Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.
It can affect any part of the body and is difficult to diagnose.
Although lupus can affect anyone, females are 9 times more likely thanmalesto develop the disease.
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The onset of symptoms typically begins between the ages of 15 and 45.
People with lupus may also experience other rashes across their body, especially in areas exposed to the sun.
These rashes appear as red or discolored raised areas that can sometimes scar.
People with darker skin may experience loss of pigmentation in the areas affected by rashes.
Stiffness typically occurs upon waking and may take 30 minutes or longer to loosen.
Pain from lupus manifests in several different ways.
Pain levels can vary from mild to severe and can have a profound effect on daily life.
Chronic widespread pain that affects the muscles, joints, and skin can also affect people with lupus.
Mood Changes
Depression and anxiety are common in people with lupus.
People with lupus are twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population.
Fatigue
Fatigueis a common symptom of lupus.Fatigue may be the first sign that something is wrong.
Fatigue is a tiredness that occurs for seemingly no reason and cannot be relieved with a nap.
Taking a shower can feel exhausting with fatigue.
Hair Loss
Females can experienceloss of hair with lupus.The loss of hair can present in different ways.
Hair can be patchy with complete bald spots, or areas that have thinned.
Hair around the hairline can become weak and break.
In some people, scarring can also occurleaving bald or thinned areas with red spots or loss of pigmentation.
Mild Lupus: How Symptoms Start and Flare
Lupus symptoms are unpredictable.
If these tests are positive, a kidney biopsy may become necessary.
For people with rashes or scarring, a skin biopsy can be used to diagnose lupus.
Black women have more severe cases of lupus and poorer outcomes than White women.
A rheumatologist can diagnose and treat lupus.
A clinical immunologist can also diagnose and treat the disease.
Because lupus can affect any part of the body, otherspecialistsmay become necessary depending on organ involvement.
For example, a person whose kidneys are affected by lupus may need to be seen by a nephrologist.
Diagnosis is difficult because many of its symptoms resemble other conditions and come and go.
These symptoms are unpredictable.
The relapsing and remitting nature of lupus can also make it difficult to diagnose.
Blood tests, such as ANA, and urine samples can be used to diagnose the condition.
In some cases, a biopsy of the skin or kidneys may be necessary to confirm the disease.
Rheumatologists are specialists who diagnose and treat lupus.
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