Lupus and Other Collagen Vascular Disorders
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Lupus is a chronic or lifelong disease that can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints and nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is the most common type of lupus, and the majority of people who have it also show symptoms of discoid lupus. About 5% of people with DLE eventually develop the systemic form of the disease.
Discoid lupus is a type of cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The other two types also cause rashes. While discoid causes circular patches of thick, inflamed skin, subacute cutaneous lupus causes ring-shaped rashes on the back, chest of neck. The third type is acute cutaneous lupus, which causes a red rash that looks like a sunburn across your cheeks and nose, often in the shape of a butterfly.
Lupus and Other Collagen Vascular Disorders FAQs
The symptoms of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) are round skin lesions on the scalp, face or ears. Typically, these lesions or sores are not painful or itchy, but they may appear scaly or crusty with a red, inflamed border. They can cause permanent scarring or hair loss.
DLE tends to run in families, and females outnumber males with this condition 3 to 1. It occurs more frequently in people who are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Simiilarly, SLE is eight times more common in women than in men.
The exact cause of DLE and SLE is unknown, but both are chronic inflammatory conditions thought to be caused when the body’s immune system attacks normal skin tissue. Patients with lupus have unusual antibodies in their blood that are targeted against their own body tissues. Factors that play a role in the appearance of lesions include heredity, viruses, ultraviolet light and drugs.
Treatments for Lupus
While there is no cure for lupus, the treatment of DLE and SLE focuses on improving quality of life by decreasing inflammation and the level of autoimmune activity. People with discoid or systematic lupus can help prevent flare-ups by avoiding sun exposure and cigarette smoking. It’s also important to maintain use of medications as an abrupt stop of medications can cause symptoms to flare.
Treatments that can improve lesions and slow progression of the disease include:
- Cortizone ointment
- Cortizone injections
- Other drugs prescribed after a dermatologist has done a skin biopsy
- Year-round sun protection, including broad-spectrum sunscreens and clothing