Hey guys,

Just wondering if any of you have had strange rashes while on prednisone...I have these little itchy pimples all on my scalp, particularly behind my ears. They're really itchy, and I've noticed that I'm getting tiny bald spots around them...

Has anyone else had anything like this?


Thanks!
Nicky

This could be a scalp fungal infection.

There is a special OTC shampoo called Nizoral. Selsun also makes products that work. Give those a try.
People on high dose prednisone can get skin fungal attacks.
This is due to the reduced immune response in the skin and also the elevated blood sugar the pred causes. If you perspire alot, this also feeding skin fungal organisms.

There is also a liquid anti-inflammatory liquid called Scalpicin.
It works pretty well. The doctor can write an RX for stronger types, but the OTC one can work well and is less expensive.

What Mrs.D said sounds about right

I would add to that, it could also be folliculitis which is a staph infection of the skin. That's common to with steroids. You should really see your primary doctor to be absolutely sure.

Did you ever get rechecked for celiac? That can cause "bumps" too.

Thanks, guys!

I went to the doctor today, and he said that it doesn't really look like a fungal infection, but he gave me an rx for it anyway, just in case...He said that it's pretty mild, whatever I have...

I still haven't been re-checked for the Celiac's...It's weird, because I have had these pimples before, in the same areas--long before I started the prednisone...How does Celiac's cause these bumps?

Thanks!
Nicky

This article is pretty good.

http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologi...s_herpeti.html

Darn it, Nicky, get those tests redone!!!! If you have celiac, your small intestines are being destroyed. Prednisone may even mask celiac - some cases of refractory celiac have been shown to get better with Pred, since it IS an autoimmune disease!!!! GEEZ!!!!!

I get the itchy damn bumps if I get some hidden gluten.

It's a good thought to assume it's the drug but I have to wonder in your case if it is celiac. If the rash spreads, go back in. I had folliculitis on Pred really bad. But then I got an antibiotic and got the lovely secondary infection Clostridium Difficile.

Have a good night . . . and call your doctor (or a gastroenterologist since they deal with celiac) in the morning! Oh, and being on Pred can make the celiac antibodies disappear, just like the MG antibodies would. You may need an upper endoscopy where they take several little biopsies of your small intestines. It's not a horrid test - I had it done.

Annie

Hello again honey!

I DID have little bumps and showed them to Dr. I - mind you, this was over a year ago - he immediately (and I mean immediately) have me tested for celiac - negative - and they went away.

I also came down with terrible acne - all over my body - but that went away with Retin -A.

I KNOW you are going through a lot right now and am praying for you - you deserve a BREAK!

Love,
ERin

Yeah...I'm definately going to ask my doc. to test me for Celiac's disease...I had no idea that this was a symptom! I've had these little pimples on and off for a few years, but they weren't as persistant as they are now....My hair's really oily, and some comes out while I'm taking a shower...

I have a lot of facial acne too-mainly on my chin. I got it after waxing, though...Basically, things aren't looking up in the looks depot...lol

Thanks for your help, guys! Things do suck right now, but hopefully, will get better! Have a good night!

Nicky

I am sorry Nicky...I hit "edit" instead of "quote" in response to your post.... So your last post shows my correction for this error... I should never type without my tea in the morning!

Here is my reply:
I would clean the skin before the waxing, with alcohol...kill off any Staph that is there before the procedure.

Your description sounds alot like Cushing's or at least PCOS. The pred can cause it or make it worse if you have it already. Androgens increase the chin hair and cause increased oiliness. You can ask the doctor for a blood test for testosterone. You might be surprised at the result! I've had PCOS all my life and understand chin hair! Mine all stopped when I started a simple supplement made for PCOS patients (to help with fertility issues). This supplement is a form of inositol, called d-chiro inositol. It also helps with the increased blood sugar caused by the hormones. (insulin resistance) . I've been using it twice a day since last Feb, and it has been wonderful. No more facial hair! The 10 or so remaining resistant hairs I can easily handle now (they are thinner and don't grow fast)! heheheheh. I wish this was known when I was younger...I would have been able to have more children (I have only the one son).
Here is the website with information:
https://www.chiralbalance.com/store/index
I can't see this simple inositol having any conflict with MG either.

All the oily hair/face is gone too. And I have more energy.

Most of the rashes from Celiac/gluten intolerance also appear on the body. This rash is called dermatitis herpetiformis and is very itchy. Here is a thread that explains the results from blood testing:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread105601.html
and
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread104889.html

I think getting tested for this is a very good idea. Chronic gluten intolerance leads to all sorts of autoimmune neurological problems in some patients.

Hey Mrs. D


Thanks so much for that info., it's really helpful! I agree that I think it's the androgens. Funny, I've always had a few chin and neck hairs...Like really thick, black ones. I think that this is why I got the Cushing's side-effects from the prednisone so quickly, maybe because I already had sorta a bit of an inbalance in sex hormones (although my periods have always been pretty normal up until the prednisone). I also no longer have periods (since predinsone), so definately, the hormones are out of wack. I saw a gyno. a few weeks ago. He said that if I haven't had my periods by our next visit (in January), we'll try hormones to induce one, but I don't want to go this route. I think that I like your idea better. I'm going to gather up some info. on that supplement and bring it to him and see what he thinks. I actually miss having my periods. I feel like such a 'dude' what with the facial hair, and lack of a period! lol

I looked up the herpetiformus rash and it doesn't resemble my rash at all. Mine's not that severe. They're just like these dry, itchy pimples, mainly around my hairline. My hair also 'hurts' when I move it. It's possible that it's acne, maybe. Also, my wounds heal very poorly too, so I guess that they might get infected more easilly and cause an acne-like appearance. I also have high blood glucose.

I will definately ask my doc. for the antibody test for Celiac's. I don't know if I want to have a biopsy right now. Last time I had a stomach procedure (colonoscopy/duodenoscopy), it was sorta brutal. I couldn't eat for the whole day before, and I just felt really ill for a while after.


Thanks!
Nicky