Hi All Have any of you got skin problems. I have raised painful small bumps and lumps on the surface and underneath my skin. I recently saw a dermatologist who felt certain it was related to my AAS maybe dermomyositis. He will do a biopsy if when I next see my Rheumatologist he would like one. Katrina x

Hi Katrina, ASS is a form of Dermatomyositis and one of the symptoms of this is a rash. I do not have a rash with mine but I have DM, so mainly the Myositis part. I believe it can be very painful and itchy. I have had an deadly infection with my ASS which looked like a purplish lump under the skin to start then became raised and tended to look a little like a boil. They were extremely painful, especially if bumped and needed to be excised via an ultrasound and one on my stomach took 12 months to heal with very very high amounts of antibiotics. But if it looks like a reddish rash then it is probably the DM and you will need to possibly go on medication to combat it. Are you on Plaquenil? If not I believe this is the one that they use for the rash of the DM. I am but I think mine is for the Raynauds and Mechanic hands. Good luck, Lisa.

Katrina, Are you taking Dapsone, and are you allergic to sulfa based drugs. I do, and I am. There pharmasist told me that the pimple like bumps are an alergic reaction to the sulfa in the Dapsone. I have them mostly on my stomach area, and mostly on the left side of my stomach. But for what the Dapsone does for my Mechanic's Hands, I will put up with it. Terry

Hi TBear just be careful as I had a reaction to Dapsone and it actually stripped me of all of my Neutraphils, which help fight infection. I went from 21 to .01 in two weeks. I am now on Bactrium which I am allergic to but they desensitised me to it. I still take it 4 times a week for possibility of infection. Lisa

Hi everyone thank you for the advice. I have since a child got the red/purple rash that get worse the more I itch and it is itchy. However I've just recently got the boil type rash that you describe Lisa. I will tell my rheumatologist about it in June hopefully he will give me more answers. I will definitely keep an eye on it though. I will keep you updated. Katrina x

My husband takes Cellcept and has had bumps or "sores" on his skin. They almost appear to be scab at times. We have attributed it to the Cellcept but have never got an exact diagnosis. I believe my husband's rheumatologist wanted him to go to a dermatologist but he has never gone. For anyone who is on Cellcept, you are not supposed to spend time in the sun and that may be a contributing factor to my husband's sores.

I to am on cellcept however I have been on it for five years now and this has just started. Doreen did you husbands start straight away or was it some time after being on the cellcept? Anyone on immunosuppressants should stay out of the sun because they reduce your bodies ability to produce melanin which is our bodies immune response to sun exposure. So without it we are prone to skin cancer this is why it would be good for your husband to get checked out by a dermatologist. Katrina x

Katrina the name of the infection was called Nocardia if you wanted to research it. If you could insert a picture I could post a picture of a heal sore. I had 5 lesions in all that had to be looked at. One on my thigh, 2 on my upper buttock that were surgically removed and two on my stomach which were excised. They are extremely painful especially if you bump them. If they continue to get worse and raise more than I would get to the doctor a little earlier if you can. Apparently my specialist said that many immunosuppressed people can get them but there are many different strains of the infection. Mine ended up being about the size of a 10 - 20 cent piece. The scar on my stomach is very large and can be still a little painful if bumped especially as my border collie pup does, she seemed to run at me jump up and then uses my stomach to launch off.

It could also be calcinosis cutis,which can occur with DM. I am prone to a rash on my face and forearms when in the sun or under fluorescent lights for an extended time. I now wear sunscreen plus hats and long sleeves all the time. My skin has become fragile and dry after five years on prednisone and other immune suppressants. I do find funny little bumps here and there - and have them reviewed by a dermatologist, but none of them have turned out harmful. Not sure if it's the disease, the meds or aging!

Kelly I have those as well but the Nocardia was different and if you get the infection you will know, it is totally different than the calcinosis. Lisa

Kat - my husband has been on Cellcept for four years. I do not believe the lesions started right away. They do, however, when they resolve, leave scars.