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Bullseye Rash

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 5/12/2016 12:16 AM (GMT -5)
I keep reading that only about 60-70% of people with Lyme had a bullseye rash. But how can the CDC come up with such a figure when it's possible that everyone or 90% actually has such a rash but that they didn't realize that they had one?

For instance, if you had a bullseye rash that was on the back of your thigh, or on your back, or out of sight or on top of your head, hidden by your hair, how would you know you had it?

I did have a bullseye rash. It didn't itch or hurt. It was on my forearm, so it was very easily seen. But if it had been on the back of my bicep, I would not have noticed it and my husband may not have noticed it because I rarely wear short sleeves.

Just a thought.
Posted 5/12/2016 1:36 AM (GMT -5)
Actually, i think it's lower than 60-70% that have a known bullseye rash.

All we can go by is if we had a 'known' bullseye rash.

I was one that didn't have one that I know of...but I always say...it could have been on the back of my knee...or back of my neck..and since I have long hair...it wouldn't have been seen.

I think what we want people to know is...don't rule out lyme disease because you didn't have a known bulls eye rash.
Posted 5/12/2016 9:34 AM (GMT -5)
I was bit and immediately got a rash (on my forearm). I did not see the bull's eye being real distinct and questioned "is it, or isn't it? I thought it was just a spider bite but I have never had a spider bite in the middle of the day. I wish my rash would have been a perfect bull's eye, I would have gone to the doctor. But when I googled pictures of the bull's eye, those were bright and perfect. Mine was lighter and my skin is already reddish brown so there was no real white ring. Just a lighter reddish ring.
Posted 5/12/2016 11:43 AM (GMT -5)
There are actually several different types of rashes that Lyme produces, but if a person gets a bulls eye rash, it's definitely from one specific strain of Lyme - Borrelia burgdorferi, and possibly from Borrelia mayonii. That's all the tests are designed to look for as well, which is yet another reason the testing is so faulty.

According to ILADS: "Fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite. In some studies this number is as low as 15% in culture-proven infection with the Lyme spirochete." www.ilads.org/lyme/about-lyme.php#sthash.3n5vZQXd.dpuf

I've never had any known rash, unless it was in my hair - but I doubt that, simply because as a child who loved being outdoors, I had a tick check daily and any rashes would have been a cause for concern.
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