Wish I had an answer for you. I asked my dr about the rash 2 days ago and he told me that if it really was a rash there would be some sign of it somewhere still. But then he wasn't any help as far as the fibro lupus thing was concerned. So I would love to know the answer myself.

Hi,
Lupus can cause all sorts of weird and unexplainable symptoms. I dont think that what you have sounds like the lupus rash. Thats not to say that it isnt lupus related. It probably is. I have times when my skin, all over my body hurts to the touch. My dr. says its not a common symptoms but attributes it to "one of those lupus things". Im not really sure if there is even anything that you can do for it if you are already on meds and it goes away so quickly. Are you on meds?
Melissa

I have had the very same thing happen to me. I have a rare form of lupus called tumid which is confined mainly to the skin and goes deeper than discoid.
Anyway, like you I was wondering if this is considered the typical lupus butterfly rash or if it could be something else. I have very fair skin and it really shows up. Also, I seem to only get it at night.
I will ask my dr. next time I go which I hope won't be for a while since I'm doing OK now with only a little breakout. Please keep us posted on what you find out and good luck to you.

Lupus does do some pretty strange things, I have SLE and most of the time have the "mask", It is more apparent after having a hot shower. I also, get what you describe, and sometimes my ears are included! I think skin tone, does have an effect on how the skin appears. I don't know you, but I am perimenopausal, so the doctor thinks this could also be a contributor...Yay! Lupus and menopause working together...(aarrrgh!). I took a brief look at your profile, and you also seem to have a lot of things you are deeply concerned about. Stress does terrible things to our bodies, add Lupus in the mix and it can create havoc...Perhaps a check up could be in order and maybe some counselling or practical advice regards your personal situation. You are obviously a self-sufficient and hardworking person, but sometimes we all need a bit of help to get back on track...take care and don't be afraid to ask for assistance....love, light and peace.

I know exactly what you are experiencing. My rash acts the same as this it comes and goes and it is burning hot. It covers my face neck and chest or just my face or just my neck. It is burning hot and sometimes hurts. It goes away but comes up if I am out in sun. It feels exactly like you described......sunburn. I cool myself off with cold flannels or ice pack. If really bad like over my arms and legs I have a cool shower. My rheumy has seen it.....I have even had it biopsed when it was there...............it is a part of lupus it just isn't as common as the usual rashes because it goes away. Before I was diagnosed I was the same as u..one night i felt myself getting hotter and hotter.......looked in the mirror and there I was cherry red from my face to my neck!!!!!!! My meds have helped this to some extent. Hope this helps! Lee

Okay, I'm going to add my sage advice. Lupus rashes do not usually act like that. HOWEVER, I know what DOES act like that. HORMONES. It sounds like you are experiencing a flush of hormones. I checked your profile and saw that you are past peri-menopause and probably post menopause too, but are you on Tamoxifen for your breast cancer? That mimics estrogen and can cause flushing like you've described; most docs want to suppress estrogen in breast cancer patients that have hormone positive tumors. And once you start mucking with hormones weird things can happen. Even if you are not on Tamoxifen, our bodies produce hormones from various places (not just our ovaries) and some times those organs pump out too much and cause EXACTLY what you've described. The sensation of feeling hot and flushing. (Although you CAN duplicate the flushing with Niacin.)

There IS something called a "lupus blush" which you might pass on to your doc. It occurs in SLE patients (like me) who get exposed to sunlight. I get a butterfly blush across my face, just like the classic one, except NO bumps and it vanishes in a few hours. But what you are describing is a more general sensation and that means it'smostly likely hormones.

Tracy