Lupus and other auto-immune skin diseases

What is it and what causes it?

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system produces antibodies against it’s own healthy tissue, resulting in inflammation, tissue damage and pain.

As many as 70% of people with lupus have some form of dermatological symptoms. Lesions associated with the disorder include;

• Chronic cutaneous (discoid) lupus: Thick, red, scaly patches on the skin.
• Subacute cutaneous lupus: Similar red, scaly lesions but with distinct edges.
• Acute cutaneous lupus: A Malar rash (or butterfly rash) develops on the skin.

TSC Treatment

Treatment options for the dermatological symptoms of lupus are targeted at reducing inflammation and discomfort.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-malarial drugs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressant or cytotoxic medication may be prescribed by your doctor, depending on the severity of each particular case.