Increased Skin Symptoms /rashes during recovery?

My partner and I have both been ill for over 5 years now. Although my partner is probably 80 % recovered now. I am still struggling at around 40-50%.

I have all the classic Lyme symptoms and a positive Lyme test from Armin labs Germany after several negative UK NHS tests. I also suspect Bartonella or similar organism from the clinical picture( testing for Bart is v problematic).
So far, I have only v slowly responded to antibiotics and Buhner herbs and now trying an extended Buhner protocol and antibiotics combined and making v slow but so far steady progress.

One odd thing that I would like to check with others on this forum is around skin symptoms becoming worse during treatment.
My partner and I have both had odd pustules in our skin - typically small just a 1mm or so across – not very red or sore at first - but contain a hard white core and will remain for weeks if left alone.
v similar to this from the Lyme resources page on this forum

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPCghqfePpqXpT0idln_kuFl82Q8NrezteAzVozBrfyNXvLJ_F7ld8GgwJPRwrvPQ?key=VUV5R1hEZUViR2tsbjgtUDR0dkRMS1BHUHItb0dn

this image in particular
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPCghqfePpqXpT0idln_kuFl82Q8NrezteAzVozBrfyNXvLJ_F7ld8GgwJPRwrvPQ/photo/AF1QipNH6CAaAvJaIkTSBgwV81_8vx4zNtJveT6goZrj?key=VUV5R1hEZUViR2tsbjgtUDR0dkRMS1BHUHItb0dn

These are most common on the legs around the lower thigh / above the knees and upper arms but to a lesser extent on lower legs, lower arms (underside) and flanks.

Link to photo of my arm VIEW IMAGE

Link to photo of my leg VIEW IMAGE

Link to photo of my leg VIEW IMAGE

They are very slow to heal and leave scars that are somewhat unusual - either darker than surrounding skin (especially where the skin is pale / untanned) or the scars are white with no pigment at all on darker areas like forearms.
VIEW IMAGE

During treatment with antibiotics (Doxycycline, Azithromycin, Rifampicin) these typically get much worse and appear all over my legs and arms, flanks and buttocks.

The same thing happens with antimicrobial herbs - like Sida Acuta, Teasel and Houttuynia
I have read 1 or 2 other patient accounts with a brief mention of skin issues getting worse during recovery but not come across anything along these lines from LLMD’s

I have not seen much discussion of this in all my reading to date so I would be very grateful if anyone with experience of this could share their thoughts.
My questions are
• Have others here experienced this during recovery?
• Did it turn out to be a positive sign of recovery - or just get worse over time?
• Did you feel / know it was linked to any particular infection / organism?

Post Edited (Garzie) : 7/22/2020 4:29:51 AM (GMT-6)

I have had white bumps like that before. A couple years ago, I had a lot of them on my legs. I had them on my arms before, too. Sometimes they would get cut and blead when I shaved, as it would shave the top off. I never knew what they were or why I had them. It was especially noticeable in summer. I don’t have them this summer. They may have been a bartonella symptom or may have been related to detoxing via skin. I was treating more heavily then.

WalkingbyFaith said...
I have had white bumps like that before. A couple years ago, I had a lot of them on my legs. I had them on my arms before, too. Sometimes they would get cut and blead when I shaved, as it would shave the top off. I never knew what they were or why I had them. It was especially noticeable in summer. I don’t have them this summer. They may have been a bartonella symptom or may have been related to detoxing via skin. I was treating more heavily then.

thanks for the reply and sharing your experiences

it sounds v similar to this - I notice them when bathing - if I can't help squeezing or picking at them they will bleed

sometimes I will also get what seems to be tiny 2-3mm across fluid-filled blisters on my legs when I take a hot bath.

I also think they are linked to Bartonella - or Lyme - or the two together - possibly even mycoplasma. as i had a mild positive test for Mycoplasma Pn.
Bartonella is known to live in skin cells - Lyme also - and Mycoplasma is known to infect the fascia ( underlying layers of skin ).

I'm hoping its a sign of my body finally recognizing the infection there and dealing with it - but that may be wishful thinking. it's not that this symptom is in itself such a bid deal.

Just odd that it should be getting worse - when all other symptoms do seem to be gradually improving .....

I have had similar while I have been treating my Lyme. My skin is a mess.

Also, I had a flare up where I got a very intense underarm rash. I assumed it was a reaction to a deodorant, but then I went without for 2 weeks and it was only until I got some exzema cream that I got it to mostly go away. I have never had any rash like that in my life so after a couple weeks I have decided it was likely a result of Lyme detox.

MarkD said...
I have had similar while I have been treating my Lyme. My skin is a mess.

Also, I had a flare up where I got a very intense underarm rash. I assumed it was a reaction to a deodorant, but then I went without for 2 weeks and it was only until I got some exzema cream that I got it to mostly go away. I have never had any rash like that in my life so after a couple weeks I have decided it was likely a result of Lyme detox.

Thanks, Mark,

so it seems a few people at least have had similar - given that we are unlikely to see full representation here of those that have recovered - I take that as a tentatively positive sign.

My immune system has been severely depressed - causing me to get all sorts of trivial infections, ears, toenails, gut etc,( als v low CD57+ count) and that has reduced considerably as I have made slow and steady progress with my recovery.

so it may simply be a sign my immune system is starting to recognize unwelcome bacteria in the skin ( since we know that somewhere Lyme and Bart like to live) - at least that's what I would like to belive for now

Szabo246 said...
I get strange rashes it’s one of my main symptoms. They come and then randomly sometimes when I’m cold I come out with a red bump rash, recently getting petechiae too

thanks - thats interesting - do the rashes seem to occur more when you are treating the underlying illness with abx or similar ?

did you find you improved overall after the rashes?

your post reminds me - I also get an odd pinprick red rash all over my legs - usually when I get hot - if I look closely i can see that it is a uniform spaced pattern and that there is a tiny (1-2mm) red dot around each hear follicle.

I will try to take and post a photo when I notice it next

it's not that these skin symptoms bother me so much as I feel they may be a useful clue as to what is going on - or what organism is involved - at least that's why I am interested.

petechiae are associated with Bart and viruses - or so I have read
also, mycoplasma, as well as bart, is supposed to be associated with lots of unusual skin manifestations

I just looked back and my calendar and realized My armpit rashes started right after i had some here reactions to LL37 peptide. Not sure if the timing matters, but i do think i get rashes when I'm having die off.

I get the same kind of thing on my back. Not sure if it was related to die- off, but I think it's the bartonella.