Unexplained rash

[Ness1993]

I have had a rash, kind of like little blisters/bumps, on my arm for a while. I never thought anything of it as my skin is quite sensitive. For over a week now my head has been burning and itchy so i got my mum to check for head lice (joys of working with children). She said my head is covered in little blisters just like my arm but worse. I havent changed shampoo or anything so i have no explanation. Can this be a side affect to pentasa?

 

[theOcean]

Skin itching and rash are a reported side effect for Pentasa that you're supposed to contact your GI about immediately if you can. I hope it goes away soon!

 

[afidz]

I have very sensitive skin, the bumps you are describing sounds like dermatitis. I know there is a correlation between Celiacs and dermatitis but as far as I am aware that there is not a correlation between Crohn's and dermatitis.

 

[Ness1993]

Thanks for your replies .
This whole thing is stressing me out. Not only do you have to deal with usual pain and toilet issues there is mouth ulcers and sore eyes. Feels like one thing after another.
I have left a message with my GI so hopefully he will get back in touch with me.

 

[David]

Can you post a picture of the rash?

Are your eyes red or just sore?

 

[Farmwife]

Yes a pic would be nice.

My Grace get's the blister type wash before an eczema breakout.
However her skin goes very dry.

Huhs, my kid knows how miserable it can be also.

 

[Ness1993]

The rash on my arm is gone and it would be difficult to see the one on my head because of my hair. My eyes are just sore. Spoke to my IBD nurse and he has taken me off the pentasa and I'm starting something new soon but I cant remember what its called.

 

[theOcean]

Is it a similar medication? It may be another 5-ASA.

 

[Ness1993]

Yeah he said its similiar. It starts with an A? I sound hopeless lol.

 

[theOcean]

It's all right, you'll get it figured out. Asacol?

 

[Ness1993]

Yeah thats the one I don't understand what the difference is though?
I was also told that if this does not work il be put on immunosuppressants (sp?) and steriods.

 

[theOcean]

There's a good post explaining the difference between all the 5-ASA medications here! Basically it just differs in where in the body it releases and some of the ingredients that others (like you) might be sensitive to.

Immunosuppressant treatment is pretty standard if 5-ASAs fail, and actually pretty effective. 5-ASAs just treat inflammation that already exists, whereas immunosuppressants slow the immune system so that the inflammation hopefully doesn't occur to begin with. They're very good for keeping people in remission.

 

[Ness1993]

Thank you That was really helpful.