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Severe skin reactions after mRNA covid vaccine

Posted by eva1961 @eva1961, Sep 29, 2022

I considered myself a healthy person until I developed severe skin reactions after the first of four mRNA-COVID vaccines. I also developed antibodies for thyroid disease and lupus.
I have seen a dermatologist because of the skin reaction on my neck, had a biopsy which shows an increased dermal mucin. I also have seen a rheumatologist who recomends me to take plaquenil. I think doctors are not well informed, I honestly have fear of gettting any more boosters or any other vaccines. Please, please let me know if anyone is taking any medications after being diagnosed with lupus.

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swalex | @swalex | Oct 5, 2025
In reply to @emilygordon "@dogmama66 I have had long covid/vax injury since the last mRNA Moderna booster in Oct of..." + (show)
Profile picture for emilygordon @emilygordon

@dogmama66
I have had long covid/vax injury since the last mRNA Moderna booster in Oct of 2022.
Itching, rashes and hives have been an intermittent but consistent symptom ever since that booster. Sometimes there is no obvious explanation. I have had several strong itching, swelling, rashes from several specific meds or OTC supplements - vitamin B3, some gummies that are intended to improve vision, a prolonged series of sores around my chin and mouth from Fluorourcil that have been on my face for about a year. They just won’t heal no matter what treatment I try. I will see my doctor on Friday about this.
I had a strange and scarey reaction to Clindamycin which my dentist gave me. My lips and the entire inside of my mouth and tongue became sore, numb, dry and swollen. This took about two weeks to gradually subside. I have also had itching on my ankles and knees after knelling on a cheap synthetic carpet from China. I also have intermittent bouts of itching from no apparent stimulus, mostly on my arms and thighs but it can be just a small area or quite large. I developed an allergy to elastic and had to buy new underwear with covered elastic. They still cause some mild itching around my waist.
Well, there may be other specific events but that is all I can think of at the moment.
I wish you healing and a sense of well being in spite of this terrible affliction. Fatigue is one of the worst and is almost constant unless I take some Adderall which has its own story.
Good luck Dog Mama and I hope this helps.
Emily 🍀

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@emilygordon Your reaction to the mRNA vaccine and the skin issues you’ve described sound very similar to what I’ve experienced. After my last BioNTech mRNA booster, I developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and mast cell dysregulation, which have led to chronic rashes and heightened hypersensitivity.

I’ve also had significant reactions to certain medications. Clindamycin and similar antibiotics can trigger immune-mediated reactions for me, and I’ve experienced anaphylaxis with sulfonamides. In addition, I have a severe sensitivity to NSAIDs, which took many years to fully understand. Genetic testing later revealed that I carry the GS191 genetic marker, which is associated with impaired drug metabolism.

In my case, taking certain medications together appears to trigger a broader pattern of hypersensitivity, likely involving IgE-mediated immune dysregulation. This was ultimately confirmed through ELISA testing.

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swalex | @swalex | Oct 5, 2025
In reply to @sandrastaggs "I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and have received all Moderna boosters. After my second booster, I noticed..." + (show)
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I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and have received all Moderna boosters. After my second booster, I noticed profound bruising and bleeding on the front of my legs and front of my arms. The skin has looked abnormal since the first of August. Has anyone experienced any skin disorder after receiving the Covid booster?

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@sandrastaggs
Hi.
I also deal with significant bruising, which was eventually traced to von Willebrand Factor (VWF) Type 2 and Type 5 deficiencies, confirmed through ELISA testing. This contributes to abnormal clotting and may be part of the broader immune and vascular dysregulation I’m experiencing.

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pm56 | @pm56 | Oct 6, 2025
In reply to @donnasantella "Good morning after my second pfizer booster I woke up with a bloody eye it was..." + (show)
Profile picture for donnasantella @donnasantella

Good morning after my second pfizer booster I woke up with a bloody eye it was actually dripping all over my pillow. Doctor said it was broken blood vessels but didn't know enough to relate it to the booster. Since I've been getting the vaccines for covid I've developed nodules in my thyroid one on my spleen and one in my lung. After a year and a half of u/s of thyroid they have not grown u/s of spleen shows benign. Lung nodule is micro and stable. All can be documented to be normal with previous testing before vaccines. Crazy.

