What does discoid lupus look like?

Discoid lupus: Causes circular patches of thick, inflamed skin on your ears, cheeks or nose. Subacute cutaneous lupus: Ring-shaped or scaly rashes appear, usually on your back, chest or neck. Acute cutaneous lupus: Known for a “butterfly rash” that looks like a sunburn across your cheeks and nose.

What does discoid lupus rash look like?

Disc-shaped rash

Discoid lupus occurs in people with chronic cutaneous lupus (CCLE). It produces a coin-shaped red, scaly rash on the cheeks, nose, and ears. The rash doesn't itch or hurt, but once it fades, it may leave the skin discolored. If the rash is on the scalp, hair loss may occur.

What does the beginning of a lupus rash look like?

A tell-tale sign of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and bridge of the nose. Other common skin problems include sensitivity to the sun with flaky, red spots or a scaly, purple rash on various parts of the body, including the face, neck, and arms. Some people also develop mouth sores.

What do skin lesions look like with lupus?

A lupus rash can appear in the following ways: A scaly, butterfly-shaped rash that covers both your cheeks and the bridge of your nose, This rash will not leave any scarring in its wake, but you may notice some skin discoloration such as dark or light-colored areas. Red, ring-shaped lesions that do not itch or scar.

What is the best treatment for discoid lupus?

Hydroxychloroquine is the first-line systemic agent for discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), whereas chloroquine is considered second-line antimalarial therapy in the United States.

What is Discoid Lupus? A Rheumatologist explains

How do I know if I have discoid lupus?

Discoid lupus: Causes circular patches of thick, inflamed skin on your ears, cheeks or nose. Subacute cutaneous lupus: Ring-shaped or scaly rashes appear, usually on your back, chest or neck. Acute cutaneous lupus: Known for a “butterfly rash” that looks like a sunburn across your cheeks and nose.

How serious is discoid lupus?

Discoid lupus erythematosus is a chronic dermatological disease that can lead to scarring, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation changes in skin if it is not treated early and promptly. It has a prolonged course and can have a considerable effect on quality of life. Early recognition and treatment improves the prognosis.

Is discoid lupus itchy?

Discoid cutaneous lupus

You may experience symptoms including pain, itching and burning. In some cases, you may not experience any symptoms. Most often, symptoms will develop on your face, ears or scalp.

What can be mistaken for lupus?

What does autoimmune rash look like?

Autoimmune rashes can look like scaly red patches, purplish bumps, or more. The appearance of autoimmune rashes will be different, depending on which autoimmune condition is triggering the skin rash. For example, cutaneous lupus may cause a scaly red patch that does not hurt or itch.

What were your first signs of lupus?

Fatigue, fever, joint pain and weight changes are usually the first signs of lupus. Some adults may have a period of SLE symptoms known as flares, which may occur frequently, sometimes even years apart and resolve at other times—called remission. Other symptoms include: Sun sensitivity.

What causes discoid lupus?

The exact cause of discoid lupus isn't clear. It appears to be an autoimmune disease, involving a combination of genetics and environmental triggers. It does not pass from person to person.

What foods trigger lupus flare ups?

Alfalfa and garlic are two foods that probably shouldn't be on your dinner plate if you have lupus. Alfalfa sprouts contain an amino acid called L-canavanine. Garlic contains allicin, ajoene, and thiosulfinates, which can send your immune system into overdrive and flare up your lupus symptoms.

Does discoid lupus show up in blood work?

There is no confirmatory laboratory test to diagnose discoid lupus and only 10% to 30% of patients present with positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA).

Does discoid lupus rash go away?

Like many autoimmune conditions, discoid lupus is generally a lifelong condition and there is no cure. However, there are treatments available that are usually effective and can help keep symptoms under control.

What are the symptoms of lupus in a woman?

Common symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, sun sensitivity, painful and swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems. There is no one test for SLE. Usually your doctor will ask you about your family and personal medical history and your symptoms. Your doctor will also do some laboratory tests.

Can discoid lupus be misdiagnosed?

That is very different for people who don't have well-controlled lupus, especially if they have internal organ involvement,” she adds. A misdiagnosis may signal something else too. “Patients who have milder symptoms, especially in this country, are the ones who are more likely to have their lupus misdiagnosed,” Dr.

What does a lupus rash feel like?

The rash associated with acute cutaneous lupus appears in a recognizable butterfly pattern that spreads across the nose and cheeks. This rash is flat, red, and itchy, and it usually appears after sun exposure. Occasionally, a rash may appear on other parts of the body, such as the arms and legs.

Can you have normal bloodwork and have lupus?

It is very rare for someone to have a diagnosis of lupus that has completely negative blood tests- not just one test but a whole panel of them. You can make a diagnosis of lupus on the basis of the skin rash or certain types of kidney disease even if blood tests are negative.

Does discoid lupus cause fatigue?

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of lupus. In fact, most people with lupus have fatigue at some point in their illness.

What does discoid eczema look like?

Symptoms of discoid eczema

The first sign of discoid eczema is usually a group of small spots or bumps on the skin. These then quickly join up to form larger patches that can range from a few millimetres to several centimetres in size. On lighter skin these patches will be pink or red.

Does discoid lupus affect organs?

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is the most common form of lupus, affecting joints, muscles, various tissues, and organs in the body.

Is discoid lupus considered a disability?

Discoid lupus is a form of lupus that attacks only the skin and causes a rash, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) has an official disability listing only for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Is ANA positive with discoid lupus?

The distribution of commonly affected sites are the face in 81.1%, limbs in 71.7%, and scalp in 48.4% of the patients. Serology antinuclear antibody (ANA) was positive in 56.6% and serology anti-dsDNA was positive in 45.3%. Clinical patterns of discoid lupus erythematosus by gender are presented in Table ​1.

Does discoid lupus affect the joints?

Lupus can cause joint pain (arthralgia) and inflammation in and around the joints, resulting in problems like arthritis, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Joint problems related to lupus usually don't cause long-term damage.