Skin issues w/ RA?

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I've had RA for years but was just dxed in March. I have been breaking out with these bumps on my face, chest & back for a while now. They are tiny & there are 100's of them. They do not itch but they do hurt if I mess with them. They started on my forehead near my hair line & into my hair. Most of them are like little blisters. They do not get a head like a pimple. If I pop a blister, it comes right back. I wore a visor & shades to an outside event & only broke out on my chin & chest where I was exposed to the sun's rays. I get them w/or w/out the use of sun screen. I wear no make-up, ever. I just don't get it. I'm thinking it has to be the RA w/some kind of sun sensitivity.
We went to a water park last weekend & I couldn't wear a visor or shades. I wore a ton of sunscreen & still burnt up. I also got a ton of these bumps!! I look like an acne infested teenager! I didn't even have acne as a teenager. My face is compleatly covered in these bumps & has been for a week. Some are big enough to stand out. Some you can only see when I'm in the natural light. Sometimes I get these bumps just over my cheeks & nose.
Anyone else have this problem? I haven't tried many acne products because I just don't feel like this is acne. Is it the RA? I have so many questions but no insurance so no doctor.
I have other skin issues too. When I have a fever that is more than slight, my skin hurts so bad. Even the wind blowing hurts. Having the sunburn really affected my skin. I put sunscreen on twice while we were there to avoid this situation. Bruised to the touch is how it feels. I've been dealing with this for years. Rheumy couldn't tell me if it was the RA doing it or not. When I flare though, my skin kills me. Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Jen

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Trudie, I posted one pic to my photos in my profile. Didn't know who else to do it. There are still a lot of bumps but they are much better if you can believe that. I have a few light moles & a few pimples in the mix. So embarrassing. Thanks for everything!

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I think I've waited too long to take a pic. They are barely there considering how bad they were. I hope not to ever break out like that again but if I do, I'll take pix.
My rheumy won't give me mtx unless I go into the office, once a month & I have my liver checked. I haven't even called to see how much the office visit is or how much the rx would be. I was only on it for a month right after I was dxed. I don't care for my rheumy. He's foreign & very hard to talk to. I asked him why my skin hurt so bad & he said, "take this & I see you in 4 weeks." That's his answer to everything, "I see you in 4 weeks." He was the one to finally dx me though. I went to another rheumy several years ago & she was insane. My shoulder joint would start to hurt so bad that I couldn't hardly move it. Then it would start to move to my elbow then wrist. The joints would be so hot on the inside but not on the outside. My arm would be so weak I could hardly use it or move it. Sometimes the pain would move to the other arm but the pain was nowhere near as bad. This would last for days at a time. Go away for a week or so & come right back. That crazy rheumy said it was my endometriosis!!!
My legs were also really bothering me at the time. Nerve pain shooting up & down my shins. It would keep me up at night but they hurt like that 24/7, not just at night. My pcp put me on RLS meds which made me speed at night & kept me up all night & didn't help with the pain. I had to go from 6 days a week at my mom's restaurant to 3 because my legs hurt so bad. That crazy rheumy told me I wasn't active enough!!!!! Ok, I'm a tad over weight but I am very active. I worked on my feet 7 hours a day with little breaks & I have 3 children!!!
That crazy rheumy said I was "pre-lupus" whatever that means. She then tells me that I already have too many doctors & that she didn't want to treat me!!! I only saw her twice. The initial consultation & to get my lab results. I had already decided to fire her after our 1st meeting when I felt she wasn't taking me seriously. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that I have joint issues not a freakin female issue in my joints!!!
My shoulder pain went away & so did my leg pain. On their own with no help from doctors. I decided never to go back unless I was really sick. I know this isn't rational thinking, I was just so frustrated!! Then I was in a wreck 9/26/08 & an RA flare hit me everywhere. I had no other choice than to seek a doctors help. I have a great pcp now. She couldn't help dx the RA but she did encourage me to see a new rheumy.
Didn't mean to go on & on. I just don't know what to do about meds & what not. Thanks for your help & encouragement! Take care.
Jen

[TrudieC]

Do upload the pics.  I have a rash that sounds like what you are saying that comes and goes.  

I am really concerned that you are on no meds.  You are risking permanent disfigurement, disability and organ issues.  It is very important to halt the progression of disease.  I was unemployed for 6 months and am the primary earner and benefit carrier and we found it hard but the meds were a top priority.  We cut on food, TV, utilities, etc.  Please reconsider.

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Thanks for your help! I am not on any meds right now. My hubby lost his job & we lost our insurance. It doesn't look like my mother-in-laws rosacea but it could be the same thing. Guess I'd have to upload a pic to for you to get a better idea. I know I don't describe it well. don't really now how to. It's not like anything else I've ever had. I'll take some pix later & upload. Tine for homeschool to start! Thanks again!
Jen

[TrudieC]

What drugs are you on?

[TrudieC]

I am in the midst of finalizing a diagnosis of Lupus &/or RA but more than likely is Lupus.  Sun sensitivity can very much go along with Lupus.  It also sounds like it could rosacea.  Do check with your doctor and do ask him to run a Lupus panel just to have some peace of mind.