Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.

317 Members
2,891 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Skin Rash with Polymyositis?

Cadolph
Cadolph
I have an itchy patch on one of my shoulder blades and my scalp has been a little itchy lately, I'm just wondering how common is dermamyositis with polymyositis? My rash is just very small red bumps at the moment.

It could be due to the dryness here or I'm wondering about possible medication side effects?
nanny1611
nanny1611
I was diagnosed with PM in 2008, and then with overlapping DM and Lupus last year. I had a rash that wouldn't go away (7 months), so December 2010 I went to my doctor who sent me to a derma. He did a couple skin biopsies, which indicated the overlaps. The derma prescribed a steroid cream, but I was afraid to use it because my skin was already very thin. So I started using coconut oil. After several more months the rash was basically gone, but I constantly use coconut oil on my skin to keep it moisturized.

Someone on this site mentioned that when a rash is purplish, it indicates DM; but when it's reddish, it indicates Lupus. That being the case, my rash might have been a sign of Lupus rather than DM. I don't know for sure, but do know that I'm glad to be rid of the rash for the most part. Best wishes to you.