Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Lupus Has Many Symptoms-Skin Rashes Are Just One Of The Many

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Lupus Has Many Symptoms-Skin Rashes Are Just One Of The Many.

Symptoms may manifest slowly over months or years…or they may appear suddenly. Symptoms tend to be worse during winter months, perhaps because prolonged exposure to sunlight in the summer causes a gradual buildup of health factors that trigger symptoms months later. Personally, I feel that it is the cold weather, since Lupus is a form of arthritis.

This article is about Skin Rashes, because three quarters of patients with SLE have skin inflammation and skin lesions, ulcers, rashes, or other injured areas. About half of these lesions are photosensitive; that is, they are aggravated by ultraviolet (UV rays) radiation from sunlight. Lupus survivors can be affected from coming through a window or even bouncing up from the sidewalk. UV radiation can even trigger systemic flares in patients with SLE.

A number of different skin conditions have been described in patients with SLE. But, what we are going to cover today is Vasculitis . Patients with SLE sometimes develop inflammation in the blood vessels, called vasculitis and that may have the following effects on the skin…

* Red welts may form across large areas of the body.
* Sometimes deep red bumps may appear, particularly on the leg, where they may ulcerate.
* In some people, reddish-purple lesions appear on the pads of fingers and toes or near the nails of fingers and toes.
* Lesions caused by vasculitis may ulcerate or blister if they erupt on mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, or vagina and can be painful if they occur on the throat.

VASCULITIS

Inflammation of the blood vessels or vasculitis, may be caused when antibodies that have attached to antigens in the blood, called immune complexes which attach to the blood vessel walls. These purplish spots can be felt in the skin. They do will turn white when they are pressed. As the condition progresses, they may become larger and more bruise-like and some may develop central ulceration or necrosis, which is tissue death.

For those of you who are regular readers of BBAC, I am a Lupus Survivor. Right now I am having a severe Vasculitis flare up. Back in September of 2009 I fell off the top of a ladder and onto the dish washer. Broke some ribs, cut my self up pretty bad and knocked my self out. This is what cause my Vasculitis to flare up.

Stress and other health issues can also cause flare ups for me. The majority of my Vasculitis is on my legs, but it is not just on my legs. It is a very painful part of Lupus and I suggest that you go to your Doctor as soon as your flare up starts so that your rash will not get worse and cause more skin damage. I have had Vasculitis since 1992.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or Lupus Has Many Symptoms-Skin Rashes Are Just One Of The Many and Vasculitis is what is affecting my life right now…There are many articles on BBAC about Lupus. If you have Lupus, why don’t you tell us some of your experiences?

~The Baby Boomer Queen~