UC and skin rash

I started out with UP a year and a half ago. This most recent flare has been 3 months, and my dr believes it has progressed to UC. I just started on Lialda. I have seen mention of skin rash coinciding with UC flares, but can't find much info on it. The ones I've seen have been on the legs. I have two patches of rash that have been there for about 2 mos. Small red bumps, like pimples but they're not. Located on my right flank, and right peri-umbilical area. They itch and burn when I wash them. I use Dial soap daily, and have applied hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. They've dried up some but have not gone away.

Does anyone else have rashes, or is this totally unrelated to the UC?

Thanks.

I had a skin rash about a year and a half ago.  I wasn't flarring at the time, but shortly after I did.  I went to my GP and he said it looked like contact dermatis.  He put me on 15 mg pred for a week or two and it went away.  I couldn't figure out what was causing the rash.  Laundry detergent, soap, poison ivy or poison oak etc.?  Anyway, it went away and I forgot about it.  A couple of weeks ago I came across something in my readings that made me wonder if the rash could have been the result of my auto immune imbalance.

First, have you changed your detergent or been wearing new clothes? It sounds liek you may have contact dermatitis, which is essentially a skin allergy. I sometimes get itchy, bumpy rashes from certain detergents or wearing wool.

Second, have you been checked for eczema, psoriasis, etc?

Also, question about the rash itself. Do the bumps look clear or opaque? Clear looking bumps are almost ALWAYS an allergic reaction and are generally seen in cases of poison ivy, oak, etc.

For now, try either diphenyhydramine (benydryl) in cream or pill form, hydrocortisone, or calamine.

Thanks for all the replies! No new detergent, clothes or foods. I know it isn't poison ivy/oak. (I've never had it in my 46 yrs even though exposed, and it's the dead of winter) It isn't clear bumps, but many small red bumps in two distinct areas of the trunk. I've never had a rash last this long and not respond to various treatments. I've used rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Dial soap, and cortisone ointment. It doesn't itch constantly, but does itch some of the time. I haven't mentioned it to my GI, but plan to mention it to my IM dr on my next visit.

I'm in the midst of a 3 mo flare. Just started Lialda last wk and have continued Rowasa. Dr asked if I wanted to try prednisone but I declined, in hopes that the Lialda will work for me. I just don't want the side effects of pred. I've been gaining wt as it is, and I already have anxiety/depression and bad sleep habits! The autoimmune factor is the only explanation I've come up with. Makes me wonder what else is in store. My GI has not discussed the symptoms outside the GI system. Hopefully my GP will help shed some light.
Thanks.

hi Kerrplunk -

my skin issues are caused by the food choices i make - if i do dairy, i get an itchy patch on my left butt cheek - any grains, my left thigh - still not sure about the other less significant ones (small areas on right hand, right lower leg, upper left arm, etc) but i know they are from what i'm eating or drinking - and coincidentally, the more skin problems i have, the more poop issues i have - just another way my body is trying to tell me it doesn't always agree with what i do to it - bottom line, i make it a priority to eat the right stuff for MY body - your results may vary -

like so many allergy type occurances, they do take time to manifest - one day you feel on top of the world, the  next day, all hell breaks loose -

if you haven't tried any kind of elimination diet, i would seriously give it some thought -

good luck - sorry you've had to join this group, but it's a great family to be a part of :-) 

 Lonnie

They are pimple-like really only in size and shape. Flea bites might be a better description. One patch has started to dry or scab over some. They still feel rough (can't see them well due to location) but don't itch as much. Haven't linked anything to food, but I'll try to pay more attn. Of course, these bumps started months ago and no new ones have shown up.

I got some skin problems too. Started about 7 months ago after taking Humira(which I have stopped). The skin stuff started two weeks after Humira, and was big bumps on my scalp(never had anything like this before) Then it turned into small patches of psoriasis like flaky skin on my lower stomach, then up torso, spread to arms, and then to back, and then full on chest. Last was the feet, which spread up legs quite a bit.
The long story short is the doctors felt it was a reaction to Humira. They prescribed Clobetosol which is a potent steroid cream. That did not seem to help at all, I tried that stuff for about a month and a half. Had to discontinue since they said prolonged use could thin the skin.
Was prescribed a less strong steroid cream at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, have used it for about three months. Most of the skin stuff has gone away, however the rash/psoriasis stuff on both my feet and some on hands is stll there.

Not quite sure what the deal is. I am on NO medications at all minus the tiny amount of steroid cream. It is quite strange. Considering my UC has been sleeping for about 5 months, I don't worry about it too much. Of course, when it comes a year and the stuff is still there, I am not sure what I will do. If you want to see some pictures of it, let me know via email and I can point you in the right direction.

I get the rash in my elbow creases and it is UGLY and ANNOYING.  Sometimes itchy, but rarely burns.  It starts out with little red dots and as time goes on, it increases in diameter, but the "circle" goes from red dots to a solid light pink/red "circle" area.  The edges of the circle/rash become dry looking.  I usually get the rash right before a flare, and soon after the rash goes away, my UC calms down.  My GI prescribed an anti-fungal cream with a topical steriod.  Worked magic, but I've run out and haven't gone back to get a refill.  They said I can use OTC fungal cream and topical steriods, but it didn't work as good as that other stuff the DOC prescribed.  I'm meeting with him next week and will get the name and a new script.

Hi Kerrplunk -

I get IRITIS, inflammation of the iris. Very painful. For me, the white part of my eye becomes red, it starts to hurt to move my eyes from side to side or up and down, then it become sensitive to the touch, and they are very sensitive to light and feels like some is stabbing your eyeball when you get a glimpse of sunlight.

Awww, I should go in there a update my signature. Lot's has changed this year....LOL. I'm back in a flare up...was in remission for 11 months. Still trying to get out of it...I will have been flaring for 2 months exactly this coming Friday. AARGH!

Glad to hear you are seeing an end to your 3 month flare...here's hoping it's a long remission for you!

Thanks Kerrplunk! YES....UC can manifest to other parts of the body. It is not uncommon for people with UC to develop other "weird" symptoms outside of the colon. Skin and Eyes are big ones from what I've been told. When I get something new, my internist or eye doctor will say "Yep, not surprised with you having UC and all....this is common."

BigFrankie -

Before ever getting the rashes in the creases of my elbows, I used to get the most excrusiating pain in my elbows (about year before the elbow pain, my wrists hurt - thought that was carpel tunnel, but it went away after a few months). I was getting cortisone shots in my elbows to help releive the pain. Then after about 2 years, the joint pain went away, and a few months later, I started getting these dang rashes.

I also get pain in my hips where your legs attach. That joint pain is awful when trying to stand up after sitting for a while....the pain is much much worse when I'm in a flare.

This is very facsinating. Like I've been told, UC can manifest to other parts of your body...it's autoimmune and it's inflammation so I'm not surprised anymore when parts of me ache that didn't used to or weird skin manifestations pop up. I just shake my head and say, "Oh Well."