Skin rashes are very common in people with lupus. Some skin rashes and sores are very specific to lupus. Photosensitivity and/or too much exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of sun and some types of artificial light will aggravate some lupus skin rashes and lesions.

Common Lupus Skin Rashes:

Lupus Butterfly skin rash: This rash appears over the nose and cheeks and can range from a faint blush to a severe, scaling rash. The lupus butterfly skin rash is very sensitive to light and appears to gets worse when skin is exposed to sun or certain types of artificial light. The butterfly rash may be permanent or may come and go.

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Discoid lesion skin rash: These scarring, coin-shaped lesions are seen on areas of the skin that have been exposed to UV light. The discoid lesion skin rash may also occur on the scalp and produce permanent localized baldness.

Subacute cutaneous lesion skin rash: These non-scarring, red, coin-shaped lesions are very sensitive to UV light. The Subacute cutaneous skin rash may occur only on the face or cover large areas of the body. The subacute cutaneous skin rash can mimic the lesions seen in psoriasis.

Mucous membrane lesion: Mouth ulcers, nose and vaginal are sometimes seen in lupus patients. These lupus lesions are usually painless.

Drug-induced lupus skin rash: Some drugs used to treat lupus, such as corticosteroids, immuno-suppressive drugs, and anti-neoplastics, can produce skin rashes. Your health care provider can review these side effects with you.

The National Institutes of Health offers a patient care guide pertaining to lupus skin rashes. Below is the information from this lupus skin rash guide.

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Caring For Yourself:
_ Reduce your exposure to the sun and to some sources of artificial light (especially fluorescent and halogen bulbs). The skin of people with lupus is very sensitive to the UV light that comes from these sources.
_ Limit outdoor activity between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This may mean a big change in your lifestyle if you work or play outdoors a lot.
_ Wear a sunscreen on exposed areas of skin. It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Be sure that the sunscreen protects against both UVB and UVA rays.
_ Wear sunscreen all year round and on cloudy days as well as on sunny days. Also wear it indoors if you spend a lot of time in a room with many windows (glass does not filter out UV rays).
_ Wear protective clothing, such as hats with wide brims and clothing made of tightly woven material. Thin, loosely woven material allows UV light to penetrate to the skin.
_ Be aware of fluorescent light and halogen lamps. They can be found in many places and include floor lamps, overhead lights, photo-copiers, and slide projectors. Sunscreen and protective clothing can help.
_ Tell your doctor immediately if any rash or sore appears or gets worse.
_ If your doctor prescribes a medication for your skin condition, be sure to take it as directed.
_ Try rinsing your mouth with salt water and eating soft foods if you have mouth ulcers. A number of other treatments and preparations are available to treat mouth ulcers as well as those in the nose and vagina.
_ Avoid preparations or medications you know will make your skin condition worse. These might include hair dyes, skin creams, certain drugs that can make you more sensitive to the sun (for example, tetracyclines or diuretics), and things you are allergic to.
_ It�s okay to wear makeup, but try hypoallergenic brands. A brand that also includes UV protection would be good to use.
_ If you have Raynaud's phenomenon, dress warmly in cold weather. Pay particular attention to keeping your hands and feet warm. Keeping your home warm will also help prevent an attack. Avoid smoking, caffeine, and stress � all of these can contribute to Raynaud's phenomenon.
_ If you have trouble maintaining a positive attitude about your appearance or your lupus, call your doctor or nurse to discuss your feelings and concerns.

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