Butterfly Rash

[cgilsing]

Hi Everybody!

I have a strange symptom and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it. I have heard several times that people with Celiac disease are more prone to developing Lupus than other people, so since I have Celiac disease I thought I should probably educate myself some about the symptoms of Lupus. I started looking around online and I kept running into something called a butterfly rash as a symptom of Lupus. It is a rash that forms across your cheeks and nose in a butterfly shape. It has defined edges and doesn't just fade into the surrounding skin. I found some pictures of it and was really surprised to find that is looks EXACTLY like my face after a glass or two of wine. I sent the picture to my husband and he agrees that it looks the same. It doesn't look like I have a normal flush from alcohol. It is bright red splotches on my cheeks and sometimes my temples. It doesn't itch or burn, in fact when we are out I ask my husband every half hour or so how I look because I can't feel it happening. It looks strange enough though that one night I think my mom was about to put me in the car and take me to the doctor and I've left parties out of embarasment of how it looks. From what I have read people with Lupus suffer from this rash for weeks or even months at a time. My rash goes away in a few hours. They also mentioned a sensitivity to light that causes you to break out in a rash in sunlight. If I'm sun without sunscreen I don't burn, but I will get raised itchy bumps on my arms and legs. Is this something I should be concerned about? I don't have any other symptoms and my face rash doesn't seem to behave the same way that the rash that people with Lupus get, but still, it looks exactly the same.....I don't know, I just thought someone out there might know something about this...

Thanks!

Christine

[nettiebeads]

Have you mentioned it to your dr? How long have you had celiac disease and how long have you been gluten-free? The fact that it happens only when you drink, maybe it's the very first stages of Lupus? Definitely talk to someone about it though.

[cgilsing]

I haven't said anything to a Dr. about it yet. I just came across the pictures of the rash last week. And I have a bad habit to chalking up medical symptoms to being "nothing serious" (probably part of the reason I wasn't diagnosed with celiac disease for a long time ), so I have never said anything before about it. I've had symptoms of celiac disease for probably 10 years, sever symptom for 3 years, but I wasn't diagnosed until about a year and a 1/2 ago. I'm pregnant right now (so it's not like the doc is going to get to see this 1st hand right now ), but my husband and I thought about finding a picture of my face like that and taking it into him at our next visit.

[beelzebubble]

i would definitely mention it to your doctor. but, some things to keep in mind. some people just have flushing reactions to alcohol. especially those with rosacea. and those with ruddy skin (like me).

is it all alcohol, or just some? if it is wine mostly, i might wonder if you were reacting to the sulfites. do you get the flushing at other times? how about when you have fruit that has been treated with sulfur? or when you eat onions or garlic?

i get a rash similar to the butterfly rash of lupus. i have yet to show it to my doctor, but i can tell you that it burns. it doesn't itch, but it does burn. and after a day, it turns from noticeably red patches into teeny bumps that look sort of like itty bitty pimples. those will pop after a few days, and then my skin will get flaky and nasty for about a week.

hope you figure it out.

[ravenwoodglass]

i get a rash similar to the butterfly rash of lupus. i have yet to show it to my doctor, but i can tell you that it burns. it doesn't itch, but it does burn. and after a day, it turns from noticeably red patches into teeny bumps that look sort of like itty bitty pimples. those will pop after a few days, and then my skin will get flaky and nasty for about a week.

This sounds a lot like DH. I get the same thing on my neck and back.

I was thinking a long the same lines you are on the sulfites. If it is wine that causes this reaction I would simply avoid wine. If it was lupus I would think, (could be wrong here of course) that the flushing would be present for longer and would not have a direct link to the wine consumption. I would not worry about lupus at this point. This is of course only my opinion and if it still concerns you greatly call your doctor and see if he wants to test for it.

[Lagomom]

Christine,

I have lupus. Am disabled because of it. Generally, with bonafide lupus, once the rash appears, it doesn't really "go away". It will fade and flush. My husband reads my rash like a barometer. He can tell how I am doing just by looking at my rash. The lupus rash burns when your immune system is going haywire. For years, I had Dr.s tell me I had rosacea. They were wrong. A true lupus rash does not manifest in the area between the nostrils and the face. Rosacea involves the entire area, according to my rhuematologist.

Unchecked celiac disease can cause lupus. That's how we think I got it. Talk with your physician about your rash. It's better to be safe, than sorry. Lupus sucks.

Good luck,

Libby.

celiac disease/OA/Lupus/Hypothyroid

Scoliosis/HH/Gilberts/DJD

[Guest jhmom]

Hi Christine,

Your rash does sound like Lupus but take a look at this website and compare it to these photos: Also you should take a picture of the rash and take it to your doctor, if your rash sometimes fades aways. Open Original Shared Link

If I'm sun without sunscreen I don't burn, but I will get raised itchy bumps on my arms and legs

I have Lupus but don't have the butterfly rash but I do get a rash on my legs & chest when in the sun, this is called "Photo Sensitivity". If you are having these problems you should bring it to your doctors attention and see a specialist (rheumatologist). You should keep track of your symptoms even the strange ones that you don't think has anything to do with it, also when the symptoms started and if anything makes them better or worse. You should list your most bothersome symptoms first.

I hope this helps

[Bee Free]

Hi Christine-

I have both Lupus and celiac disease. I had the butterfly rash for years before I was diagnosed and didn't know what it was. The fact that you are pregnant is significant. Pregnancy can trigger Lupus. I would definitely ask your doctor about it. People with Lupus have a much higher chance of having celiac disease too. Good luck!