There are a number of skin-related fibromyalgia symptoms. It is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of people with fibromyalgia have some sort of skin-related symptoms. Some common complaints include dry skin, itching and burning skin, rashes, mottled skin and bruising. Some of these skin-related fibromyalgia symptoms can make sleeping more difficult, and increase pain and fatigue. Skin problems can also make it hard to choose clothes to wear.
Studies have shown there is a lot going on under the skin’s surface when you have fibromyalgia. Researchers have found there are excessive sensory nerve fibers in the palms of the hands of women with fibromyalgia. Research has also shown that an elevated level of immune-reactive proteins exists just beneath the skin’s surface.
One Swedish research group found there are four times the number of mast cells in the skin tissues of those with fibromyalgia. Mast cells are generated by the immune system and contain substances such as histamine and cytokines. Both of which, may be responsible for causing skin irritations and painful reactions.
With all that is going on just beneath the skin, it’s not difficult to understand how someone with fibromyalgia might suffer from rashes and itching or burning skin.
Types Of Skin-related Fibromyalgia Symptoms
There are a number of different types of skin-related symptoms that occur in fibromyalgia. Many of them are present alongside one another or become chronic problems. Skin-related fibromyalgia symptoms include the following:
- Dry Skin – Many people with fibromyalgia are plagued with dry, cracked skin. Dry flaky skin can appear anywhere on the body, but it particularly affects the hands and fingers. Sometimes this dry skin will begin to peel and cause pain and discomfort.
- Itchy Skin – Itchy skin is usually one of the most common skin complaints among those with fibromyalgia. Of course dry skin and rashes can make your skin itch but most often, with fibromyalgia, it occurs without any obvious cause. It is known as a sensory itch and has to do with how our body interprets pain signals.
- Rashes – People with fibromyalgia often complain of skin rashes. The typical rash associated with fibromyalgia is red and can be flat or raised and bumpy. In some cases, there is also itchiness. Scratching or sun exposure can make the rash burn.
- Mottled Skin – The skin of fibromyalgia sufferers often begins to change color, appearance, or tone. Mottled skin is due to blood vessel changes in the skin that cause a blotchy appearance. These blotches can appear anywhere on the body, particularly on the inside of the forearms and thighs.
- Bruising – Many of us with fibromyalgia experience unexplained bruising. I often end up with bruises on my arms, legs and other areas of the body and don’t remember bumping into anything.
- Painful Skin (Allodynia) – Allodynia is a fairly rare type of pain in which your skin hurts. Allodynia is believed to be a hypersensitive reaction to temperature and stimuli that wouldn’t normally cause pain. Even a light touch to the skin can be unbearable.
If you struggle with intense itching, red rashes or see a huge bruise that you have no memory of creating, you are not alone. These are not symptoms that you would naturally link to fibromyalgia, but they are connected.
I considered myself fortunate because I never experienced skin pain. My clothing or bedding irritated me, but I never experienced pain from someone touching me. That all changed this summer when my skin began stinging and burning. It’s from head to toe…my scalp, face, arms, legs, body, even my eyelids.
If you suffer from skin pain, you may want to read this post about Allodynia.
Do you have any tips for dealing with any skin-related symptoms, or just want to vent? Please leave a comment below.
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I’ve got a doozie of a skin condition for you. As you all know fibro has a stress related component, my stress manifested itself in a wonderful skin problem called nodular prurigo. I have always had what I called Adult Acne or more to the point, spots that would erupt in a very painful pimple with several cores that just refused to heal for months. I would often get an area that would come up like a shingles outbreak with the pain being severe enough to make you catch your breath when it felt like someone putting a hot poker to my skin. Even the wind blowing on my face was painful.
I had one outbreak in October 2013 that was particularly aggravating, resulting in my doctor removing the offending mass that gave me the diagnosis. I had a blemish free face for 3 weeks until it broke out in another place on the other side of my mouth. After many doctors visits, a truck load of cortisone creams and when I had had just about enough of it all my darling doctor came up with the idea of applying the cream and covering it completely with an opsite strip. I did that for 2 months more and finally it seemed to heal this was in April 2016.
2 years and 7 months of not really wanting to see my reflection in a mirror was over, not that I want to look in the mirror that often.’
Nodular Prurigo consists of thousands of nerve endings and I’m sure each one was firing at the same time. Even over my pain medication it was unbelievably agonizing. Hey, I thought I had a high pain threshold, but this bought me to my knees and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Has anyone else had this problem?
Hi, Helen. I have never heard of nodular prurigo before. It sounds awful. Thank goodness your doctor came up with something that helped.
Went to a Rheumatologist last month. She claimed I do not have Fibromyalgia. I don’t believe her. I currently itch on my left thigh, and if I scratch (have to do it), I break out in huge welts! Talk about miserable! I take Benadryl several times a day and also Cetirizine 10 mg. In the meantime, I discovered I was allergic to my blood pressure med called Lisinopril. Things are getting better, but I still itch. Some days I think I will go crazy!!!!! If you take Lisinopril for high blood pressure, I urge you to read about the drug on line. It will scare you to death!
I took Lisinopril for a few months. OMG the pain I ended up with was unbearable! As if fibromyalgia isn’t bad enough, I could barely move. I weaned myself off of it and am afraid to go back to my Dr., my blood pressure is a little high and now I’m afraid to take anything.
