red bumps on face

Hi Lucy, Its really hard to say . . . but there are a couple links at the end of my signature that might help. "4 of 11" will show you how they dx Lupus. Sorry your meds aren't helping enough. Do take a picture of your rash. It may be interesting and helpful to the doctor at your next rheumy appointment. Also document your symptoms. Blessings!

Hey Lucy, That's why we take pictures. Let the doctor decide what the skin issue is. I thought of one other thing. Make sure that you don't wear ANY makeup at your rheumy appointment. They can get quite a bit of information just from your bare skin. Be freshly showered, but no moisturizer, no makeup, no lipstick. No creme rinse in your hair. No hair product. Sometimes we can really hide our sick hair and skin. The doctor can get some good clues if we don't hide them. Just a thought. Blessings!

Hi Lucy,

That's exactly how my malar rash always starts out. The very first time I had it my rheumy told me it was not, but a few days later I saw her again and the bumps had spread open. She took one look at me and said, "That's a lupus rash!".

Hi Robin & Pat - I was out in the sun a little bit - we were in GA and it was too hot to stay out long - but we did walk on the river parkway in the sun - and while I had sunglasses on (big ones) I forgot to put sunblock on. The bumps came on slowly over the next few days - reached a certain level that I found mildy alarming, and then began dissipating. I tried to get a picture - but it really didn't show much today, and I'm afraid the Dr. will think I'm a hypochondriac if I take that in. My face tends to be red anyway - I'm a fair skinned, freckled redhead.

Robin, when you say the bumps spread open....do you mean it became like a solid patch? These things seem to just be going away. And Pat - I have noticed that my face feels very rough - kinda sandpaperish from time to time and I've been trying to figure out why. I'm assuming you had redness with the rash you described. Does Lupus change the texture of your skin? I've been assuming it's from aging (I'm 54).

Thanks for the help, Ladies - it means a lot!
Lucy

Thanks

Hey Robin -
I've been reading old posts about malar rash and I guess it can take many forms. Your description is helpful. I think it is possible that I just have a mild form of rash that is worse some times more than others. Some people described theirs as a blush that doesn't go away. So my thinking of a malar rash in terms of it only being a very dark red color in a solid patch across cheeks and nose was uninformed. I'm going to start paying more attention to my face and get those pictures right away when it acts up.


Thanks for the hat and moisturizer tips, too - very helpful!
Lucy

I guess I'm wondering the same thing right now....rosacea...or lupus rash?  My sister has been dx'd w/ rosacea - hers got pretty bad - and her face is always much redder than mine - though she has no symptoms of the autuimmune thing. 

Since I started looking at pictures of lupus rash, I've come to realize that I may have been mis-diagnosed with ringworm (large circular thing on my neck under my jaw, and nowhere else - urgent care doc) and a few years ago  I had a huge ulcer on my hand, certain it was cancer, it was so crater like....but couldn't get into the derm for 3 weeks, so in the meantime I applied vitamin E - which took care of the problem and it was gone when I saw the derm (never to return). Also have had small infections/ulcers in my nail beds - which is what sent me back to a rheumie over a year ago (in conjunction w/ the pain&fatigue sx).

It's just hard right now in diagnosis limbo....I hate to dismiss something relevant (as I have done in the past) but I don't want to be driven crazy by every little thing that may have a connection.  As I have learned more, I realize that I have probably been dealing with this for quite a few years.... with quite a few different symptoms and I want the mystery solved and treatment to help me feel better....like yesterday!!!