Rash and muscle weakness are the most common symptoms, but individuals may experience any or all of the other symptoms related to the disorder. Children suffering from the juvenile form of the disorder are more likely to experience a greater variety of symptoms, particularly the calcium nodules in the muscles and lung disease caused by the disorder. Symptoms of dermatomyositis include:
1. Generalized muscle weakness, muscle exhaustion.
2. Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing.
3. Weight loss, fatigue, and fever.
4. Hard lumps under the skin caused by calcium deposits.
5. Lung disease.
6. Dark red or purplish rash on the skin, that may be painful or itchy, and occurs most frequently on the face, chest, back, around fingernail beds.
7. "Gottron's sign" is a scaly, red rash, appearing similar to psoriasis, that occurs over the knuckles and around the fingernail beds of both hands.
8. "Shawl sign" is a flat, red, V-shaped rash that occurs over the back or chest and usually worsens with exposure to light.