Skin is the largest organ for humans. It helps to protect humans from injury and to prevent loss of moisture. It also works as a thermoregulator to help regulate the body temperature and maintain the water and electrolyte balance. We can see how skin plays a vital role in human life. Several skin issues could affect a person's life. People may take supplements such as multivitamins to help their skin become healthy. In this article, we will be talking about one of the skin issues that are common in lupus patients, discoid lupus.
First thing first, what is lupus? Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease causing inflammation in any body part. An autoimmune disease is caused by the immune system accidentally attacking its own human body. Lupus may cause a person to have joint pain, skin rashes and other organ damage. Most cases of lupus affect women.
Hence, what is discoid lupus? Discoid lupus is a chronic scarring condition affecting the skin. A person with discoid lupus may have systemic lupus affecting the internal organ, but that does not necessarily mean all persons with discoid lupus will have systemic lupus. It is said that more than 28% of patients with discoid lupus are susceptible to developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Discoid lupus may affect males and females across all ages but is more likely common in women in their reproductive ages of 20-40. It is also more common in skin of colour compared to white people and those who smoke. Lesions often worsen when exposed to ultraviolet light, such as sunlight and smoking.
What does discoid lupus look like? It is characterised as rash or acne-like with a scaly dry surface that evolves into larger coin-shaped plaques. It is often seen around the face, such as the nose, cheek, lip, eyelids and neck area but may also be distributed across the front chest, upper back and back of the hand. The rash generally does not exhibit any symptoms but can sometimes be itchy and sore. As discoid lupus expands, it may cause some parts of the skin to be hyperpigmented (excess skin pigmentation), leaving a spot of scarring with hypopigmentation (lack of skin pigmentation) and prominent fine pink or red line of visible blood vessels colour known as telangiectasia. In regions with hair, such as the scalp, scale or follicular plugging at the hair follicle can be seen, and scarring alopecia (hair loss) may be found.
If a person finds themselves with skin, as mentioned above, they should immediately seek medical advice. Medical examination will involve an investigation of the skin and a complete examination of the body, as medical professionals will investigate for possibilities of other signs of lupus. A skin biopsy is usually needed to confirm diagnosis alongside blood tests and urine analysis. Those diagnosed with discoid lupus will need treatment with corticosteroids and immunomodulators to help treat the skin condition. Treatment plan and course may vary from one person to another depending on the severity of discoid lupus and the possibility of SLE itself. It is essential to have discussions with healthcare providers about both the diagnosis and treatment available.
Discoid lupus may seem harmless compared to SLE, but its complication can still significantly affect a person's quality of life. Scars from discoid lupus can significantly cause facial disfigurement and permanent alopecia. Discoid lupus may also affect a person's psychological state causing immense emotional distress. Getting treatment for discoid lupus may help them physically and emotionally so that they can have a fulfilling life.
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