Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I've never had such an abundance of skin issues. A couple of months ago, my scalp started getting really itchy. Then I started noticing big flakes falling off my head and onto the back of my desk chair (yuck). It got so bad that I bought a lightweight white sweater to throw on whenever I go out so nobody will see the dandruff on my shoulders. Then a couple of weeks ago I developed itchy, scaly patches on my lower back. They get even itchier when I take a warm shower. Today, I even have those patches on my thighs. Oh, and I just started developing eczema on my right hand, although I wonder if that's a result of irritation from the tea tree oil products I've been using on my head to try to help my scalp problem. Anyway, I'm just a bundle of itches and flakes, and I'm very unhappy about it.
Anyone have any similar experiences?
I have my regular rheumy appointment next week, so I'll ask the doc if he thinks any of these things are related to my immune system, but I don't expect a clear anwer. (A year or two ago, I told him my back had been really itchy for a while, and he basically shrugged his shoulders, said that none of my meds had changed so it wasn't an allergic reaction, and continued with his exam but never offered a guess as to what caused the problem.)
Anyway, any advice on how to calm my skin would be greatly appreciated.
Anyone have any similar experiences?
I have my regular rheumy appointment next week, so I'll ask the doc if he thinks any of these things are related to my immune system, but I don't expect a clear anwer. (A year or two ago, I told him my back had been really itchy for a while, and he basically shrugged his shoulders, said that none of my meds had changed so it wasn't an allergic reaction, and continued with his exam but never offered a guess as to what caused the problem.)
Anyway, any advice on how to calm my skin would be greatly appreciated.
VERY VERY VERY COMMON. Your rheumatologist will recognize it. But, if you are taking a biologic, that would be the same treatment.
I've always had bad feet, but for the last few years, my right has gone apesh!t! I get blisters, flaking, cracking, etc SO itchy! Keeps me up some nights.
You may want to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. My rheumy said she really didn't feel comfortable diagnosing anything on my feet. When I saw her, I hadn't scrubbed it in a few days and it was whitish/silvery sheen.
*gross* but I could scrub my foot nearly every day and it would still be gross. So frustrated! I used to live in sandals from April til snow flew . . . I'm embarrassed to even put them on.
I use a very expensive shampoo and it also helps, along with salon soap. I am worth it. LOL
And BTW Angela, of course you're worth it!
Isn't psoriasis patchy? Is that what you have? I have small, itchy bumps. Spongyotic dermatitis is the lab diagnosis, with several possible manifestations, and a bucket of possible causes, including idiopathic. I believe there's a connection to RA and/or treatment. I believe it wouldn't have appeared had it not been for having a screwed up immune system. I've got one of those.
They use some of these drugs (I know Enbrel is one) for treating psoriatic arthritis, so one would think that psoriasis would be helped. At least I would.
Do you have a definitive RA diagnosis? I have read that a number of people with psoriatic arthritis develop it before havine the skin problems.