I believe this has been mentioned a while back, but thought I'd ask again who has gotten small brown spots on their skin after sun exposure?
I've been on Plaquenil about 2 months, and it has helped my knee/back pain, which is wonderful! I also had read that this drug can increase sun sunsitivity. I try to limit my sun exposure; I'm fair and burn easily anyway, and I can't stand the heat.
I've gone swimming twice lately (well, mostly played in the pool) and the first time used a wimpy SPF15 sunscreen. I came home finding little light brown spots near my hairline and on my face, and a few everywhere. Next time I used the stronger guns, a waterproof SPF50 and still got a few. Granted, this is a small complaint compared to the benefits I'm seeing. ;) I won't worry too much about a spot here or there. I also have freckles, so maybe they'll blend in.
How many others have seen this? Is this common?
This is very common side effect of Plaquenil...brown spots all over. They go away if they medication is stopped, but if its helping you,
would stay on it. There are not many medications for SS, and the side effects on the others are hard to tolerate- for me anyways.
Gursie
Gursie,
Thanks for letting me know this is common. I don't mean to sound vain, I guess I was just surprised these popped out so quickly.
I feel very grateful that I'm able to tolerate the med, and that it's helping. I'm not even thinking of stopping it over a few spots! I'll be spotty all over if necessary as long as I don't have the knee pain back. ;D I'll just wear a good sunscreen all the time and maybe invest in a cute hat.
When I went to the doctor last week for my ear infection, he told me I had a brown pigment spot on the inside of my cheek when he looked in my mouth.....he said it looked like nothing to worry about but.....of course it is always in the back of my mind!
I have large brown blotches on my neck, which has increased since diagnosis and starting of meds. Don't know if it is totally from the plaquenil, but as I said it has spread. All the doctor said was it was a rash attributed to Sjogrens and gave no soultions. I do get in the sun a good bit. I like to fish with my husband and we go to our grandson's baseball games, It does not matter if you have an umbrella, a wide brim hat, or an awning to sit under, you still are exposed to the sun. As long as it does not onset a "flare" or is harmful, I can deal with a rash.
I hope you find a good soultion for yours. Please share any remedies you know of.
Thanks!
BUSYLIZZY
Bucky raising hand . . . me, me, me! Yep, I seem to have permanent brown spots in a cluster on either side of my neck and a little patch in the v-part of my shirt.
It's a bit aggravating to me, since I like to wear my hair up in the summer and I'm self conscious of these spots. No one has ever asked me what they are, though. :D
I had gotten these last year (or was it the year before?) when I had gone out mowing. I had even used suntan lotion! It's kinda weird that it's only on either side of my neck - not my whole neck. ::)
I'm fair-skinned too - so, I burn easily. For the most part, I try and avoid the sun as best I can.
Bucky
BUCKY, IS YOUR RASH BUMPY OR FLAT?
I get the hyperpigmentation, too, but it is mostly on just my arms. Instead of brown spots, I get solid dark brown arms, but I have little spots on my arms with NO pigment, so there are white polka dots. :D
Quote from: Cheryl on July 06, 2011, 02:56:52 PM
I get the hyperpigmentation, too, but it is mostly on just my arms. Instead of brown spots, I get solid dark brown arms, but I have little spots on my arms with NO pigment, so there are white polka dots. :D
I get these now on my arms and legs and I'm not on Plaquenil. ???
Lizzy - mine are flat. Are yours?
IF I can get my son to take a picture, maybe I can post it on here.
Bucky
Here are two pictures my son took:
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/Buckeye1999/IMG_1584.jpg)
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/Buckeye1999/IMG_1581.jpg)
Bucky
Bucky,
I have those kind of pigment variations on my arms. I am doing water aerobics and the spots just popped out. Ther are som brown spots and some spots with no color. Sjogrens...the gift that keeps on giving :D
So...guess it's fairly common for us to get "spotty" and rashes.
I've never been vigilant about using sunscreen until the last few years. Now I'm trying to remember to use it EVERY day. The spots that appeared around my eyebrow make me think my face is dirty. ;)
Bucky, your neck looks a little like mine. I've had a little rash on both sides for a year or so; about the time all the health issue "goodies" started in earnest. Oh, well...like you say, BuzzyLizzy, I can deal with a rash too, as long as I'm feeling pretty well.
I realize sun exposure happens even with a hat, umbrella, etc.
Maybe I am just a bit vain. :-[ I've enjoyed finally getting rid of the acne I dealt with most of my life, and now I'm spotty. Just a mild annoyance. Interesting that others have this, too.
Thanks and take care, everyone.
Melinda
Hormones can cause these changes too...Ive always had the brown spots on my face, even without taking any hormones, etc..like birth control pills or HRT, my entire
family has had them?? Now, Im on estrogen and they are horrible and I dont even go outside? I have them all over my body...face, neck, arms, legs...
I know some adrenal disorders can cause pigment changes too.
I used to be soooooo vain too...but now, after losing most of my hair, and have a fat face from steriods, and have aged 20 years since my hysterectomy,
the brown spots are nothing compared to the other issues? I know, for us woman, its a nightmare especially.
Gursie
thanks all. Yes, Bucky, mine looks like yours. I just use a little more makeup on my neck. Mine does have a bumpy texture, but not like acne. I tan real easily, so I have it on my arms and chest, but the tan covers it up. for some reason, the rash on my neck is more prominent, and I have noticed that at times it is red. Strange things we go through isn't it! I had thought about going to a dermatologist but these days it is hard to get an appointment with one and none in my area will file insurance. Besides, like everyone else, I go to enough doctors.
