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Remiciad and Acne.....Coincidence

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/6/2011 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,...
Just started taking Remicaid in September and since then I have noticed my face has been breaking out really bad, I have severe acne around my mouth - mostly chin area. It's really red, bumpy and sore. I've had crohns for over 15 years and have tried all sorts of meds, and surgery. Never before have I had acne like this...the occasional pimple her and there but this is debilitating. Does anyone else have this problem? My GI doesn't think it's related, but said he would recommend tricyclen to help it. Although my GP thinks it is related and that Tri-cyclen will affect the crohns....so now I'm stuck looking like a 13 year old going through puberty at the age of 31!

Help!!!
Posted 5/6/2011 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Are you also on Prednisone? Just wondering becuz I have heard about Pred causing acne, but not Remicade. Maybe someone else had that happen, but I don't recall anyone saying they have. Welcome to the forum by the way.
Posted 5/6/2011 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had acne on my back for a few months after starting Humira and it went away on its own.
Posted 5/6/2011 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
No Pred, just Remiciad and Pentasa.
Just wondering because it's been really bad, and not getting any better since starting the Remicaid. Which isn't even working for the crohns....so frustrating!
Posted 5/6/2011 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
are the blisters painful? are you sure it's not a herpes simplex infection? that would make more sense coinciding with remicade
Posted 5/6/2011 11:53 PM (GMT 0)

In 2008, the FDA reported in a safety newsletter that "Safety reviews of [TNF-alpha] antagonists, infliximab [Remicade, Centocor Inc], etanercept [Enbrel, Manufactured by Immunex Corporation; marketed by Amgen and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals], and adalimumab [Humira, Abbott] identified rare cases of serious skin reactions, including erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), associated with the use of these biological products," the newsletter states. "The product labeling for infliximab has been updated to describe postmarketing reports of serious skin reactions. [The] FDA is continuing to analyze what, if any, revisions to product labeling are needed for etanercept and adalimumab."

We have had several members that have developed severe skin breakouts while on Remicade or Humira. I'll give you the link to the entire article so you can share it with your doctor in case you need to see a dermatologist.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571633

Posted 5/7/2011 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Crohnie,

How long after your first infusion did the acne start to show up?
Posted 5/7/2011 7:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chronie,

I started having "acne" after my second infusion. The GI didn't think it was related, but the Derm did. However, since I was on birthcontrol, we didn't try tricycline (sp?) We tried Differin (sp?) gel for acne. That helped a little, but dried my skin out to the point that I actually looked better with the "acne." We also tried a steroid cream, an antibiotic cream, different combos of those and a vitamin d lotion. Also tried a couple of antibiotics that didn't work against the birth control. Those just gave me D.

Some of the spots on my face looked to be psoriasis-like and others like acne. After the biopsy, it was determined that it was foliculitis. (However, I did have a couple of spots that acted like psoriasis and resolved themselves with the steroid cream)

So what worked? Well, it's been a year of trying to figure it out. I even went off bc thinking it could be related to bc/imuran/remicade reacting to each other. All of the lotions/creams worked, but only a tiny bit. And you have to be careful with steroid cream, longterm use thins your skin and turns it silvery. One thing that seems to affect it is on the day of the infusion. I get 50 mgs of pred before the infusion. Within 24-48 hours my face clears up to what it was before all this mess. My face always breaks out again after that.

Something that happened just the other day though.....I usually put on sunscreen but forgot one day. I got a good dose of sun (but not burned) and my face started clearing. Will the bumps return? I don't know. We'll see.

If you find a solution, please let me know!!!!! You are the only person who has described something similar to what I have going on!
Posted 5/7/2011 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
I have been to a dermatologist and she thinks it acne, but says that nothing can be done because of having crohns. I have a topical gel to use morning and night, it dries out my face and after about a week will clear up the spot, but then another cyst starts somewhere else. It's so frustrating....this is the first time in my life I've had acne and can only relate it to the Remiciad.

It started just after my first infusion....maybe about a week or 2 later. I have an appt with the Derm again in June and with my GI at the end of June.

I have friends who are on Remi and don't have this problem. At my wits end here.....
Posted 5/7/2011 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
It does sound like it might be a reaction. Sorry you are having this issue. Hopefully, they will figure out how to fix it. Hugs!
Posted 5/7/2011 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chronie,
When my son was on steroids he was plastered in a rash from head to toe and developed severe acne on his face.After weaning off the steroids the rash disappeared but the acne continued with a vengeance. His GP prescribed Zineryt which worked to a degree(topical lotion), then he was prescribed retin-a cream, again which had some sucess(especially at reducing the redness of his skin) but the acne still persisted. Went back to GP who was reluctant to prescribe anything oral due to crohn's and his other meds so referred him to dermatologist(this was 3 months ago and his first appointment is next Wednesday!!) Not wanting to let his acne run riot during the three month wait for appt I purchased him a product from the health food shop called Blue Flag Compond and it has really worked extremely well for him, so much so that the appt next week I think, will hinge more on treatment(laser?) to deal with the after affects of the acne as opposed to the acne itself. Here in the Uk it costs just under £10 for a month's supply and it is all natural. I was told that it could cause upset stomach so son started on the lower dose initially(with no problems) was also told that his skin could get worse before it got better(again he didn't experience this)have to remind son to take and re-order prescriptive drugs for Crohns but this is not the case with this product. I would seriously consider giving it a go.
Posted 5/7/2011 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much Vixen, I might go check it out and see. I have an appt with the Dermatologist at the begining of June, but I fear they will say nothing can be done. Most Drs are reluctant to give anything oral because of the crohns, and seems like the topical creams just aren't working.
Posted 5/7/2011 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Edit-it should be Compound and not Compond doh!!
I know where you are coming from regarding Drs reluctance and it is understandable especially as I guess you could say that Crohn's is more important to keep under control than the acne BUT acne is so visible.
It will be interesting to see what is said to us next week at appt as medical profession do tend to dismiss non-prescriptive treatments or say it is a coincidence.
Posted 5/8/2011 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I looked it up online and so far i've only seen it in the UK, but I will check here in Canada. If not, my sister in law is a nutritionist so she might have some helpful tips or something else to try!

yes, If I knew the Remiciad was working then I would just suffer with this....but I don't think it is....we'll see what the Dr has to say when I see him next month.

Thanks for the advice though, I'm hoping we have it here and it will work. I don't know how much worse it could get. I used to have perfect skin and now it's just out of control.
Posted 5/8/2011 9:09 AM (GMT 0)
As an afterthought, a product that was recc to me from someone out your way was one by Natures Sunshine which I couldn't get here, so that may be an alternative.
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