What is dermatomyositis?

Dermatomyositis is one of a group of muscle diseases known as the inflammatory myopathies, which are characterized by chronic muscle inflammation accompanied by muscle weakness. The cardinal symptom is a skin rash that precedes, accompanies, or follows progressive muscle weakness.

How do members experience dermatomyositis?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with dermatomyositis*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for dermatomyositis*

*Data from patients with dermatomyositis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with dermatomyositis*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Prednisone Intensol)
Perceived effectiveness
for dermatomyositis (1 evaluation)
Side effects
increased anxiety insomnia
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
dermatomyositis (2)
Treatment

(Gammaglobulin (IVIg))
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
dermatomyositis (1)

*Data from patients with dermatomyositis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has dermatomyositis on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 15
30s 32
40s 51
50s 80
60s 78
70+ 40

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 30
Female 263

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What is dermatomyositis?

Dermatomyositis is one of a group of muscle diseases known as the inflammatory myopathies, which are characterized by chronic muscle inflammation accompanied by muscle weakness. The cardinal symptom is a skin rash that precedes, accompanies, or follows progressive muscle weakness.



Common symptoms reported by people with dermatomyositis

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for dermatomyositis

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Prednisone Intensol)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
173
Tried for
dermatomyositis (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Gammaglobulin (IVIg))
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
57
Tried for
dermatomyositis (1)

Data from patients with dermatomyositis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with dermatomyositis

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Prednisone Intensol)
Perceived effectiveness
for dermatomyositis (1 evaluation)
Side effects
increased anxiety insomnia
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
dermatomyositis (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Gammaglobulin (IVIg))
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
dermatomyositis (1)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with dermatomyositis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has dermatomyositis on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 2 new patients joined this month
  • 240 say dermatomyositis is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 15
30s 32
40s 51
50s 80
60s 78
70+ 40
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 8
20-29 years 13
30-39 years 25
40-49 years 28
50-59 years 15
60-69 years 1
70+ years 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 30
Female 263

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 104
Not Diagnosed 9

These charts show data from dermatomyositis patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: