WARNING: KIND OF GROSS!

I've read that there is skin involvement with EDS, but when I read about that I'm mostly finding that it refers to soft, velvety skin. But I'm wondering about this:

For years I've had some long, thin lumps on my face. A dermatologist one told me that they are "cysts". They're very close to the skin surface. I've had acne cysts in the past, but those are usually deeper under the skin. I'm not talking about that.

The closer-to-the-surface "cysts" are just filled with a fluid--no pus. (Sorry to be so gross.) The fluid is similar to the clear fluid that is in a (non-blood) blister, or to the fluid that would be in a bump if you were to bump your head. (OK, sometimes the fluid has a slight cream color tinge but not much.) If a person has weak connective tissue, could normal lymph fluid kind of leak out from wherever it's supposed to be (?) and form these types of cysts? I'm kind of thinking they're different from normal acne/sebaceous cysts, because I think the latter have all kinds of garbage in them (dried skin cells, sebum, whatever)--but the ones I'm asking about just have that clearish liquid in them. (I also seem to remember a derm. muttering something about lymph fluid.)

So I'm wondering if people who have EDS with skin involvement sometimes get these long, close-to-the-surface fluid filled lumps--yet that EDS person may not even have any acne or sebacous cysts?

Of course, this little problem might have nothing to do with EDS, but it seems to stand to reason that this could be a symptom of it. (i.e. Weak connective tissue gives way, pockets form that contain lymph liquid that then appear as lumpy bumps on the face.)

Thanks,
All in Knots

Your post isn't gross! I've read a lot grosser and it takes a lot to gross most of us spoonies out .

Are the bumps visible to the naked eye?
I have lumps too both on my skin and under the skin. The lumps that are under my skin are very sore when you touch the spot or bump it accidentally. I haven't tried squeezing the lumps under my skin but the little lumps on my skin (that are also red) does have a clear liquid discharge.

Yes, they are visible to the naked eye, and are only on my face. They're nothing serious--I think they are enlarged lymph vessels. I started to get them when I was in my twenties, and I have several of them. Of course drs. say you should never squeeze anything, so it's good that you don't know what the liquid looks like.

I just don't see any mention of these in any of the EDS stuff I've been reading, but I wouldn't be surprised if this could be a part of EDS. I imagine that if the connective tissue can be stretchy, and if hernias and organ prolapses--i.e. things bulging out that shouldn't be--then bulging lymph vessels could go along with it. So why can't I find any reference to it? (Perhaps because I don't know the correct term for bulging lymph vessels??)

Thx,
All in Knots

Edited to add: Just had another idea. Perhaps the lymph vessels are normal, but if the skin is thin, then the vessels appear to be bulging a bit? Still--haven't seen this mentioned in any of the EDS info I've read...

hi i dont have the official dx yet but im 90% sure i have eds. i have little bumps too i just noticed them when i went to the zoo last week. i thought it was just sweat bubbles but i dont know.