Anyone else get the butterfly Malar rash on their face?

I read that some with FM get a faint butterfly malar rash on their face from time to time.
I don't have Lupus, so I wonder what causes it and how its related to FM.
I wonder how many of you all get them?

Malar buttefly Rash on face, images:
/www.google.com/search?q=malar+rash+butterfly&rlz=1C1AFAB_enUS496US496&espv=210&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rNSbUsTPDo7qkAfr5oDACw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=642

I get pink blotchy rashes on my cheeks that are raised and almost slightly pimply/bumpy,
and what makes it distinctive is that is spans across the top of the bridge of my nose to the other cheek.
It usually hangs around for a day or so and then fades.

Things that seem to trigger it:

-Major stress
-Eating the wrong food
-prolonged sleep deprivation

I wonder if its indicative of an autoimmune response, being that its indicated in Lupus,
and Lupus is an autoimmune issue within the body.

Just curious.

Post Edited (CharmCityLady) : 12/1/2013 5:44:56 PM (GMT-7)

I have the same thing and plan on discussing with rheumy on next visit. With me, I really think it is busted blood vessels but it seems strange that it only shows over my cheeks and nose.

i don't get this at all, but know others that do and they don't have lupus either.

I was sure I had lupus because of the symtoms and the face rash on both cheeks. I was negative for lupus, so I went to a dermatologist. I had melasma. It's like a pregnancy mask, but I am not pregnant. It's brown and permanent unless you do expensive treatment on it. Mine probably came from sun damage and being Spanish.

Hmm.. interesting.
I looked at the Rosacea pictures and the Lupus butterfly pictures and my face seems to be somewhere in between the two.

It feels like this:

First, my face feels very, very hot and flushed, almost as if my skin is becoming inflamed or my skin has just been sunburned. Heat!
I go to the mirror, and sure enough, the butterfly shape has appeared.
Eventually the redness fades, but my skin is left feeling a tad rougher and dryer.

Sorry to be so gross, but there is no "pus" . Just red inflamed blotchy looking skin in the shape of a butterfly.

So weird. Started with the rest of my body dysfunctions, which makes me believe they are all connected. I wonder why.
Mrs Bugzy, I have no celiac diagnosis but I do have food sensitivities. I wonder if its connected.

Sometimes I notice it occurs with an FM/CFS "flare" and is accompanied by exhaustion, cog-issues and weakness.

@couchtater

Thanks for your input.

I was very convinced I had Lupus for quite awhile, and have gotten tested for it at least 3 times, partly in due to the butterfly rashes and hair loss (and of course the other FM-symptoms I have). Doc's kept saying I didn't have it when tests came out normal so I got fed up and went to the official Lupus website to get a list of recommended docs for Lupus, and made an appointment with one of the rheumy's who belonged to the Lupus Foundation of America's scientific advisory board. I figured that the only way any doc could convince me I *didn't* have Lupus was if he was one of the leading Lupus experts. He diagnosed me with FM/CFS, and not Lupus. So, as of today, FM/CFS it is limited to.

We spoke extensively over Lupus, and he mentioned to me that he believed too many people with Lupus diagnoses have been misdiagnosed, and actually have FM or CFS instead. Its hard to remember exactly what he said because it was almost 3 years ago, but it was an interesting conversation. I felt settled with his diagnosis and explanation, although something new could always change a diagnosis in the future.