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@donnasantella I developed lung nodules and blood clots after Covid infections. Despite being fully vaxed and boosted, I had two back to back infections followed by another 3 the following year. My autoimmune condition seemed to worsen and I’ve just tested positive for Myositis. My doctors think Covid probably triggered it.

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biblelife7 | @biblelife7 | Oct 17 9:36pm

hello. I'm sorry to hear so many of us have had horrible reactions to the covid vaccine, I've been homebound for over five years with POTS, MAST, balance and fainting spells, prurigo nodularis and numerous brand new ailments since the third pfizer shot which was a poison to my entire body. I also believe there should be compensation for the thousands of us worldwide who continue to suffer endlessly with no cure in sight. God bless all of us. I will try some of the suggestions you've all made for the nodularis part of this chronic covid vaccine disease. VICTORY

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1 reply
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Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Oct 17 10:24pm
In reply to @biblelife7 "hello. I'm sorry to hear so many of us have had horrible reactions to the covid..." + (show)
Profile picture for biblelife7 @biblelife7

hello. I'm sorry to hear so many of us have had horrible reactions to the covid vaccine, I've been homebound for over five years with POTS, MAST, balance and fainting spells, prurigo nodularis and numerous brand new ailments since the third pfizer shot which was a poison to my entire body. I also believe there should be compensation for the thousands of us worldwide who continue to suffer endlessly with no cure in sight. God bless all of us. I will try some of the suggestions you've all made for the nodularis part of this chronic covid vaccine disease. VICTORY

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@biblelife7 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I’m glad you found us. This site is for people to ask questions about their medical problems and others to share their experiences of their health journey. It is a strictly personal experience and science- based program. Can I ask, what is prurigo nodularis?

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swalex | @swalex | Oct 18 12:29am

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is caused by a complex interaction between the immune system, sensory nerves, and chronic skin inflammation. Its exact underlying cause is not fully understood.

Three mechanisms are particularly important:
Mechanism What happens
Immune dysregulation: Increased activity of inflammatory pathways, particularly IL-31, IL-4, and IL-13.
Neuronal hypersensitivity: Sensory nerves become overly responsive, generating intense itching even with minor stimulation.
Chronic scratching: Repeated scratching damages the skin, promotes inflammation, and contributes to the formation of thick, hard nodules.

IL-31 is particularly important because it can directly activate itch-sensing neurons through the IL-31 receptor complex.
PN does not have one universal cause. It develops through a combination of immune activation, altered nerve signaling, and persistent scratching. IL-31 is a particularly important driver of itching, while IL-4 and IL-13 contribute to the inflammatory environment that sustains the disease.

Reference:
https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(24)01875-X/fulltext
and
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738081X25000938

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1 reply
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Alta Net | @altabiznet | Oct 18 1:49pm
In reply to @swalex "Prurigo nodularis (PN) is caused by a complex interaction between the immune system, sensory nerves, and..." + (show)
Profile picture for swalex @swalex

Prurigo nodularis (PN) is caused by a complex interaction between the immune system, sensory nerves, and chronic skin inflammation. Its exact underlying cause is not fully understood.

Three mechanisms are particularly important:
Mechanism What happens
Immune dysregulation: Increased activity of inflammatory pathways, particularly IL-31, IL-4, and IL-13.
Neuronal hypersensitivity: Sensory nerves become overly responsive, generating intense itching even with minor stimulation.
Chronic scratching: Repeated scratching damages the skin, promotes inflammation, and contributes to the formation of thick, hard nodules.

IL-31 is particularly important because it can directly activate itch-sensing neurons through the IL-31 receptor complex.
PN does not have one universal cause. It develops through a combination of immune activation, altered nerve signaling, and persistent scratching. IL-31 is a particularly important driver of itching, while IL-4 and IL-13 contribute to the inflammatory environment that sustains the disease.

Reference:
https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(24)01875-X/fulltext
and
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738081X25000938

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@swalex

Anyone with scleroderma or systemic sclerosis post COVID-19 vaccines?

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