Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis is a rare disease that causes muscle weakness and rashes on your skin. It’s a form of myopathy. It can also cause severe symptoms that affect your ability to breathe and swallow.

Dermatomyositis is a form of polymyositis that affects your skin in addition to your muscles.

See your provider right away if you experience any symptoms of dermatomyositis. Some cases take months to develop, but dermatomyositis can develop quickly. The sooner you begin treatment, the more likely it is you can avoid having severe complications.

In rare cases, dermatomyositis can be fatal, especially in the first year after symptoms start. It can also increase your risk of developing certain kinds of cancer.

Dermatomyositis vs lupus

Dermatomyositis is similar to lupus and other autoimmune diseases. However, experts aren’t sure what causes dermatomyositis, so it’s not classified as an autoimmune condition.

If you have lupus, you might experience joint pain, skin sensitivities and rashes, and issues with your internal organs (brain, lungs, kidneys and heart). Many of your symptoms might come and go in waves — often called flare-ups.

Dermatomyositis causes muscle weakness and degeneration (tissue death) and a rash on your skin. It’s diagnosed with blood tests, biopsies and imaging tests.

Both dermatomyositis and lupus need diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Visit your provider right away if notice any new symptoms.

Who does dermatomyositis affect?

Anyone can be affected by dermatomyositis, but some groups of people are more likely to develop it, including:

• Kids 5 to 15 years old.
• Adults 40 to 60 years old.
• Women or people assigned female at birth.

How common is dermatomyositis?

Dermatomyositis is very rare. Around 1 in every 100,000 people develop it each year.

How does this condition affect my body?

Dermatomyositis could affect your body for the rest of your life.

If it damages your muscles badly enough you might lose the ability to move or use a part of your body the way you used to. This usually takes years to develop, but some people experience severe muscle weakness earlier than others.

Dermatomyositis has also been found to increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Dermatomyositis and cancer

Around 15% of people with dermatomyositis develop cancer later in their life. Some of the most common cancers people with dermatomyositis develop include:

• Ovarian cancer.
• Lung cancer.
• Lymphoma.
• Breast cancer.
• Colon cancer.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your cancer risk and any screenings you need.