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Skin Pigmentation & darkening??

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Posted 7/12/2007 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I went for my appt with the plastic surgeon today to see about removing the spider neivi on my face. She mentioned that I had pigmentation on my skin and my skin was in general very dark. Although I wear high sun cream I do tend to colour very easily. Do people with lupus that effects the skin get pigmentation or darkening more than those that don't? Just curious. Maybe because my skin is so sensitive to the sun it just takes the rays much easier, weird! Anyway, she agreed to remove the spider neivi with laser treatment, the waiting list is about 2 months so I'm really pleased. I have to avoid the sun for 6 week before the treatment (what sun! it's July and yet again we've got rain!)

Off topic, my Grandad started his radical radiotherapy today, he's in the hospital for 12 days and he gets 3 treatments a day, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him.

I had my second blood glucose testing for the diabetes, I should hear soon. The rest of my bloods are also back and I have to go see the gp next Wednesday because yet again my wbc is far too high, whats new!

OK, i got sidetracked there, just interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks x x

Posted 7/12/2007 6:52 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I've had lupus for 7 years and I *don't* get any extra darkening. I also am so sensitive to sun protection products that I seldom wear them, so if anyone should get darker you'd think it'd be me, but... NOPE. I'm my usual pale & pink self. Maybe you are one of those skin types that just naturally gets a bit darker with age? Some people do that. I'm interested in hearing how the spider removal on the face goes -- I've been toying with the idea. Is your insurance considering it optional or are they covering it? Cheers,
Posted 7/12/2007 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not 100% sure (may have to look it up) but I think that I read somewhere that there is a difference between sunscreen and sunblock. I'm not sure which one yours is though. I think sunscreen only blocks the UVB rays and not the UVA (or is that the other way around? lol) and sunblock blocks both. Again, I'm not too sure, I may need to do more research into that. After I read it though, I always make sure I wear sunblock. I am olive toned so I tend to get a little dark regardless and I always chauked it up to that reason but my husband is more olive skin than me and he doesn't seem to get darker and he hardly wears any sun protection (against my nagging :) ) so you got me wondering now.
Posted 7/12/2007 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi--
I'm so glad you decided to have the spider nevi taken care of. Did the dermatologist mention why you are getting them? If it's from roseacea or some other stuff, they may be able to give you a cream to prevent them in the future. I'm so happy for you! I have 50% hypopigmentation (pigment loss) and more and more hyperpigmentation as I age. I also tan easily because I have native american blood. I would see a dermatologist because they can run some blood work to see why this might be happening. Maybe you can get a referral. I know some of the medicines make you more sensitive to sunlight, but usually that involves burning easily and other symptoms. Plaquenil is supposed to bleach your skin and hair. I've been using some immunosuppressant cream called protopic that makes me more sensitive to sunlight and it is causing freckling and hyperpigmented spots. My arms always look tan, possible adrenal insufficiency or problem. I also have two hyperpigmented areas coming out from my hairline about even with my eyes, they are freckled. Is the hyperpigmentation golden or yellowish? if under your tongue or eyes are yellowish, you might be having some liver problems (you've heard of liver spots, hyperpigmented spots) and might need some blood work. Also, the more you lay out in the sun, the more melanin your body gets used to producing and after years you may just be producing more than you used to. I imagine steroids may effect this too, as you lose pigment when your thyroid is low, perhaps you gain it if something else is out of whack. Sorry I couldn't be more help.
Posted 7/13/2007 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have no idea if this is like what is happening to you, but when I first went on plaquenil I got some weird pigment changes on my forehead (some darkening) that has ended up being permanent. My rheumy said that plaquenil can make you even more sun sensitive, so it looks like some sun exposure along with the plaq caused my pigment changes. The rest of my body is as pale as ever though.
Posted 7/13/2007 6:56 PM (GMT 0)

I also have pigmentation on areas of my body - maily my arms/elbows.  It also gets better or worse depending on how high of a dose I am of Plaq.  The lower the dose (200mg) the lighter the pigmentation is, the higher the dose (400mg/day) the darker and larger the spots get. 

weird.  Rheumy said to not worry about it.  It doesn't hurt, itch etc.  It is just there.

Posted 7/13/2007 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, thanks for your replies. I'm not taking plaquenil so this wouldn't be the reason. I spend very little time in the sun but just look like I've been on sunbeds for weeks. I am having liver testing so maybe that might be something to do with it, who knows! it's probably just another of those weird symptoms that us lupies get! Love to all x
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