I'm not sure but my Rheumy is always asking if I have a rash anywhere.

I've had RA 40+ years and this would be a first!

Shingles is the most itchy, horrid raised bumps you can have. They feel as if someone has driven an itchy nail into the spot. I got mine after my surgery to reconstruct my deformed right foot. A nurse friend who worked in the ER said they saw people all the time post op in the ER with their first case of shingles. Yep, more fun things to worry about.

But allergies? That sounds like Sulfasalazine, when I got rashes with no bumps. And then later, when I tried again (no the doctor did not tell me to try, I was trying to cope with a med failure, and at the time it seemed like an option to me.) I had the worst case of hives you could imagine.

What about PsA? Psoriatic Arthritis? It comes with a nasty rash, from what I understand.

That's all, let us know if you ever find out the problem.

I have to agree with mike. RA can cause rashes and my rheumy ask about it all the time. Shingles are painful. It could be an allergy if you have changed soap or detergent. Could you possibly of gotten bit by something. If your on steroids to that can cause a rash. Sometimes after we have been on a medication too you can out of nowhere develop an allergy as our immune system is already comprimised.

Today, the generalized redness has subsided and there are three distinct, slightly raised pink dots abut an inch to an inch-1/2 apart. Not mosquito bites, but perhaps some other bug(s)???

But don't bug bites usually subside after 24 hours? This is since about 8pm THURSDAY evening (EST) which is now 36 hours ago. Cortisone ointment helps a tiny bit ?

I get facial rashes all the time ever since having RA. They appear on my side burn area, but mostly on the cheeks. It just comes & goes but is definitely worse in the summer time when it's hot.

hey Warrior -

I am 57 have seropositive RA and sjogrens too with ra vasculitis too. I did get the shingles, pneumonia and flu vaccines this past year, six weeks apart, before I was able to get remicade infusions. I had a severe outbreak of painful blisters after getting the shingles vaccine - i believe it gave me a outbreak of shingles. I wonder if it was a bad move to get the shingles vaccine?

Also, I have itchy rashes all the time too. Is this a part of the RA I wonder?

linsey - I do 't but always check with your rheumatologist before getting any vaccines. I was told NO shingle vaccine. And it ha ben unofficially confirmed. I live in retirement community and we a nurse here who said it does look like a mild case of shingles. She told me to get antihistamine ointment which I did.

my rheumy is the one who ordered my vaccines. He had me to take them before I could start my infusions. I was pretty marked up for about three months because of the outbreak. that was not good.

Well, I could see his theory in having you do it before starting a treatment, but, I guess it didn't work...