Maybe OT ~ Melasma; anyone else have it?

[lady_express_44]

I'm wondering if anyone else with MS has been dx with photosensitivity (allergy to the sun)?

I have a skin condition which I've finally dx myself :D to be Melasma. It is fairly quickly taking over my body (I have always been a sun worshipper), and it is similar to what Michael Jackson supposedly has . . . but I am going brown instead of white.

I did go see a dermatologist a few years ago, but all he could tell me was that I was to use 60 SPF sunscreen, and offered me no other treatment options. Since then, I have been searching the net to find out what is actually causing it, and am fairly certain I've figured it out. All I need is a Wood Lamp test now to confirm.

http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/

People with Lupus or Porphyria are prone to this, but it can also be genetic (dark skinned, like Native Indians will commonly get it). It can also be hormonal, and can be related to pregnancy. None of those categories really fit for me, but it can also be chemically induced by medications, especially Tetracycline. I am allergic to Tetracycline (found out the hard way), and have difficulties with many other drugs too. I'm thinking that T was the likely trigger though (once upon a time) . . .

It has been a long road to figure out what this is, so I thought I'd throw this out on the board in case anyone else has had it and/or to consider if it may be related to MS (hormones) in some way. If nothing else, at least now I am convinced I need to stay out of the direct sunlight, which means I guess I'll need to invest in some vitamin D. :rolleyes:

Cherie

[Mariel]

I am sun sensitive, as you know, Cherie. I have been dx'd with Porphyria. I don't have the "turning brown" effect or the turning white effect--my skin problems, while severe, are different than that. I have tiny red bumps if I let my skin be in sunlight, have many keratoses (the worst removed) and 60 skin cancers (all removed). I have never had an over-all browning effect, though, and I don't know of other porphs who have this. I talk to many porphs on forums for porphyria.

The present new problem, Essential Thrombocythemia, makes parts of the body redden--face, typically, when the platelets are high, bottoms of feet, and palms of hands. But that is not what you have either. I am not familiar with what Lupus does to the skin; I have tested negative a few times for Lupus and I don't think I have it.

I can't be of MUCH help, but I will say this: people with porphyria report some atypical skin conditions. Mine is rather atypical. The variation may be because there are a number of types of porphyria, each with many mutations. The types called Hereditary Coproporphyria, HCP's mutation Harderoporphyria, and Variegate Porphyria are the sun sensitve ones among the "acute hepatic porphyrias". Porphyria Cutanea Tarda is also primarily sun sensitive, but we have noted that most with PCT who post on the forums have other symptoms more typical of the hepatic porphyrias. We have noted that many porphs have more than one type. It is one of the "mystery" diseases, as hard to dx or pin down as MS.

Wish I could help more. Well, one more possible help: you can tell if you have one of the acute hepatic porphyrias if you line up with a drug list which is Safe/Unsafe for Porphyria. You wouldn't have to line up perfectly, as all of us have some deviations, but in general we line up. Tetracycline sensitivity, which you have, would be universal, for instance. The only antibiotic I am comfortable with is Augmentin, a penicillin drug. One site which has a comprehensive drug list in English is Porphyria Education Services.