Skin-Related Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Published: // Updated: March 13, 2021

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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.

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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.

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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131 thoughts on “Skin-Related Fibromyalgia Symptoms”

  1. I get frequent skin rashes, yeast infections, dry skin, cracking skin on hands/feet, and itchy skin. My doctor gave me a tip to get as dry as possible after showering, by using a hair drier on my skin as well as my hair. I use the dryer where I have itching skin and rashes, not where I have dry skin/cracking. That tip has helped a lot. It reduces my rashes. I still have skin problems, but less severe. Perhaps this can help someone else. Good luck to everyone here. May you find things that help.

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  2. I too suffer from lower leg itchiness. Sometimes all over too. My best advice for when it’s driving you nuttier (the itching) is a soothing Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt is fantastic for all types of pain we suffer from: joint, muscle and nerve pain. But even better, it softens the skin while removing any toxins in the body. So it is soothing all-around. I discovered this not-an-old-wive’s-tale remedy while desperately seeking relief from severe foot pain (which turned out to be plantar’s fasciitis). It helped enough that for a long while I was able to cope with foot pain so bad that I cried when I got home, every night.

    Back to the itching though. Yes, definitely make sure your skin products, laundry soap, body soap, all of it is perfume free and gentle for sensitive skin. Ironically, when the itching is driving me out of my mind, a small dab of something with perfume in it WILL take the itching away *temporarily* but might be enough to let you sleep. This is good for insect bites too. takes the sting right away, instantly. But as you may know, perfume will make your itchy skin worse, so try it only if you are desperate and only on a small area to start.

    I will always fall back on an Epsom salt bath though. 2 heaping handfuls in warm, not hot, water. Hot water in the shower or bath will dry your skin out even worse. And if you can find the proper skin care product, make sure you lathe yourself in a good, natural moisturizer after bathing or showering. If you can’t find a natural skin product, consider a DIY one. Simple to make and then you know for a fact what is in the damn thing.

    Good luck! Sending happy, healing and loving energy your way <3

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  3. My two-year-old daughter had a virus two weeks ago that caused an enormous rash of hives all over her entire body. The hives are large and they come and go all day long. Her pediatrician told us the rash will probably last six weeks. We are giving her antihistamines without much success and have tried every baby rash/eczema product I could find in our local drugstore. I found Dermalmd psoriasis serum on Google and thought it couldn’t hurt to try it.

    We put it on her last night after bath. This morning, her rash is almost ENTIRELY gone. There are small remnants but it is not nearly as bad as it was. It has to be this serum, that is the only thing we did differently last night.

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  4. First time commenter here. I beg you to go back to your doctor for another high blood pressure script. There are other drugs and I would hate for you to have a worse result by not taking a blood pressure med!
    Talk to your doctor honestly.

    Reply
  5. I’ve fought fibro for more than 25 years. Have had exema and psoriasis. About 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with PRURIGO NODULARIS. Skin disease with NO cure.. . My doctors have not confirmed, but I think its somehow related to fibro…
    Have to laugh to keep from crying, At least this is NOT invisible!
    Gentle hugs to all ‼🌻🙏🦋💜sa

    Reply
  6. Can totally relate to all the comments. I’ve had fibro for 14 years. Just getting over a bad skin episode. I seem to have a lot of fibro symptoms and spend a lot of miserable days. People don’t seem to understand totally. This is the first time I’ve written anything and feel very alone all the time. Would love to hear any tips to make life more bareable.

    Reply

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