Rash on forehead CLL

Posted by suzjlance @suzjlance, Jul 24 11:53am

I was diagnosed with CLL and December 2025. I’m in the waiting period. Today I broke out with Red small rash on my forehead. Is this normal and is it CLL?

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Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jul 26 7:38am

Hi @suzjlance, While you're waiting for other CLL members to pop into the conversation, I found a good article from My Leukemia Team with information regarding skin changes in people with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. You might find it helpful. Here's the link:
https://www.myleukemiateam.com/resources/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-skin-issues-lesions-rashes-and-more
Since this is a new symptom you, if it doesn't subside or seems to be spreading or painful it may be good to have this checked out. Have you had a shingles vaccination?

suzjlance | @suzjlance | Jul 26 12:58pm

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @suzjlance, While you're waiting for other CLL members to pop into the conversation, I found..." + (show)

@loribmt Thank you so much for this information! I have not had a shingles shot. I do not get these type of shots due to reactions I’ve had from them.

Since I’m trying to educate myself on exactly what CLL is. The information you sent is so helpful and so appreciated 🙏❤️🌺

Bigfoot | @tomatack | Jul 27 6:27am

I wouldn't call it normal for CLL, but it also isn't particularly unusual. I have noticed increased sensitivity of my skin and more contact dermatitis likely caused by a compromised immune system. If you think of CLL as a cancer of the immune system it makes a lot of sense and explains why we get more skin issues. I would recommend the shingles vaccine. Shingles can be absolutely awful and can cause permanent nerve damage. Again, your immune system usually keeps the latent chicken pox virus that causes shingles in check in healthy adults, but our immune system isn't healthy so we have a higher risk of shingles.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jul 27 6:30am

In reply to @suzjlance "@loribmt Thank you so much for this information! I have not had a shingles shot. I..." + (show)

@suzjlance But wait...there's more. 😅 More information on CLL for you! It remains one of the more treatable forms of leukemia. Because CLL is generally slow to progress, it's not unusual for newly diagnosed people to have their blood work monitored instead of having to start treatment.

As promised, here are a couple links for information on CLL. More conversations can be found by typing in CLL in the top search bar. I have the results for you here:
~Results of the search for CLL
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/
A couple of other good discussion:
~Answers to top questions about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/answers-to-top-questions-about-chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-cll/
~Anyone have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-have-cll/
How is the rash area on your face today? Also, what has your doctor mentioned about possible treatment for CLL or are in in active surveillance?

suzjlance | @suzjlance | Jul 27 11:17am

In reply to @tomatack "I wouldn't call it normal for CLL, but it also isn't particularly unusual. I have noticed..." + (show)

@tomatack I thought since I had the chicken pox vacine as a kid, I couldn't get the shingles?

Bigfoot | @tomatack | Jul 27 12:25pm

It reduces the risk, but it's not zero chance. Here's what Grok AI says:

CDC summaries note an approximately 80% lower risk of shingles in healthy vaccinated children compared with those infected by wild-type.

When shingles does occur after vaccination, it is usually from the attenuated vaccine strain, is less common, and tends to be milder than shingles after natural infection.

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