The skin is the largest organ of the body. For an account of connective tissue see
http://arthritis.about.com/od/mctd/g/connectivetiss.htm
That site also describes various autoimmune disease CTD descriptions explaining the symptoms and blood work that can be useful in distinguishing one from another.
Lupus is one of a group of diseases known as autoimmune connective tissue diseases. If there are lupus specific rashes present that is an important criterion towards diagnosis of SLE.
The sort of lupus specific rash we are discussing here is the malar rash associated with systemic disease. ("Malar" means on the cheeks but it can be found elsewhere on the body)
It presents in a variety of ways and may resemble other skin conditions including rosacea. There are several diseases and conditions that have similar looking skin and are photosensitive.
My understanding is that the lupus rash usually spares the folds where the nostrils meet the cheeks and the area below the nose, in other words, but like almost everything in lupus, it isn't a hard and fast rule but a general indication.
It can come and go or be permanent, be worse sometimes than others usually when disease is not under control or during a flare, or after UV exposure. Most often UV exposure means sunlight whether indoors or out but fluorescent and halogen lights also emit UV. The rash can change appearance too : it might be a faint healthy looking blush or it might have a rather lumpy and very inflamed, swollen look.
There are several picture sites linked to in a 'stuck' notice at the top of the Symptoms section of the forum. You would want to look at 'acute cutaneous lupus' since that is the proper name for the malar rash.
The best way of ascertaining whether your skin is lupus related or not is to see a dermatologist ! It is true that sometimes they can't always tell by looking and it is true too that sometimes even a biopsy might produce uncertain results.
Even if it is clear that your skin is specific to lupus or possibly another connective tissue disease, you don't have enough criteria for a diagnosis of SLE,
( or anything else) judging from the symptoms you list. The main thing about diagnosis from the patient's point of view, in addition to the satisfaction of knowing what is wrong, is getting the right treatment.
It is unlikely that disease modifying meds would be started when there are not enough criteria or other strong indications of some sort of autoimmune connective tissue disease, but that is up to the physician to decide.
Most likely you would be advised to avoid the sun and protect yourself against it and maybe prescribed a steroid cream for occasional use if the appearance bothers you. People aren't treated just because there are antibodies present.
But as I say, that's up to the doctor. There's a limit to how much self diagnosing one can do.
Cheers
Clare
http://arthritis.about.com/od/mctd/g/connectivetiss.htm
That site also describes various autoimmune disease CTD descriptions explaining the symptoms and blood work that can be useful in distinguishing one from another.
Lupus is one of a group of diseases known as autoimmune connective tissue diseases. If there are lupus specific rashes present that is an important criterion towards diagnosis of SLE.
The sort of lupus specific rash we are discussing here is the malar rash associated with systemic disease. ("Malar" means on the cheeks but it can be found elsewhere on the body)
It presents in a variety of ways and may resemble other skin conditions including rosacea. There are several diseases and conditions that have similar looking skin and are photosensitive.
My understanding is that the lupus rash usually spares the folds where the nostrils meet the cheeks and the area below the nose, in other words, but like almost everything in lupus, it isn't a hard and fast rule but a general indication.
It can come and go or be permanent, be worse sometimes than others usually when disease is not under control or during a flare, or after UV exposure. Most often UV exposure means sunlight whether indoors or out but fluorescent and halogen lights also emit UV. The rash can change appearance too : it might be a faint healthy looking blush or it might have a rather lumpy and very inflamed, swollen look.
There are several picture sites linked to in a 'stuck' notice at the top of the Symptoms section of the forum. You would want to look at 'acute cutaneous lupus' since that is the proper name for the malar rash.
The best way of ascertaining whether your skin is lupus related or not is to see a dermatologist ! It is true that sometimes they can't always tell by looking and it is true too that sometimes even a biopsy might produce uncertain results.
Even if it is clear that your skin is specific to lupus or possibly another connective tissue disease, you don't have enough criteria for a diagnosis of SLE,
( or anything else) judging from the symptoms you list. The main thing about diagnosis from the patient's point of view, in addition to the satisfaction of knowing what is wrong, is getting the right treatment.
It is unlikely that disease modifying meds would be started when there are not enough criteria or other strong indications of some sort of autoimmune connective tissue disease, but that is up to the physician to decide.
Most likely you would be advised to avoid the sun and protect yourself against it and maybe prescribed a steroid cream for occasional use if the appearance bothers you. People aren't treated just because there are antibodies present.
But as I say, that's up to the doctor. There's a limit to how much self diagnosing one can do.
Cheers
Clare
