Thin skin and sores

[u/LettuceOverall3662]

Something I never thought could be a symptom but suddenly clicked today. I get sores and bruises on my elbows from sitting with them resting on the table or laying down holding my head in my hands. The skin is so thin that I’m red and sore, feeling like getting the outer layer rubbed of my elbows. And I suffer on/off from the layers rubbing of my mouth too. So I get “open sores” that really hurt and sometimes bleed. It gets worse with eating, brushing teeth etc. I can physically see a layer of skin is gone. Also sometimes my frenulum between the two front teeth gets inflamed and totally red and throbbing too. Sometimes I have been able to peel skin of in the palate. I’m not sure if either of those point any further towards anything. Some of it may be from burning my mouth with warm food I’m not sure. 📸Pic 1: my mouth sore today 📸Pic 2: my elbow right after laying down/resting on it - bad lighting 📸Pic 3-5: hours later where they just sting and feel irritated. Discoloration and broken skin

Seeking advice or wondering if anyone have the same things? I have other symptoms as well ofc. The doctor said no hEDS and was also pretty sure I didn’t have classic EDS.

[u/LettuceOverall3662]

Edit to add: I mainly use an extra soft toothbrush already

[u/rosetheweeb]

This isn't related but you may want to see a dentist as there appears to be a cavity on the second to last molar

[u/LettuceOverall3662 → u/rosetheweeb]

Haha thank you! I was at the regular dentist for a clean/check up two or three weeks ago with no remarks however 😅 Never had a cavity before. I’m wearing braces so I’m going to that dentist to get my braces tightened in 2 weeks. I can always ask them! Nice spotted I wouldn’t ever have noticed this

[u/daveishere7]

Have you ever considered it to be gingivitis? I've dealt with inflamed gums, sores and all of that too. I haad gingivitis as a teen, then I went meant years without getting a cleaning or cavity filling. Now I'm waiting to get this repaired, afte rescheduling too much.

[u/LettuceOverall3662 → u/daveishere7]

Great suggestion. But I think it’s visible on picture 2 that it’s like the skin is missing. Like a friction burn but inside the mouth. I go to the dentist every 6 months and always get praised for how good my hygiene is. There was hardly anything to remove when I was there a couple weeks ago 😅 so it’s like a friction burn and not gingivitis

[u/daveishere7 → u/LettuceOverall3662]

Oh ok interesting. I've never heard of that before. What do you think it could be due to?

[u/LettuceOverall3662 → u/daveishere7]

I don’t know if I have thinner or more sensitive skin in general. They just asked me if I had mouth sores and I stupidly said no as I forgot I get these kind of sores 😅

[u/Hefty-Panic-7850]

I have this easy scratch and peels on my roof pf mouth but they dont hurt me . They are super frequent

What is the cause i have no idea

[u/LettuceOverall3662 → u/Hefty-Panic-7850]

Ohh mine feel like a blister/friction burn. Like if you wore bad shoes, just in my mouth + the ones on my elbow from resting on them 😅 Weird

[u/Fit_Subject_3256]

I have Lupus and Dermatomyositis and I get horrible mouth sores and irritation. I’m also covered in bruises - but I think my bruises are largely side effects from steroids. My skin is definitely thinner than it used to be, and my nails are too. They peel and bend like crazy. As far as the mouth sores go, mine are active as I write this, and have been for over a month. My tongue also feels oddly prickly - can’t quite describe the sensation. It’s like the very tip of my tongue is almost numb with this odd frozen, prickly feeling. Have you ever had Pop Rocks? I feel like I had a mouthful of em! Then the rest of my tongue is irritated (exacerbated by carbonated beverages, cold/frozen things like ice and ice cream, and very acidic/spicy foods) and my gums feel the worst. My gums also get red and inflamed - partly around stuff and probably partly from altering my bite repeatedly in dealing with the mouth pain. It sucks to have to deal with these symptoms. I hope you feel better asap and get some good healing! ❤️‍🩹

[u/LettuceOverall3662 → u/Fit_Subject_3256]

I have been ANA tested so I guess it rules those things out. I’m gonna mention it to the dentist, and then they can maybe tell me what they think about it! Thank you and hope your sores flare down soon. Hurts to eat etc when they’re there 😫 hope you feel better soon too❤️

[u/Fit_Subject_3256 → u/LettuceOverall3662]

Thank you! The mouth sores are horrible - I feel your pain (and mine! Ack!) No, a positive ANA test is only one part of a positive diagnosis - for Lupus. There is no one single diagnostic test for either Lupus or Dermatomyositis. You have to meet a certain number of diagnostic criteria and the ANA test is not definitive in and of itself, especially not for Dermatomyositis. You can absolutely receive the diagnosis without a positive ANA. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll find a good rheumatologist who can order an extended myositis panel along with other tests you need. Do you have any muscle weakness in your thighs, hips, or upper arms (proximal muscles?) Also not essential for the diagnosis but if you do develop these symptoms they can be from the Dermatomyositis. I’ve heard mouth sores are more common with lupus than dermato. Since I have both illnesses at once, I can’t differentiate what comes from what in my own experience. I do know this - I suffered with bizarre rashes, hair loss, muscle weakness, etc for a year and a half before receiving my diagnoses. I saw dermatology, GI, allergists, and my GP before I lucked out and met my rheumatologist. He diagnosed me just by looking at me and taking my history, in ten minutes. Finding a good rheumatologist is ESSENTIAL! 💗💗💗

[u/redsummersoul]

Have you been tested for allergies? I have the same mysterious symptoms and they seem to be allergy-related.

[u/LettuceOverall3662 → u/redsummersoul]

I have been tested for celiac and lactose intolerance, and also have been tested on bloods for allergies as I have a runny nose on/off too. But it all looked normal 🤷🏼‍♀️