Skin Rash Skin rashes are very common in individuals
suffering from autoimmune diseases.
In the case of lupus, a type of rash known as a malar rash or a butterfly rash typically
forms on the ears, arms, chest, and face.
These rashes are particularly common in the cheeks and across the nose, and usually take
the shape of a red, blotchy set of butterfly wings.
The rash is not really itchy; it is just visually troublesome and it can be exacerbated by prolonged
exposure to heat and/or sunlight.
Because this rash has an autoimmune cause, it will not respond well to topical treatments
or other frontline interventions.
Your doctor may be unable to find a root cause of the rash upon initial investigation, prompting
lupus to be considered later in the diagnostic process.
In many cases, the rash is localized to a small area at first, then spreads out to other
parts of the body.
2.
Oral & Nasal Lesions The large majority of lupus suffers report
the painful development of sores or lesions inside the mouth or nose.
The mouth sores are very similar to canker sores, which can make eating, drinking, and
speaking very painful.
In the case of sores located within the nostrils, breathing may become restricted, and the patient
may experience pain and tenderness when coming in contact with the lesions.
A related symptom can result from light exposure, or photosensitivity.
Some people with lupus can develop lesions on their skin surfaces after prolonged periods
in the sun, while others report that their skin problems seem to get worse after going
outside on a sunny day.
The link between lupus, skin lesions and sunlight isn’t fully understood by doctors, but the
bottom line is that if you start to experience these symptoms, you should visit your physician
for an explanation.
3.
Joint Inflammation One of the most common symptoms of lupus is
pain and inflammation in the joints—particularly in the hands, legs, feet, ankles, hips, and
knees.
Joint inflammation is typically one of the first signs of lupus, and a normally energetic
person may suddenly suffer from extreme joint pain and weakness.
Of all the symptoms of lupus, this is the one that usually prompts people to visit their
doctor to get a definitive diagnosis.
Joint pain and inflammation results from the body mistaking its own tissues for outside
intruders.
The immune system then attacks them, resulting in inflammation and pain.
While this pain is usually relatively mild, it can become severe, particularly if the
underlying cause is not diagnosed or treated.
In this regard, lupus is similar to rheumatoid arthritis, which has a very similar mechanism
of action.
The good news is that medications can reduce the severity of these symptoms.
4.
Photosensitivity As mentioned, lupus patients may develop blisters
as the result of sun exposure, or have existing lesions and skin abnormalities flare up when
they stay outside for prolonged periods of time on a sunny day.
However, the photosensitivity associated with lupus and other autoimmune disorders can present
itself in a variety of other ways.
Normally, sunlight makes people happy and boosts their enjoyment of the outdoors.
However, people with lupus may experience headaches or other intolerances to bright
light and sunshine, and these symptoms may seem to come on abruptly, with little prior
notice.
In other words, they can affect people who otherwise lead normal, active and healthy
lives, and people who have no history of photosensitivity or problems associated with sunlight exposure.
If you experience these symptoms, you should have your doctor check them out to find out
why they are occurring.
5.
Fever & Headache The more subtle symptoms of lupus are can
be very troubling because they linger for longer periods of time and are more generalized.
For instance, lupus sufferers regularly report feeling feverish and suffering from migraine
headaches on an ongoing basis, but doctors fail to accurately identify the root cause,
instead treating the symptoms in a manner which only provides temporary relief.
These symptoms are particularly problematic because they are so non-specific in nature.
Fevers are associated with a wide range of medical conditions and non-serious illnesses,
including the common cold and the flu.
Headaches are routinely dismissed as part of day to day life, and most people don’t
consider them serious even if they linger for days or weeks on end.
The bottom line is that you should have any ongoing symptoms medically investigated, even
if they don’t seem particularly serious at the time.
6.
Chest Pain In severe cases, the pain and inflammation
associated with lupus can become so pronounced and so serious that it can actually spread
into major organs, such as the lungs.
For example, chest pain can occur if the lungs become inflamed as the result of disrupted
immune system function.
The lungs will literally swell up, pressing against the rib cage and causing an ongoing
ache.
If left untreated, this condition can leave the patient at risk of developing pneumonia,
which can itself pose significant health risks.
Other symptoms of pneumonia include a productive cough, a high fever, chills, shortness of
breath, which may occur only without significant physical exertion.
Your doctor may suspect lupus if you develop pneumonia after complaining of lingering chest
pain which grew increasingly intense over a period of time, especially if you present
with other symptoms of an autoimmune disorder.
7.
Hair Loss Like many other autoimmune diseases and disorders,
lupus can actually affect the normal development of body cell growth.
One of the most visible way in which this symptom presents itself is through abnormalities
in hair growth.
Specifically, patients with lupus, and patients taking certain drugs for lupus, may experience
inhibited hair growth, or a full-scale loss of hair.
This can occur in both male and female patients.
Hair loss symptoms occur as the result of disruptions in the body’s ability to support
the normal growth cycle, and it is related to the disease’s overall tendency for the
body to mistake its own tissues for outside intruders.
Fortunately, if hair loss occurs as the result of drug treatments for lupus, you may be able
to relieve them by switching to different medications, or discontinuing the problem
drug altogether.
However, you should only do this on the advice of your doctor.
8.
Blue Fingers One of the more troubling symptoms of lupus
is known as Raynaud’s phenomenon.
This condition is caused by the occasional restriction of blood flow to the fingers,
which in turn can cause the fingers to go numb and turn blue, since they aren’t receiving
enough oxygenated blood.
Then, a sudden rush of blood flows into the extremities, causing them to go flush.
During this phase, fingers may also become hot, and they usually tingle and throb.
Patients can take solace in the fact that this condition does not generally pose a major
threat to their ongoing health.
It is visually disconcerting and the physical symptoms can be invasive and irritating, but
your extremities aren’t at increased risk of suffering permanent damage unless you do
not seek treatment for the underlying condition.
Report any such symptoms to your doctor immediately; treatment can help bring them under control.
9.
Fatigue Lupus patients frequently report a draining
feeling of fatigue and exhaustion, even if the disease has been diagnosed and is being
treated.
Doctors blame this on a wide range of factors; medical studies have shown that lupus interferes
with energy levels in numerous ways.
Ongoing symptoms can disrupt normal sleep patterns, leaving patients chronically under-rested
and feeling tired throughout the day.
Exhaustion and fatigue may also result from the use of certain drugs used to manage pain
and other symptoms.
Unfortunately, lupus requires ongoing treatment and many patients experience a permanent decline
in quality of life.
This can lead to depression which, in turn, can trigger depleted energy levels and a general
loss of interest in activities the patient once enjoyed.
If you experience these symptoms, be sure to report them to your doctor and management
team.
There are other interventions available which can help restore energy levels and balance
your mood.
10.
Kidney Problems In addition to affecting the lungs, heart,
and brain, lupus can also afflict the kidneys, causing inflammation and dysfunction that
make waste elimination difficult.
In fact, if toxins remain in the body and aren’t eliminated efficiently via urination,
lupus patients can develop a wide range of urinary tract disturbances, including uncomfortable
urination, urgent urination, and discoloration of the urine.
It may also give off an unusual or foul odor, as built-up toxins interfere with its normal
composition.
In extreme examples, patients may find traces of blood in their urine, or experience swelling
in their feet and ankles as the body struggles to process and eliminate toxins.
However, you should note that urinary abnormalities are considered to be a relatively uncommon
symptom of lupus.
If you experience this symptom in isolation, it is most likely caused by something else,
such as underlying kidney or liver problems, a urinary tract infection, or a sexually transmitted
infection.