Frustrated by Fibromyalgia Rash
One of the most definitive signs that can determine a lupus diagnosis is the “butterfly rash” that spreads across the bridge of your nose and onto both cheeks in the shape of a bold butterfly. I experienced extreme fatigue, sun sensitivity, and Reynaud’s syndrome about a year before I developed the rash. My doctors were able to definitively diagnosis me with systemic lupus erythematosus once the rash spread across my face. I got accustomed to rashes after any amount of sun exposure, but I started developing new skin problems over the past two years. An endocrinologist recommended that I see a dermatologist to diagnosis the skin sores that were forming over my eyelids. The dermatologist determined that I was developing lupus discoid rashes. He went a step further to diagnosis the small red bumps and flaky skin that was fully covering my cheeks. I thought I just had mask rash, but he revealed it was rosacea.
My suspicions about mask rash were not unfounded. Mask rash is totally a thing. Irritation from friction from the face mask is the most common cause, but also built up sweat and dirt behind a reusable mask or an allergic reaction to the mask material could also be the culprits. Just dropping a gem for our auto-immune illness allies who may not be able to relate to any of the above but might also experience pesky skin problems. This is all new for me, so I did some Googles to find out if my fibro fam had similar experiences with rashes.
CAUSES FOR CONCERN
I found that my fibro fam is also suffering from fibro face rashes and sprawling painful body rashes, pobrecitos!! A recent research study shows that many people with rosacea also have fibromyalgia syndrome, and older studies have shown that many people with fibro also have rosacea. There’s not enough data to determine how the two are linked; it appears there’s enough interest to start investigating patient-based therapeutic approaches to alleviate both illnesses for the presenting patients.
It is not guaranteed that every fibromyalgia patient will develop some form of skin disorder, but it’s common to see inflammation in the skin for a variety of reasons. In general, people living with autoimmune illness could experience skin problems because our skin is the largest organ of our body and just as susceptible to immune system responses as any other part of us. When our natural immune response is wacky, we could potentially attack any organ or bio-system in our body (including our skin). Of course, chronic inflammation and comorbidities don’t help. Adverse reactions to meditation or artificial light and sun sensitivity can also contribute to skin problems.
If you have the FCSA Mi Voz Blog bookmarked, then you might have read about how extreme fatigue plagues patients living with lupus, fibromyalgia, and other auto-immune illnesses. Not only does sleep deprivation drain our energy and exacerbate brain fog, but habitual sleeplessness can even affect our soft and supple skin. Dark circles, baggy and bloodshot eyes are tell-tale signs of a sleepless night. Leading researchers like Dr. Michael Breus, “The Sleep Doctor,” have found that sleep induces our cellular repair process and collagen production. Our immune systems are impacted when we don't get enough rest. Fine lines fill our faces. Rashes, skin puffiness, pallid complexions, and other skin-related problems can occur.
SKINCARE SOLUTIONS
Keep your skin happy and hydrated with an H2O offense. Support your body from the inside out by drinking your daily dose of water. Gulping the gallons is the first step in a comprehensive skincare routine. Be sure to bathe in warm water and finish off showers or baths with a cold-water rinse. Hot water dries you out, while warm water shower can soothe your skin. A cold-water rinse helps close your pores and prepares your skin for a layer of lotion and sunscreen. Applying moisturizer while you are still damp helps your skin absorb the substance. Start with your favorite body butter, oil or lotion, and finish with some sunscreen to soothe resistant rashes and avoid dry skin itchiness.
I have to lather on my sunscreen all year long because of my lupus light sensitivity. Harsh indoor lights and the natural sun (even on overcast days) can trigger my body to break out in blistering rashes. I typically avoid the sun between the hours of 10 am to 4 pm when the sun rays are most direct. In the summertime, I wear light layers and long sleeves. I also wear a rash guard as protective gear when I swim. Daily use sunscreen and protective clothing have been huge in helping me to safely stay outdoors.
A cold compress can also work wonders to stop inflammation and pain. A quick do-it-yourself way to do this is to wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply the cool compress to your skin for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day. You can also use your favorite frozen vegetable to create your cold compress. Avoid scented soaps and lotions that often contain chemicals that irritate. Keep reading below for a DIY facial using all-natural pantry products.
FIBRO FACIAL
Disclaimer: I love alliteration, but you don’t have to have fibromyalgia for this facial. When I am my most disciplined, I do this DIY weekly. Feel free to fit the frequency of this facial into your schedule. Also, while this is face-focused, you can use these tips for all-over body rashes as well. The videos featured here demonstrate the gua sha technique, but a jade roller would work better on body rashes. An authentic gua sha or jade roller can be found in the beauty aisles of brick & mortar off-price stores; you can also find crystal healing face massagers at a plethora of online retailers.
I like to set up space and layout my products and put my gua sha tool in the freezer before I begin. When I want to pamper myself with a self-care spa I dim the lights, use my essential oil diffuser, and play mantra music, a meditation, or a mindfulness podcast in the background. I start with washing my face with a cleanser formulated for people with sensitive skin. I then use an exfoliant which is usually a gentle sugar scrub. A sugar or salt scrub is super easy to make with just a teaspoon of sugar or salt and a few drops of oil. I use jojoba oil because the natural compounds in jojoba oil are similar to our skin’s natural oils. My next step is a moisturizing mask made of matcha, bentonite clay, coconut oil, raw honey, and glycerin. I let the mask sit on my skin for about 15-20 minutes while I meditate.
After I rinse off the mask, I softly pat my face dry with an organic cotton washcloth. Then I use a hot towel to steam my face. When I was researching to write this blog, I learned that hot water is drying. I’m not sure if hot steam does the same. Steam feels soothing to my skin. Just wanted to throw that in there as a caveat. Continuing my facial with a few spritzes of toner to gently refresh my face and prepare my skin for post-cleansing moisturizer. For me, that is a drop of jojoba oil. I get my gua sha stone out of the freezer and follow the curves of my face for a self-massage. I apply Black Girl Sunscreen when I’m finished. This is not a brand endorsement. I only mention this company by name because the owner created this lightweight formula so that it does not leave a white cast on people with brown skin. BIPOC women are disproportionately impacted by auto-immune illnesses. Having products that are specially made for our symptoms and skin has been a game-changer for my self-esteem and self-care routine. (kicks soapbox away).
It has been about 10 years since I embarked on my holistic healing journey. Along that path, I began to make my home remedy healthcare and beauty products to eliminate the number of toxins that could seep into my skin from mass-marketing consumer products. I make most of my products myself from responsibly sourced raw ingredients. When I do purchase a pre-made product, I read the labels to make sure the manufacturer has not included any harmful additives. Dermatologists recommend fragrance-free products and minimizing the use of cosmetics and harsh ingredients, which I’ve found to be helpful to reduce rashes on my body. If you have frequent fibromyalgia flare-ups try auditing your body products and then add this facial to your next self-care Sunday DIY spa day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jewell Singletary is a creative entrepreneur, educator, and multidisciplinary artist. She is the founding owner of Gratitude Griot, a trauma-informed well-being-based business, a documentarian filmmaker, and host of Yoga Wit the Ohmies Podcast. Jewell has been living with autoimmune illnesses for nearly three decades and enjoys creating wellness tools for those who are also suffering from persistent pain.