Mirena and psoriasis

[Autumnchills415]

Getting fed up. Had a coil in March. Solved all my period issues but my skin has been terrible since. I've had nothing but problems with it. I've ended up with small spots of psoriasis (biggest patch is 10p sized on my knee) the rest are 5p sized or smaller. They have come up allover my upper back. Chest. Now I've got tiny patches smaller than a pea on my calves. I've got a scalp full of thick patches. Little bits dotted on my tummy.

I got rid of it all with steroids in july. But now its back..ive been given a potent steroid and its probably cleared it up 40%. But I know its just going yo return when I stop. Scalps improved massively with scalp lotion.

Spending a ton of money. Its making me feel I can't date. I'm worried it won't stop.

I am convinced its linked to my coil.

And ideas?
.

Hey OP, my Mirena does a similar thing sometimes. For me I think it's hives but it's always in the same place that then sometimes spreads before clearing up seemingly in its own. I worked out that the hives only come up just before my period, and sometimes not at all and sometimes really really badly. I'm not sure if it's worse when I'm stressed. I get acne too.

I did look it all up and apparently Mirena can trigger mild allergic reactions to hormones that rise before your period, hence my rashes. So that's my working theory but I have tried other contraception and it doesn't work for me either, so I feel stuck

I hope that's helpful to let you know you're not alone?? It's rubbish. Like you say, steroids can help but I'm not sure what else to do. Hugs

Thank you. It does seem to get worse when I'm bleeding which is extremely light. Its interesting you said about acne. I've got flawless skin on my face usually and it's bumpy with little spots allover the last dew days. I hope they clear up.

Hives that's interesting..I'll look up what they look like. Did it ever go away for you? Without sounding dramatic I nearly died last winter from blood loss. I had emeagbacy transfusions when I nearly died. The coil has saved my life in one respect as I now have 2/3 of good blood and its slowly rising.

I just don't want to become miserable and self conscious for years and loose out on wearing dresses and vest tops in the nicer weather. It's really getting to me. I've met a lovely man and he's so keen and I can't even entertain the idea of getting intimate so I'm friend zoning him!

I'm sorry to hear about your health last winter and glad to hear you're on the mend. It's really difficult isn't it - the Mirena is good in some ways but in others (ie skin issues) it's really not at all sometimes. I think there's also a lack of reporting and therefore understanding about these sorts of 'minor' (?) side effects.

Yes, my hives always do eventually go away, but I've had some awful episodes. I remember a couple months ago it spread to cover almost all of the front of my thigh and onto some of my arms. It was itchy as anything - I was even itching through my jeans my putting my hand in my pocket absent mindedly, or I would wake up and be itching in my sleep!!

I totally get what you mean about feeling self conscious. I recently moved to Australia and it's winter here so it hasn't been a problem when it flares up but it will be difficult in summer to hide them or not feel self conscious of them. I hope you find the courage to be intimate with your new guy if you'd like, though - I'm sure he'd be very lucky!

I've not been to the doctor about all this because of just moving, and because it's really bad for a week or two and then it'll clear up. So I lose the motivation to bother going to the doctors, which sounds terrible! Then the hives reappear and the cycle starts again. But it sounds like it might be useful for you, to rule out something else?

It's so rubbish as perhaps you're like me, where you think that maybe the upside of the Mirenas outweigh the skin issues. But at the same time it does bother me a lot, im just not sure what the other options are as I feel I've tried everything! Again, no answers from me but empathy and hopefully some validation that the skin issue/Mirena connection is real, in my experience

I have always had really dry flaky skin, psoriasis and excess in patches, and peri menopause hasn't helped at all. I also have a mirena, but I had put the worsening skin down to peri menopause. Highly likely it's hormonal anyway. I was at the end of my tether with it earlier in the year, and using steroids then stopping, it flared up so then back on the steroids
However, my skin is now the best it has been for many many years, and the answer for me was to stop the steroids, but moisturise after every shower with a really really thick emollient. I was prescribed epimax ointment which is 40% liquid paraffin and 30% soft paraffin. It's cheaper to buy online than the cost of a prescription charge and you can use it in the shower too if needed. Has been absolutely life changing for me. No flakes, no patches and my skin feels really soft which has never been the case for me.

Hope this is helpful. I honestly didn't believe I would ever break the steroid cycle.

I’ve had a MIRENA iud in now for nearly 6 years and have only just realised the health problems I’ve had are all related to it. I’ve only just realised due to doctors saying that none of it was related yet they haven’t been able to treat or find what is causing the problems. My symptoms have been
psoriasis, acne, severe back pain, aching joints, fatigue, muscle cramps, brain fog, bloating, constant discharge, bladder discomfort, weight gain, hair loss, over heating plus more that I’m only just realising. Doctors put me on different medications for the skin issues and discharge, I suffered nasty side affects some permanent (loss of taste and smell from doxycycline) but not once was I told that it could be related to the MIRENA. I’m booked in to see the doctor to ask to have it removed. I got it in the first place to reduce my heavy menstrual bleeding so I don’t know what I will do now.

@JayBir Just wondered how you've been since the removal? My Dd just had hers taken out 2 weeks ago in an attempt to treat her severe acne. How long does it take for side effects to go (if they even do??)

Ive got the plastic mirena in, went to get it out and they couldn’t locate it, I’ve been referred to have a scan done but can’t afford the $220 to get it done. So I’m pretty much stack at the moment. I can list around 20 odd side affects that started around the same time as getting this mirena in. I really hope that they all return to normal as soon as I’m able to get it out. For the skin issues I’ve been using products called moo goo its helping keep it under control but not taking it away completely. @Localher0

The Mirena definitely caused my psoriasis to flare up. Never had a problem with my skin then a month after having Mirena put in the dry patches started.
Got Mirena removed 18 months later and skin still won't clear up.
Had to be prescribed eulpharat steroid cream to help with the flare ups..
Mirena was the biggest mistake I could have made..