Lupus is one of those diseases that lots of people have heard of, but few people really know anything about. This is one of the reasons that Lupus Awareness Month (which is right now) is so important.

Importance of Lupus Awareness Month 

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. A healthy immune system produces antibodies that attack foreign bodies, such as the flu virus. In a person with lupus, however, the immune system confuses healthy tissues for foreign bodies. Autoantibodies are produced, which attack the healthy tissues. This causes pain, swelling, and damage in the healthy tissues being attacked. Because this can cause such a variety of symptoms, lupus can easily be mistaken for other conditions and is sometimes called “the great imitator.”

It’s estimated that 1.5 to 2 million people in the United States have lupus. While there is no cure for lupus yet, there are treatments that are usually successful. If left untreated, lupus can become very serious – even life-threatening.

Types of lupus

There are two main types of lupus, each with distinct symptoms.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which is sometimes called chronic cutaneous lupus, mostly affects the skin. This type of lupus typically occurs while the other symptoms of lupus, such as joint or organ damage, aren’t occurring. It causes round (discoid) lesions or sores on the skin. These lesions can sometimes leave scars. If the discoid lesions occur in an area of the body with hair, the hair may fall out; if the lesion leaves a scar, the hair loss may be permanent.

Discoid lesions that are present for an extended time can also become cancerous. To prevent this, it may be necessary to go to a dermatologist, or skin doctor, to make sure they’re treated properly.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects the skin, too; its effects on skin can sometimes be called acute cutaneous lupus. Most often, it causes a rash across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. This rash is commonly called a “butterfly rash,” because of its resemblance to an open butterfly. The butterfly rash can occur anywhere else on the body, too. More dangerous, however, are the other effects of SLE.

In SLE, the disease may attack connective tissues, which can lead to swollen, painful, or damaged joints. The membranes around organs might be attacked, too, leading to inflammation or damage of the lungs, heart, kidneys, and brain. Kidney damage is a fairly common effect of SLE. Some people may even experience depression, confusion, seizure, or strokes as a result of lupus.

Blood vessels might also be affected. This may cause blood vessels to contract in response to cold temperatures, which can cause the hands and feet to turn whitish or bluish in color. This is called Raynaud’s syndrome, and it can be very painful.

Additional potential symptoms of systemic lupus include:

• Cutaneous vasculitis lesions, small sores or ulcers caused by damaged blood vessels under the skin
• Hair loss, even when discoid lesions aren’t to blame
• Brittle or fragile hair
• Mucosal ulcerations, or sores in the mouth, nose, or (less often) the vaginal lining

There are also two less common types of lupus. One is drug-induced. Certain medications can cause lupus-like symptoms. Usually, stopping the medication that’s causing the symptoms will stop the problems.

The final type of lupus is neonatal. Sometimes a mother passes autoantibodies on to her fetus. The unborn child or newborn might have skin rashes, heart complications, or blood complications. Almost all symptoms will fade eventually, usually within six months after birth. This condition is very rare. Physicians are usually able to identify at-risk infants before birth and treat them before or after birth. However, most babies whose mothers have lupus are born completely healthy.

Risk factors for lupus

Although it’s unknown what causes lupus, several risk factors and triggers have been identified, and it’s important to talk about those during Lupus Awareness Month.

Lupus can occur in people of any gender, race, or age. However, women are much more likely to have lupus. Also, it’s most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40. African-Americans, Asians, and Hispanics are also at a much higher risk for lupus.

It’s believed that lupus is related to genetics, as explained by Medical News Today:

“Since lupus is known to occur within families, doctors believe that it is possible to inherit a genetic predisposition to lupus. There are no known genes, however, that directly cause the illness. It is probable that having an inherited predisposition for lupus makes the disease more likely only after coming into contact with some environmental trigger.”

These triggers can bring about lupus symptoms for the first time. Alternately, triggers can cause a flare-up in someone with diagnosed but controlled lupus, or worsen a flare-up that’s already occurring. Triggers include:

• Extreme stress
• Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, either from sunlight or from fluorescent bulbs
• Smoking
• Certain medications
• Some infections
• Injury
• Chemical exposure

Also, because women are much more likely to have lupus, and because symptoms often flare during pregnancy or just before a menstrual cycle, it’s possible that certain hormones may be a potential trigger.

Lupus treatments

Lupus is treated through a combination of medications and careful lifestyle choices.

Medications used to treat lupus may include immunosuppressants or antimalarials (drugs traditionally used to treat malaria). Corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might be used to control inflammation and pain.

Additionally, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and plenty of rest can help control lupus. Avoiding triggers is also very key, so people with lupus shouldn’t smoke. Controlling exposure to UV light is also important, so wearing hats, long sleeves, and long pants, using plenty of sunscreen, and limiting time outdoors during the day will likely aid in controlling lupus.

Certain supplements might also be beneficial for people with lupus. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), fish oil, and vitamin D might all have positive effects, so anyone suffering from lupus should talk to a physician about potentially starting these supplements.

As with any medical problem, support is also important.

By increasing public knowledge about lupus, Lupus Awareness Month seeks to make life a little easier for those who live with this disease. To show your support during Lupus Awareness Month, consider starting a conversation with someone about this disease. Wear a purple shirt or wristband, or take part in an event, or join in the activism online. By raising awareness, you can help raise money to fund lupus research and find a cure for this disease.

Do you know someone who has lupus? How will you get involved for Lupus Awareness Month?

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