I’ve had the worst rash ever for at least 4 monthe. On my legs it’s raised red spots that go in lines and weird patterns. My knees itch alot but show no rash. The rash is on my stomach, breasts, back, and bum. Even my groin itches terribly and it seems like little balls of dead skin come off there, its where my leg mettes the groin. I have raised scratches on my bum and stomach that look like a talon got me. Have tried steroid dose pack twice and it almost went away then came back with a vengeance. Does this sound familiar to anyone? One biopsy diagnosed folliculitis but the next Derm I saw took another biopsy that I haven’t heard from yet.
Hi, Margaret. If the recent biopsy comes back negative then I wonder if could be an allergy to a food, bath soap, or laundry product.
I also have craniofacial hyperhidrosis, sometimes it’s my boobs and back that sweat too but the,head and face the sweat just pours out and drenched my hair. I’ve had grocery clerks ask if I’m ok, if I need medical assistance.
I have been asked that, too. Especially when my face was beet red with the sweating.
Wow! I thought I was the only one that had that problem! Thanks for sharing!?
I have very painful head, face, scalp, hair, eyes, I can’t even use warm water to shower its so painful. I have told my doctors about and I’m dismissed both by primary care and ruemotologist. I also have my right ear that is painful and keeps itching and sometimes ooses, it’s all very overwhelming. Can anybody help? Renee
Hi, Renee. For the ear, you should probably see an allergist. My primary doctor sent me to one when antibiotics would not clear up the fluid in my ear. Who knows maybe the head, face, and eye pain is related. Although the painful skin is also a symptom of fibromyalgia itself. You should not have to feel dismissed by your doctors. If at all possible, I would consider finding a different doctor. Take care!
I experience annoying itchy spots all the time. Like falling asleep isn’t hard enough but add an intense itch here then there!! However recently I started having itch in my eyelash area, like it makes me want to pull my eyelashes out. There is no rash, no flaking, no one can see anything!!! People think I’m crazy when I say how bad my skin itches! Drink more water, put on lotion!!!! Really!!!! So I guess I’m wondering if anyone else has had this happen to eyes?
Hi, Kim. My eyes itch and so does my scalp and face. Allergy eye drops help with the itching eyes and I have found that adding a bit of baking soda to my shampoo, face cleanser, and body soap helps with the itchiness. I still get the random itchiness here and there but not as intense. I have also found that Healing Hemp lotion from The Fay Farm works great for the itching.
Agony my skin is so sore every little thing hurts the hell out of me.I’m desperate so I will be trying aloe Vera plant and get the juice from it I’m hoping it works.
Let us know how it works. Take care, Anne.
Showers have always been extremely uncomfortable. ..the sensation of getting wet…is painful, once wet I am fine. I also have leisons on my legs from what starts out as itchy red bumps the crawl out of shins, at first they are weepy, and itchy links ants live beneath the skin, and then as they heal they become raised dry flakey bumps that just want to be peeled. Very hard to heal.
Sounds aweful. Gentle Hugs.
Wow! Ive been doing much research anout the symptom of the red marks etc. Well…1yr and a 1/2 ago..all of a sudden…Bam! There they were. 1 or 2 to start. Wow. All over my calves..shins..arms..going to inner thighs…ITCHY! HOLY SMOKES! Embarrassing also. No shorts or cute dresses for summer. This year we had major fires so o really didnt go outside much due to smoke. Anyway. Ive always felt like ants crawling in my head..limbs etc. Thougjt hot flashes were the issue of menopause. Im done thT already. What is your “Rash” called? I had excema my teen years and every so often a flare up when really hot.that kind of stuff. So..ACUTE WAVES OF BODY PAIN STARTS AT MY FEET THEN CRAWLING UP TO MY TORSO AND THEN HEAD. MY POOR BRAIN. I HAVE HAD BLOCKS IN MY NECK..BACK..KNEES. IVE BEEN PUT ON BACLOPHEN AND AVENTYL. Never knew blood pressure meds maybe part of the rash and other symptoms. Hmm. So..thankyou. Just knowing others have complicated conditions has put my brain at ease somewht. Are u able to send a ????? How do we go about that?
I get a rash on both lower legs and feet it iches and comes and gos now today I have a stinging burning bumpy blistery sipping deal going on the back of my lower neck do I seek attention go to a doctor or what should I do it’s annoy in as hell nothing can touch it with out it hurting bad
Hi, Deborah. Rashes that come and go are usually caused by an allergy reaction to something you are exposed to. But there can be other causes so I think you should consult your doctor to be safe. Take Care.
This past year I have had unrelenting itching all over. Lotions don’t offer much relief. I have found that mega doses of hydroxyzine does work much of the time. My insurance no longer covers this medication though. Benadryl does NOT work, and I had to stop lamictal because that made the itching beyond unbearable. Now that I no longer have access to hydroxyzine, it is coming back with a vengeance.
Hi, Debra. It figures that when you find something that helps, your insurance stops covering it. There are a lot of treatments my insurance won’t cover. It’s really sad.
I notice it only seems to affect women going by this thread. My other half is going through this at the moment and not only is doing her head in, it’s doing mine in! 6 different doctors and GPS have said it’s an allergy. I suspect it’s to do with fibro/ allodyina. Any suggestions ladies?
Hi, Jake. Honestly, it could be all three. Fibro, Allodynia, and allergies. Fibro itself causes sensitivity to many different things, especially chemicals that are used in everyday products. My advice is to go as chemical-free as possible and use products that are hypoallergenic.