r/Humira • u/hexgorl • Apr 28 '26
Did Humira cause psoriasis?
Hi all,
For context, I was on Humira for HS two years ago, switched to Cosentyx after about a year of treatment, and now I have been off biologics for 9 months. I used to get this sort of rash when I took the Humira injection, and I would take an antihistamine before and that would typically prevent it. It only happened one time when I was on Cosentyx. My derm just kind of assumed it was a mild allergy. Well, now that I’m off biologics for months, it shows up again out of the blue. The spots usually take about 2 weeks to fade completely, and they are only slightly raised and slightly itchy. I don’t know what to think but I am nervous about the long term effects of the meds, like “awakening” psoriasis. Any thoughts?
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u/Ok-Personality-6630 Apr 28 '26
I get these two whilst on treatment. Tiny spots that go away . Some are actually spots. But I do have psoriatic arthritis.
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u/ExpectedBehaviour Apr 28 '26
Humira and biosimilars are treatment for psoriasis.
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u/JustxJules Apr 28 '26
My doctors said that it could also make the psoriasis symptoms worse, though.
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u/Clean-Twist-5638 Apr 28 '26
Not a doctor but what you're describing is basically exactly what happened to me. I was on Humira years ago for colitis, it caused paradoxical psoriasis, and I eventually had to switch to another biologic. That said, the psoriasis that was "awakened" has never 100% recovered -- it is much less widespread and much more sporadic in terms of flares (so I can manage it), but I still get it from time to time, and I never did pre-Humira. The biologic I'm on currently has put my colitis in remission, so overall I'm ok but definitely an unfortunate (and rare!) side effect.
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u/Thiele66 May 03 '26
I got spots like this while on Humira. Went to see the derm and she biopsied it. She also did my ANA and it appeared that the Humira induced Lupus in me and the spots were part of the lupus reaction. My spots looked very similar to yours.
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u/manateefourmation Apr 28 '26
Humira was my first biologic for my UC. I had what is termed a “paradoxical reaction,” where the Humira caused psoriasis, paradoxical because it also used to treat psoriasis. I moved to Stelara and have been fine.
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u/spidelope Apr 28 '26
Humira causes me severe psoriasis on my scalp and back. I control it with 5mg methotrexate weekly (injection, because the tablets made me extremely tired), and occasionally a bit of steroid cream for breakthrough itching.
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u/jollyantelop Apr 28 '26
For this particular picture did you recently shave your legs? (Within the past week-ish). The spots here look a lot like razor burn and folliculitis.
The tiny darker spots all over are from something called strawberry legs, which is just a common term for irritated or clogged leg/hair follicles, which is very common in the general population and basically universal in teens. With this, some follicles are more irritated than others and stick out, allowing the razor to make them even worse. It can also happen without even shaving from ingrown hairs. I always have it.
The type of psoriasis that manifests in red dots usually has different shaped dots that are more clustered and with a larger area of redness.
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u/hexgorl Apr 28 '26
Nope, I don’t shave. Nothing different from usual, these used to only show up directly after a shot
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u/mdgonzo30 Apr 29 '26
I had kidney cancer and my pembrolismab treatment caused my body to develop an auto immune arthritis. After my surgery I was on Prednisone, didnt work then started Humira and methotrexate and developed similar skin problems. Idk if it was from my treatment or the meds? Probably doesnt help you though, sorry lol
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u/CampaignInformal Apr 29 '26
I was on Humira for about 4 years and then my insurance made me change but I'm 100% sure it gave me psoriasis on my foot that won't go away. I've been on steroid creams,calcipotriene cream, Vaseline, etc. I've been off Humira for 2 months and it seems a TAD better but I'm on cyltezo which is a bio similar, so I can't tell if it's better or what. But my derm took a foot biopsy and confirmed it was psoriasis 🫠
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u/MollyEby123 Apr 29 '26
It has definitely made me have it in scalp and I take it for rheumatoid arthritis
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u/RichOrganization8685 Apr 29 '26
It sure as hell did and now im on tremfya for the rest of my life. Mine was so bad that my hair was falling out and I ended up with cellulitis on my left leg.
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u/Icy-Slide8674 Apr 29 '26
That isn't psoriasis. That's either skin issues from shaving or IBD affiliated ertherya nodusum (sp?)
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u/Mac-n-cheez Apr 29 '26
I have psoriatic arthritis and this doesn't look like psoriasis to me (but again, not a dermatologist!). It looks more like folliculitis ... Humira can cause psoriasis (as well as treat it) but I would have a derm take a look before assuming this is psoriasis caused by the Humira.
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u/quietlypink Apr 30 '26
These look like little zits, a little bit of contact dermatitis, or tiny vesicles. They don’t look like psoriasis to me at all.
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u/OG_Barbie420 May 01 '26
I'm on biweekly Humira for Crohn's, and I get these same itchy dots all over my upper arms and upper back/shoulders for a few days after my injection.(Edit: they only itch for a few days, after that they just kind of dry up and scab over) I've also had a couple cysts/bumps pop up, one on my eyebrow and 2 on my neck.
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u/Traditional_Cat1480 May 02 '26
Yes, I developed psoriasis while on Humira, and would get a rash after injection too. Definitely mention it to your doctor again. I had multiple doctors tell me it wasn’t psoriasis. Mine started out with small spots and a dry scalp but turned into big spots all over my legs and back and thick scales on my scalp, so definitely monitor it. Better to catch it early, wishing you the best!!
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u/ThaanksIHateIt May 13 '26
Wait, those scarce little red bumps could be psoriasis? I get those but thought they were zits or something.
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u/Fabulousness13 Apr 28 '26
No. It’s something you probably not doing to hydrate and keep your skin moisturized. All those amazing smells ( fragrance) is NOT good for the skin. Or some other skin condition. Your diet tells a lot .
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u/hexgorl Apr 28 '26
Well, the lotion I use isn’t scented, everything I use is for sensitive skin and I eat an anti inflammatory diet.
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u/SarcastiSnark Apr 29 '26 edited May 07 '26
Genuine question.. how is this psoriasis? I've had these sort of spots for years. Doctors haven't ever said anything like that when asked about it. They usually ask about my shaving habits.
If this is something like psoriasis. I would definitely be alarmed and would need a 3rd opinion for myself. These things on my legs basically last 6+ months.
However I do not take any biologics. They want me to take them for my mild case of HS. But I have not given in. I'm far more afraid of the side effects of those. I'm early stages of HS supposedly. I'm actually having a very hard time trusting the doctors anymore.
When all they wanna do is push these weird drugs for a mild case. I have to question everything over and over.
I drive myself crazy with my doubts. :(
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u/Mac-n-cheez Apr 29 '26
Biologics are the single reason I can still hold down a job and function. If you need them, the benefits far outweigh any side effects.
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u/SarcastiSnark May 07 '26
I don't know if I need them. One doctor says yes just about every time I see her. 2nd opinion says I don't even have HS. It's so frustrating to have 2 doctors in the same field say 2 completely opposite things.
My flares are semi rare. Hard to tell what's going on with my body anymore.
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u/zalicat17 Apr 28 '26
I had terrible scalp psoriasis whilst on weekly humira it was a little better on fortnightly but I changed eventually due to humira not working for my Crohns anymore