .I have always only had them fro 3 days

[Ann689 in reply to anbuma]

These are different antibiotics to what you get for viruses, this particular antibiotic concentrates on the skin to help keep the spots and papules away, I was advised to take them daily with the supervision of my GP.

[gingo in reply to Ann689]

which antibiotic do you use please?

[Ann689 in reply to gingo]

I use lymecycline (tetracycline, as its other name)