My face and chest has been red off and on (mostly on) for the last month or two. The redness looks like a sunburn, but I definitely did not go out and get a sunburn. It doesn't have a pattern. I've moisturized, not moisturized, spent a week in a very humid environment, and nothing seems to change the color. My skin feels warm when I am red. I've also been getting splotchy red skin on my arms, looks more like a rash, for about the same period of time. Thoughts, experiences, ideas? Thank you. I should add that I often do not wake up red. I either have normal coloring or very light pink, at worst, when I wake up. I get redder as the day goes on.

I believe it's the rash from DM? I have DM but not the rash part. Are you on Plaquneil? If not you may have to. Lisa

Hi Brandy, I too do not have the rashes that come with DM, but Fir the redness, you may want to ask your dr if you are reacting to any medications. I used to turn red when I was on cell cept then after awhile I developed significant abdominal pain. My dr switched my medications and it all went away. It wasn't a rash, my face was red and warm to touch at different times of day depending on when I took the medications. Mary

Thank you for the help. I am not on plaque nil. So it helps with this kind of thing? I will have keep on eye on any differences before and after I take my medicines. Thank you again.

Are you exposed to fluorescent lights or energy saving light bulbs during the day? Both the autoimmune disorder and the medications can make us very photosensitive and reactive to UV lights.

Yes, I spend a few hours a day 5 days a week under fluorescent lighting. I've just recently begun to become photosensitive. I suppose symptoms are always evolving but I did get a steroid cream that seemed to help the arm rash, oddly enough. The face and chest redness has also calmed down on its own over the last week. But I expect to see these symptoms again in the future. I have a doctor appointment coming up so I will ask him about all these things to try to prevent some of the more severe manifestations. Thank you.