skin problems on prednisone? Am I infection prone?
Posted , 9 users are following.
Diagnosed with GCA and PMR in August, 2017. I have had two or three episodes of skin rashes, mainly near my rectum. The skin surrounding the rectum gets very pink and sometimes painful. I have never had rashes in this area before starting on Prednisone. I've been using Mupirocin ointment to control it.
What's interesting is that I have also had scalp tenderness and sores twice now, where if I itch it too much, the sores bleed. My dermatologist diagnosed the scalp sores as a staph infection and instructed me to use the mupirocin on my scalp, which I do, but it is very greasy, so I have to be judicious about it if I want to leave the house. The scalp also feels very tender to the touch or if I brush my hair.
Has anyone else here experienced scalp sores/tenderness or other rashes since starting on Prednisone? I know that Pred can make one susceptible to infections, but I just am not sure that this is very common?
These rashes are not allergy related and no, I have not switched detergents or used any new shampoo. I am interested to know how many others have had these problems.
thanks,
Pam
1 like, 24 replies
amkoffee pam48607
Posted
You know if it were me I might get a second opinion from another dermatologist. I would also ask the dermatologist if there was another product you could use that would not make your hair greasy. It may be just by prescription but I find it hard to believe that there is nothing else available to use. Also a staph infection is actually pretty serious and can be very hard to kill.
You definitely need to see you doctor about your rectum. Whether that's the same thing or not a doctor has to see that and determine what it is. It may even need to be cultured. Now to answer your question about prednisone causing these rashes I say a big fat not likely. My reasoning is because your typical treatment for a condition like this is to put you on prednisone because it can help with rashes and such. I don't know that it would be the proper treatment for a staph infection but it should actually be helping your rash rather than causing it. I know this is been a long post but I'm hoping I said something that might help you.
pam48607 amkoffee
Posted
Thanks, amkoffee,
I appreciate your thoughtful answer. I agree that perhaps the rectal rash might need to be cultured. It is odd that both the scalp sores and the skin near the rectum both appeared at the same now. My dermatologist told me that she herself had similar scalp sores which weree staph related, so I believed her. I'll see if they resolve this time.
karenjaninaz pam48607
Posted
lilian05079 pam48607
Posted
Yes you can get fungal infections on preds due to the immune system being compromised....the rash near your rectum is probably a fungal infection and can be dealt with with an anti-fungal cream wich is a steroid cream...a member of the forum recently had a rash which turned out to be a fungal infection on her butt cheeks ..my very best wishes to you pam48607...
celia14153 pam48607
Posted
jean39702 pam48607
Posted
Like others on prednisone I too get fungal infections. Mine are in the groin and occur every so often. A few days of treatment with a prescription anti-fungal cream clears it up.
Also have dry, itchy area area in my hair at the nape of my neck which comes and goes. I have a prescription called valisone scalp lotion (betamethasone valerate) a topical corticosteroid.which works very quickly.
EileenH pam48607
Posted
The anal problem may be thrush - someone else has mentioned it this week, that was the doctor's opinion and it cleared an with an antifungal cream.
The tender scalp COULD be early signs of GCA - due to poor blood flow to the scalp and that can also cause sores of the sort you describe, The "The scalp also feels very tender to the touch or if I brush my hair." comment you have made is a typical one for GCA patients. A dose that is enough for PMR may not be enough for GCA. I think I would run it last my rheumatologist just in case.
amkoffee EileenH
Posted
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
No, thrush is just the common name for candida. Oral and vaginal are the most commonly referred to as "thrush" but any mucous membrane yeast infection may be referred to as thrush.
pam48607 amkoffee
Posted
what is the name of the antifungal cream which you use, please?
Pam
amkoffee pam48607
Posted
I just use a generic yeast infection medicine. Go to the store and look for a kit that has a tube of cream. I can't seem to buy just the tube of it so I typically by the kit that has the tube and some applicators. The idea being that you use the tube to fill the applicators that you use on your vagina. But in this case you just use the cream and rub it on the area 2 times a day till the rash is gone.
amkoffee EileenH
Posted
You're always a wealth of information Eileen. I never knew people would refer to a yeast infection as thrush. Then I'm guessing the fungal rash that shows up between my skin fold is considered thrush as well. Am I right? And isn't athletes foot the same thing too.
EileenH amkoffee
Posted
Yup - yes different terminolgy in general use in different countries really. If you always use the medical term it isn't a problem - except with the people who don't know...
I had such a laugh: my cousin moved house in the deep south of England. Her new house is called "Little Candida". As opposed to Candida House next door. And named after the village saint, St Candida... I just couldn't - and it spawned a lot of jokes of course "Were there a lot of thrushes in the garden..."
amkoffee EileenH
Posted
That's funny. Thank you for sharing that. We have a doctor or maybe more called Dr. Concepcion. But it sounds like you're saying conception when you say it. I believe it is Spanish or some other type of Hispanic country.
Anhaga amkoffee
Posted
And then there are the words, candid, candor, candidate, all of which appear to share the same etymology. Latin "white".
If you want a good chuckle over place names, look at a map of Newfoundland.
EileenH Anhaga
Posted
Muddy Bay and Muddy Hole sound delightful - and the Tickles intriguing ...