Yeah, can I join in with the "spotty crowd" too? ;) :D
I have the brown spots turning up all over the body, and my arms are both brown and white spotted...an odd sight.
I have the brown spots especially on my neck and it gets embarrassing sometimes (you can watch people look from your face down to your neck and back up, ugh :-\).
Okay folks, what do we name this group? "Spotties R Us?" ;D Have Spots Will Travel? Too generic? :D
Patze
Tonight, for the first time, I had someone ask about my neck. My BIL asked me about it. I told him it's been like this for at least a year, maybe two years and it's caused by the medicine I take and the sun. He said he never noticed it before (probably, because 95% of the time, I'm wearing my hair down and it kinda hides it).
Patze . . . . hmmmmmm, what do we call ourselves?!?
We need a photo gallery of our spots. :D
Bucky
Bucky, maybe we can get a photo gallery together. Better seeing something than trying to explain.
Patze, I like your idea about a name. Hmmm...I have no thoughts about a good name right now; I'm sure someone will come up with one. Spots R Us is pretty good. ;)
I like Spots R Us. Sounds like we have a fun group. Hope everyone has a good day!
I guess I am 4 months too late on this. I also had a rash on my neck that was blotchy and bumpy. I saw a dermatologist and she just dismissed it with - Oh that's poikiloderma, and the GP told me OI should have asked her first. She agreed with the derm
Here's a link to an article on it http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1120079-overview
Annette
Many years ago I had to take a short bout of Accutane and I got hyperpigmentation on my face so I suppose once I begin Plaquenil I'll be lookin like a Dalmation again! >:( It also brought out a rash type thing on my arms......like my old ...oh what's that allergy stuff called that you get on your arms and it itches like crazy??? Well, the rash stuff went away when I stopped the med but I had to use that bleach cream on my face for the big brown spots...it finally all evened out. It's not being vain to not want to resemble a Dalmation! :D
ohhh the rash was eczema-like!! hey, speaking of Dalmatians (I now have spelled it correctly), what ever happened to Doxie????
All of you are cracking me up with the spotty Dalmatian thingy. ;D I can say that, because I am spotted like one for sure. Both of my arms have the white spots. I guess the rest of me is brown then. ???
I will see my rhuemy this month, and will be asking him about it. I can't account for how I spell anymore, and I not too long ago was a teacher. I am not sure if I can say my abc's correctly now. ::)
Take care all of you spotties!
susanep :) :)
When I first heard about this my Rheumatologist was making me think I'd be blonde and tan.....probably to ease my pain and fear of taking Plaquenil!!! Poor sales job....now you guys have brought me the truth
SPOTS R US and HAVE SPOTS WILL TRAVEL to my doctor is tan and blonde!!!
I really thought there had to be some bonus to getting this disease. Now that we're autoimmune I don't even think us aged women can get "a light lift" of our saggy skin! I doubt if any of that is allowed with Lupus or Sjogrens. Oh well, whose got the cash anyway! My husband loves dogs so a senior Dalmatian I will be for him forever :'(
gold55 count me in SPOTS R US. ;D I use to read about taking colloidal silver to get over colds and things, but I would also read if you over did it you could turn green. And to think I worried about that. No green, just spots. hehe...
susanep :)
If green were consistent I might choose it over spots of any color :D
Yea, I think of the things I worried about prior to Sjogrens.....it all seems so stupid now.
I shouldn't have had a care in the world! Now I'm nearing retirement and wanting to relax and not worry about work, finances, etc etc....and I get sick so now I worry about sickness and paying for doctors and medication and spots!
I too have spots. I started getting them after about 8 mos of Plaquenil. They progressively get larger, darker and in more places (I have two perfect circles between the girls). My Rheumy said he never saw anything like it before and told me it was hormones (as he says everything is... even bruising - DORK!) I'm attaching my face (even the crazed-looking one) Sorry, LOL!
(http://www.cld-photo.com/face1.jpg)
(http://www.cld-photo.com/face2.jpg)
(http://www.cld-photo.com/face3.jpg)
(http://www.cld-photo.com/face4.jpg)
grafxmkr,
That's too funny about your Bermuda Triangle on the forehead. ;D We must keep our humor! You're a lovely lady, spotty or not.
I have a bit of the Dalmatian look. A few white spots on my arms, along with a few darker tan ones. And they have shown up places that I do not have exposed to the sun. :-[ I have some freckles anyway (thank you, Irish grandfather) and so they blend in a little.
I've decided I'll slather up with the sunscreen and if I have to choose between a few spots and less fatigue/joint pain, I think I'll be a happy Dalmatian!
Hi Grafx,
You are a very beautiful girl so no need to worry about anything on your skin. I have no hormones left so perhaps the plaquenil will not affect me in this way.....there's gotta be some kindof bonus for my retirement years! Thank you for posting your adorable pics ;D
Jill
Awww thanks for the kind words on my pics :)
I do have a sense of humor. If I wasn't going as a woods witch for Halloween, my second choice was a leopard. I was going to outline all my spots and color them in. Luckily they're fairly symmetrical so I think it would work! ;D
grafxmkr,
Thanks for bringing your humor 'round here. We all need a "fresh dose" sometimes! 8)
Absolutely! Love the humor and your "spots" (mine are the boring small dark brown and white ones up and down my arms, neck, face plus more here and there), shucks, I don't know about you, but I sure don't laugh enough anymore! :)
Patze