I look like the Elelphant Man on a slightly lesser scale right now. My face is all lumpy and bumpy and oh so hard not to scratch! Boy do I feel attractive right now!

I can take a lot, but I am having a really hard time with dental issues.
No dental insurance, so I am doing the best I can. Somedays I feel I may just go get it over with and get dentures but my Mom says she would have never gotten them if she had known how uncomfortable they are. I am losing tooth after tooth, and even swallowed a large permanent cap $$$ during my sleep in Nov.!

I concure! I have that big puffy pie face! And boy oh boy am I pastey! I had my photo taken for a new drivers license yesterday. Wow! I look in the mirror everyday but that photo-wow! Awful! Oh well! I too have lost my skinny days, I only wish I knew then what I know now!

I have learned to like being pale and interesting. I think that people who are really, really tan are just showing their ignorance of how bad too much sun is for your skin. It ages you prematurely, it can give you cancer, is it worth it just to look brown? I have stayed out of the sun most of my life. I say "Be Pale and Be Proud!!" (And look years younger than your actual age!)
(Plus I live in the UK, so tans are hard to come by!)

Hey girls, we have to look at the bright side....not being in the sun will help us all age better. Before last year, I had not been in the sun for 13 years. I was the whitest latin you ever saw. Being from Miami and at the beach when I was young, that was really depressing. Since I have been in remission, I am able to go out and get a little early morning or late afternoon sun in very short periods and have actually gotten a little color and no rashes or flareups (thank God)! As far as how our bodies looked before Lupus and Prednisone came into our lives - I don't think we can ever look the same or return to our original "skinny" weight, unfortunately. I have also read that the Prednisone causes the weight in your belly and breasts but not your arms and legs. The loss of hair that I had I think was attributed more with the severe anemia I got. Since that has been resolved my hair is not falling out as much. We have to keep positive and keep working on our self esteem because it can be better one day.

I know what you mean!!! its horrid!! but unfortunately ive lost weight! and before you go shouting that i should be happy, i was small before and when people see me who haven't in years, they say i look sickly or like a zombie! *sure know how to make a girl feel pretty!*
I was an avid surfer before my diagnosis, and I haven't paddled out in so long! :*( so i truely understand the high SPF and summer lost feeling!
If you need support, I'm here! I have turned a positive attitude for summer: i flare less because of less stress from university! find one positive thing and run with it!

along time ago I had poison oak or sumac.

each time it would come back every couple of months I though oh I hugged my dog and got it again
well each time it became worse like it grew into my skin, It grew worse, painful and harder to get rid of each time.

Good weight before this junk
no freakish bloating before

no daily sunglasses, suntan lotion, sweating a pool or gimping around with all over pain

I would love to be pale
So sick of why is you face so red, oh and your sweating so much, is your hair getting thin

I thank my husband because I hate everything, everyone and me right now
He is my only support now or I wouldn't be here

i defintly understand where you are coming from i have terrible dark circles under my eyes and i am constantly bloated. last spring during softball season i had to sit out in the dug out during all of my practices and games... the way it changes you physically doesn't help witn the mood

i too have gained quite a bit of weight. i feel embarrassed and unattractive. my hair thins on and off...
i feel the same as you about the self tanner, works good, but there is definitely ongoing maintenance involved. i think to myself-the 20 mins it takes to apply this lotion all over my body is less time then i spent spraying tanning oil and laying out for hours in the sun :) it makes me feel better for some reason.
so yeah, i too feel resentful for the big hit my vanity and self esteen has taken by lupus, and no matter what there is to be thankful for or how many bright sides i look to...it still just plain sucks. :)

I have lupus for twenty years and have learned a few makeup tricks. I buy foundation slightly darker then my skin. It makes me look tan and I use a bronzer as well. I cover my lupus rash with a product called derma blend. This product was made to cover birthmarks scars etc. It works well no one knows that I have a butterfly rash on my face. I hope this is helpful.

i'm just going to say this..I don't know any of you..but I bet you're beautiful...I had to come to terms years ago..how my looks changed..actually for years i looked great! was a pro at "putting on the dog"..I look at old pics,and go sheesh..you would never know what I was feeling inside..well,it has now taken it's toll,after many years..It does take alot of effort to put on your face everyday...but give yourselves credit..like prior reply said."it is what it is"..It has caused me to pull from a different place..and one of acceptance..speaking of suntan!! I cannot believe how much I used ot lay out in sun at the Florida beaches...good grief..but now know why I was sooo more exhausted after,than others..there is a really good foundation that neutrogena makes..sorry can't remember the name..but I use it..lol..now that I'm in the desert,it doesn't make sense to even wear any,in the summer..Aprreciate the beauty that you are..you will also find out who matters in the process..I no longer have the energy either,to appear as I believe te world thinks I should..it doesn't matter..but I'm 52:) hang in there..sorry this is troubling you so.:)

I'm in the same boat. My hair is thinner and wirey and frizzy. My face has become a "moon face" thanks to the steroids. I look puffy, everywhere. I also have a faint malar rash that never goes away. I also get a blotchy red chest, yuk. It totally stinks!!!

I'm in the same boat. My hair is thinner and wirey and frizzy. My face has become a "moon face" thanks to the steroids. I look puffy, everywhere. I also have a faint malar rash that never goes away. I also get a blotchy red chest, yuk. It totally stinks!!!

Ag ya I am so white the milk whistles when they see me. But this is the minor moans. I am fat and looks like the Oros advertizement, fat roll on fat roll on fat roll At least I have my sense of humour

Hey whisper, keep your head up! I got hair extensions from haircandy they're clip ins & very affordable! A good concealer will cover up your lesions, and start exercising (if not already). I'm not a teen ager but I've been where you are. I'm actually 40 & have been accused of being "vain". But NOBODY likes the spotted look! It's embarrassing. I haven't seen my "closest friends" in about 6 months!!! But u know what? U will find out who your TRUE FRIENDS ARE with lupus! They will love & accept you with thinning hair, white skin, more weight on your body, & red spots all over! Living with Lupus will make you alot stronger than you ever wanted to be. Get rid of all the negative/stress & look forward to new beginnings. Good luck!