I don't know if this is related to the fibro or not, but I figured it's worth asking here about it.
I've had a rash that covers the top half of each arm since last November. It isn't itchy, it's just a bunch of tiny red hives. It comes and goes. Sometimes it flares very noticeably, other times it's hardly noticeable at all (but I can feel the little bumps when I rub it.) I have no idea what causes it. I have a lot of food allergies and intolerances, but my diet is about as clean as possible. The rash started about the same time as I started drinking my doctor's protein shakes (I make them myself with many of his powders, all very clean raw ingredients with no added ingredients,) but my fibromyalgia also got into full swing about that same time. My doctor acted a little baffled by the rash, so I've been trying to figure it out through elimination and trial-and-error. No luck yet.
What I have been noticing consistently lately is that the rash is worst right after exercising. I usually work my arms to some degree with every workout, but my focus with a workout is just keeping my heart rate up for as long as I can sustain it (usually 15-20 minutes at a time on a good day.) I don't think that the rash just looks worse because I'm getting good circulation in my arms, because circulation looks red and splotchy on the skin. The actual hives themselves get larger and more red.
I've been wondering if it's possible that it's a lactic acid issue, since studies are saying fibro is overproduced lactic acid. Maybe the acid is trying to push its way through my skin? I don't know, might be a far-fetched idea.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Any ideas?
I've had a rash that covers the top half of each arm since last November. It isn't itchy, it's just a bunch of tiny red hives. It comes and goes. Sometimes it flares very noticeably, other times it's hardly noticeable at all (but I can feel the little bumps when I rub it.) I have no idea what causes it. I have a lot of food allergies and intolerances, but my diet is about as clean as possible. The rash started about the same time as I started drinking my doctor's protein shakes (I make them myself with many of his powders, all very clean raw ingredients with no added ingredients,) but my fibromyalgia also got into full swing about that same time. My doctor acted a little baffled by the rash, so I've been trying to figure it out through elimination and trial-and-error. No luck yet.
What I have been noticing consistently lately is that the rash is worst right after exercising. I usually work my arms to some degree with every workout, but my focus with a workout is just keeping my heart rate up for as long as I can sustain it (usually 15-20 minutes at a time on a good day.) I don't think that the rash just looks worse because I'm getting good circulation in my arms, because circulation looks red and splotchy on the skin. The actual hives themselves get larger and more red.
I've been wondering if it's possible that it's a lactic acid issue, since studies are saying fibro is overproduced lactic acid. Maybe the acid is trying to push its way through my skin? I don't know, might be a far-fetched idea.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Any ideas?