What is chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus?
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is lupus affecting the skin. In this autoimmune disease, the body’s immune system attacks healthy skin. There are 3 main types: (1) Acute cutaneous lupus (“acute skin lupus”); (2) Subacute cutaneous lupus (“subacute lupus”); and (3) Chronic cutaneous lupus (“discoid lupus”).
How serious is cutaneous lupus?
Cutaneous lupus (skin lupus) can cause irritating and unsightly rashes. Untreated, these rashes can cause long-term damage, such as permanent hair loss, scarring and skin discoloration. Some types of cutaneous lupus can develop into skin cancer.
What is the most common type of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus?
Discoid lupus is the most common type of lupus that affects your skin. People with discoid lupus typically develop round skin lesions. These lesions usually are not painful, but they can increase your risk for skin cancer.
What does cutaneous lupus erythematosus look like?
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.
How did I get cutaneous lupus?
SCLE can occur anywhere on your body except your face, and like other types of cutaneous lupus, is often triggered by sunlight. Certain prescription drugs can also cause SCLE, especially some heart medications, proton pump inhibitors, anti-fungals, chemotherapy medications and tumor necrosis factor blockers.
How do you test for cutaneous lupus?
To diagnose cutaneous lupus, an NYU Langone dermatologist examines your skin and may remove a small skin sample in a procedure called a biopsy. If your symptoms suggest systemic lupus, your dermatologist may recommend a blood test to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.
What causes cutaneous lupus?
These factors include environmental triggers including medications, viruses, and sunlight, and abnormalities in various genes related to the immune system (4). In particular, sun exposure is an important activator of cutaneous lupus.
Does cutaneous lupus cause fatigue?
A new study published in The British Journal of Dermatology provides evidence that fatigue is a key symptom, not only of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but also of skin lupus (cutaneous lupus) as well as other autoimmune diseases affecting the skin.
Is cutaneous lupus hereditary?
The higher incidence of SLE among family members, and particularly between monozygotic twins, would suggest that there is a genetic predisposition to SLE (15).