Various online resources for MS patients, including discussion boards and articles point out that an MS rash is not a primary symptom of multiple sclerosis. Rather, it seems to be associated with various medications taken to treat multiple sclerosis, and with diseases other than multiple sclerosis.
Is the “MS Rash” a Side Effect of Medication?
Given that the sources mentioned above are emphatic in their dissociation of skin rashes from multiple sclerosis’ neurological damage, it would be easy to dismiss MS patients’ claims that they were suffering from an MS rash. Many doctors would likely suggest that the patients in question were suffering from a symptom triggered by one of their MS medications. They would probably point out that drugs like carbamazepine, amantadine, meclizine, glatiramer and interferon all have the capacity to trigger rashes. They would advise their patients to eliminate these medications as possible culprits before considering other possibilities.
But it is worth considering whether it is always the case that rashes experienced by MS patients are not primary symptoms of their disease. Isn’t it possible that a small minority of patients develop a skin rash as a direct result of their MS lesions? Some patients describe themselves as experiencing a rash every time they have an MS exacerbation. Is that just a coincidence? Might the rash result when certain metabolic processes are affected by demyelination? How about the patients who describe themselves as experiencing a rash and an MS exacerbation when they are exposed to the sun? Is that also a coincidence? Is it possible that they have an MS rash that is associated with their photosensitivity (a well-recognized symptom of MS)? There are no easy answers to these questions.
Is the “MS Rash” Caused by Another Disease or Condition?
It is possible that MS is directly responsible for certain types of skin rashes among a minority of MS patients. It is also possible that the people suffering from these skin rashes happen to have MS in addition to other diseases or conditions. For instance, they may suffer from both MS and hives. If their hives are stress-related, and if they have a tendency to experience MS exacerbations during high-stress periods, it is entirely conceivable that they would experience them both simultaneously and learn to associate the hives with the MS.
They may also be suffering from MS and Lyme disease simultaneously, in which case, any rash developed is more likely to be associated with the Lyme disease. It is worth pointing out that MS and Lyme disease have some similar symptoms. Some doctors have actually made erroneous diagnoses, declaring that patients were suffering from MS when, in fact, they had Lyme disease. Given that Lyme disease is often characterized by a rash, these patients might assume that such a rash is an MS rash when, in fact, they do not actually have MS.
