Hi everyone.
I was outside reading today and somewhat sitting in the sun...my arm mostly. When I got inside it was all red and blotchy looking. As I started to prepare dinner, my face started to tingle and I had some chills.
I have been searching and see posts about mast cells. Is this something that comes with having MC? Is this dangerous? Does this go into remission? Several months ago I was waking up with a blotchy red rash on my legs (freaked me out). I have never had that before, and I thought it was from the meds (Lialda) I was on. I stopped taking them right away and have not taken anything since. Then the rash reappeared a few weeks later, and so I knew it wasn't the meds. Went to the Dr. and they say it is Urticaria.
What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Toni
Blotchy Red Skin After Being in Sun.
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Toni,
It sounds like mast cell activation disorder (MCAD), which is commonly associated with MC. Yes, urticaria is the proper medical name for it when it appears as a rash. Here are a few links to some short articles that describe how mast cell issues can be associated with MC, and how to treat the problem:
What are mast cells?
How are mast cells associated with microscopic colitis?
How do I know if mast cells are causing problems for me?
How are mast cell issues treated?
Some patients find that the problem can be seasonal (related to seasonal allergies, for example), but most find that after treating it by taking antihistamines to prevent mast cell issues for a few months, their mast cells will usually eventually settle down and cease to be a problem. However, it might be necessary to minimize high-histamine foods in the diet. It's not the histamine content of individual foods that matter so much as the total amount of histamines consumed in a certain period of time. If we exceed our limit, we may have a mast cell reaction.
And as you have found, for some of us the reactions can be triggered by heat, or sun exposure, or exercise, for example, and there can be other triggers in some cases.
I recently had a mast cell reaction that resulted in a persistent rash on my lower leg, that was triggered by an adverse reaction to antibiotic. The reaction to the antibiotic was last Wednesday, but the rash didn't appear until the next day. It is still there, but it's slowly fading away.
Tex
It sounds like mast cell activation disorder (MCAD), which is commonly associated with MC. Yes, urticaria is the proper medical name for it when it appears as a rash. Here are a few links to some short articles that describe how mast cell issues can be associated with MC, and how to treat the problem:
What are mast cells?
How are mast cells associated with microscopic colitis?
How do I know if mast cells are causing problems for me?
How are mast cell issues treated?
Some patients find that the problem can be seasonal (related to seasonal allergies, for example), but most find that after treating it by taking antihistamines to prevent mast cell issues for a few months, their mast cells will usually eventually settle down and cease to be a problem. However, it might be necessary to minimize high-histamine foods in the diet. It's not the histamine content of individual foods that matter so much as the total amount of histamines consumed in a certain period of time. If we exceed our limit, we may have a mast cell reaction.
And as you have found, for some of us the reactions can be triggered by heat, or sun exposure, or exercise, for example, and there can be other triggers in some cases.
I recently had a mast cell reaction that resulted in a persistent rash on my lower leg, that was triggered by an adverse reaction to antibiotic. The reaction to the antibiotic was last Wednesday, but the rash didn't appear until the next day. It is still there, but it's slowly fading away.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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jessica329
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 214
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:47 pm
- Location: CT
Toni,
What state are you in? I find that I always get blotchy and then chilly later on the first few days of strong sun (once the seasons change). I live in CT. It could also be my vampire white Irish skin getting used to the sun after a long winter. On a side note, I don't go out until late afternoon and don't go to the beach anymore. If I do happen to go to a state park, I don't go until after 3pm. In CT, the clouds ALWAYS pull-in by mid-afternoon.
What state are you in? I find that I always get blotchy and then chilly later on the first few days of strong sun (once the seasons change). I live in CT. It could also be my vampire white Irish skin getting used to the sun after a long winter. On a side note, I don't go out until late afternoon and don't go to the beach anymore. If I do happen to go to a state park, I don't go until after 3pm. In CT, the clouds ALWAYS pull-in by mid-afternoon.
Jessica
Lymphocytic colitis August 2012
Lymphocytic colitis August 2012
Most of us find that one often works better than the others, but there's no way to predict which one without trying them. When I tried Claritin for hay fever, it didn't seem to have much of an effect, so I switched to Allegra, and since it worked better, I stuck with it. Benedryl works for most people, but since it's an old first-generation antihistamine, it causes drowsiness, so they take it at bedtime. Some members get the best results by taking a non-drowsy antihistamine in the morning, and Benedryl at bedtime.
Some members have posted that they get good results from the old antihistamine known as Chlor-Trimeton (Chlorpheniramine Maleate). The 12-hour version has been renamed to Chlorphen-12, but unfortunately it contains lactose, so most people who use this one use the 4-hour version (because it does not contain lactose). It's a first-generation antihistamine, and therefore not a non-drowsy formulation, but it has a reputation for being the least likely of any of the first-generation antihistamines to cause drowsiness for most users.
It's like a lot of things associated with MC — we're all different, so we have to try one and see if it works. If it doesn't, we try another. I believe quite a few members use Allegra, but I have no idea what the actual use statistics might be.
You're very welcome,
Tex
Some members have posted that they get good results from the old antihistamine known as Chlor-Trimeton (Chlorpheniramine Maleate). The 12-hour version has been renamed to Chlorphen-12, but unfortunately it contains lactose, so most people who use this one use the 4-hour version (because it does not contain lactose). It's a first-generation antihistamine, and therefore not a non-drowsy formulation, but it has a reputation for being the least likely of any of the first-generation antihistamines to cause drowsiness for most users.
It's like a lot of things associated with MC — we're all different, so we have to try one and see if it works. If it doesn't, we try another. I believe quite a few members use Allegra, but I have no idea what the actual use statistics might be.
You're very welcome,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.