How to Treat Lupus

One of the most recognizable symptoms of lupus is the butterfly rash that can occur on the face. It is this rash that also helped name the disease. But, Is Lupus Rash Itchy? The term “lupus” actually means “wolf” in Latin, and the lupus-related butterfly rash actually mimics the markings on a wolf’s face. Scientifically, the butterfly rash seen on lupus patients is called a “malar rash.”You will see the molar rash in about 35 percent of lupus patients. It can looks very similar to rosacea, so it is easy to misdiagnose the Lupus rash. The malar rash does not itch and most often, the nasolabial folds, where your cheek meets your upper lip, are not affected by the malar rash.With discoid lupus patients, the skin is often affected by thick, scaly lesions. These lesions do not normally itch. Under a microscope your doctor will see plugging of hair follicles along with a thick epidermis or atrophy of the skin. The lesions can appear similar to rosacea, fungal infections, sarcoidosis, seborrhea, dermatomytosis, andplymorphous light eruption, which is a sun sensitive rash. The down side is that though these lesions do not itch, they can cause skin tissue scarring. Subacute cutaneous lupus is another type of lupus that affects the skin. Only nine percent of people affected with lupus, and twenty percent of those patients get DLE-like lesions. These lesions look more exactly like psoriasis. Lupus patients can also get vascular rashes. Around a third of lupus patients suffer from Raynaud’s disease. This is where the fingers turn red, white, and blue in response to cold or vibration. This does not itch but it is very painful, the colder that your extremities get. By the extremities, we mean that Raynaud’s can be found affecting the feet, tongue, tip of the nose, and outside of the ears. Another common skin related issue affecting lupus patients is livedo reticularis. This is a red mottling orlace-like appearance can be seen just under the skin. It affects between twenty and thirty percent of all lupus patients.  The condition is a result of a disordered blood flow in the blood vessels just under the skin and is usually due to autonomic nervous system deregulation. Though it is not a life-threatening condition, rare cases have led to livedo vasculitis, or superficial skin breakage. I had this back in 2009 and this does itch. Cutaneous vasculitis, ulcers, and gangrene are another common in lupus patients, with over seventy percent of patients living with lupus will be affected by one or all of these conditions. Cutaneous vasculitis can cause your superficial blood vessels to become inflamed, and these conditions may indicate that more aggressive treatment is needed, especially if gangrene sets in. Cutaneous vasculitis can look like red dots, black dots, or hard, very painful spots on the skin. If they are left untreated they can result in ulcerations and ultimately turn into gangrene. Finally, but not last, another common skin condition for lupus patients are bruises or black and blue marks. Since lupus even the treatment of lupus can affect the blood, the bruising can be a result of abnormal blood coagulation. In other words, you will bruise very easily. If the bruises are palpable, it can be a sign of active systemic vasculitis or low platelet counts. If the bruises are not palpable, then they are usually a result of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication or corticosteroids. Both of these conditions are not itchy, but your bruises may last longer than those who do not have lupus. So, the answer to the question “Is Lupus Rash Itchy,” is yes and no. Some of the more severe rashes do itch, but the butterfly rash on the face that occurs when you have a lupus flareup does not the majority of the time. What ever type of flareup you have, keep a close watch on it and keep a journal that you can discuss with your doctor. [Translate]