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 rash lupus
problems and lesions.
Common Rash Lupus Problems:
Rash
Lupus: Butterfly: 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.
Rash
Lupus: Discoid lesion: 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.
Rash
Lupus:
Subacute cutaneous lesion: 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.
Rash
Lupus:
Mucous membrane lesion: Mouth ulcers, nose and vaginal
are sometimes seen in lupus patients. These lupus
lesions are usually painless.
Rash
Lupus:
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.
There are different
types of
lupus. How you
define lupus depends
greatly on what type of lupus you have and and the
symptoms associated with it.
The National Institutes of Health offers a patient care
guide pertaining to rash lupus skin issues. Below is the
information from this rash lupus skin guide.
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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