Is help available dealing with skin lupus?
Q. My daughter was recently diagnosed with skin lupus. She is 44 and the mother of three children. What is skin lupus? How will it affect her? It's now on her face. Is help available?
A. Lupus is just one of several disorders that affect the immune system. It can lead to inflammation and damage to various body tissues such as the joints, heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, kidneys and skin.
The most common symptoms of lupus in general (there are several forms) are kidney problems, arthritis, fever, overwhelming fatigue and skin rash. The condition can intensify, only to be followed by periods of remission. The trick is to understand how to prevent flare-ups and how to treat them when they do occur. Lupus reactions are three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasians.
I believe the form you are referencing is known as cutaneous or discoid lupus erythematosus. A red, raised rash appearing on the face, nose, cheeks, scalp and other areas of the body marks this chronic skin disorder. Lesions can last for days or years and have the capability of recurring. The areas may become thick and scaly.
The cause for this condition is poorly understood, yet there appears to be a genetic/hormonal/environmental relation. A normal, healthy immune system produces antibodies and white cells that help fight and destroy foreign substances, viruses and bacteria in the body. With a diagnosis of lupus, the immune system produces antibodies against healthy cells and tissues and fails to work as it should. This can cause damage to tissues such as the skin.
Treatment may include steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressive medications and drugs originally designed for malaria. One common medication, hydroxychloroquine, may be used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat the skin rash, joint pain and fatigue experienced. In fact, the National Institutes of Health has determined that continuous treatment with anti-malarial drugs may prevent flare-ups from recurring. On the downside, the drugs can cause stomach upset and, in rare cases, damage to the retina.
Alternative therapy includes ointments, creams, special diets, nutritional supplements, fish oils, homeopathy and perhaps chiropractic manipulation that can help with the level of stress experienced with the diagnosis. Sunscreens are recommended, as is exercise and additional rest. A number of medications are known to worsen lupus, including penicillin and sulfa-based antibiotics. While there is no cure available at this time, lupus can be treated effectively. The prognosis is substantially brighter than it was 20 years ago, and research remains ongoing for this complicated disorder. Additional information can be found through the NIH Web site, niams.nih.gov.
Q. A friend has recommended putting a couple of tablespoons of concentrated cherry juice in 8 ounces of water for rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Since then, she has not taken any ibuprofen and her joints and muscles move easily and she feels wonderful. I started the regimen, and my aches and pains have disappeared.
A. Cherry juice and cherries have been reported for years to combat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, gout and pain caused by exercise. If the regimen works for you and your friend, I suggest you continue the program.
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