Is discoid lupus the same as SLE?

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a form of lupus that mainly affects your skin. DLE is different from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, which can affect any part of the body.

Is discoid lupus an autoimmune disorder?

It is thought that discoid lupus is an autoimmune disease. This means that some of the proteins made by the body to fight infection (antibodies), mistakenly attack normal cells in our body. in discoid lupus it is the skin cells that are attacked by these antibodies.

How do you describe discoid lupus?

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic skin condition of sores with inflammation and scarring favoring the face, ears, and scalp and at times on other body areas. These lesions develop as a red, inflamed patch with a scaling and crusty appearance.

What is discoid lupus erythematosus?

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a type of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Cutaneous refers to skin. CLE includes types of lupus that affect your skin. People with discoid lupus get round sores, usually on their face or scalp.

Can discoid lupus go away?

Discoid lupus is a chronic, incurable skin condition, but it can go into remission. Work closely with your dermatologist to find effective treatments to help manage your condition and lessen the chance of permanent scarring.

What do discoid lesions look like?

Discoid lupus lesions, which are thick and disk-shaped. They often appear on the scalp or face and can cause permanent scarring. They may be red and scaly, but they do not cause pain or itching. Subacute cutaneous lesions, which may look like patches of scaly skin or ring-shaped sores.

How do you know if you have discoid lupus?

Discoid sores present as a distinctive thick, scaly rash, ranging in color from red to purple. The rash can appear in one place or a number of areas on the body. It is most likely to appear on areas of the skin that are regularly exposed to sunlight, such as the face, neck, and backs of the hands.

What is discoid lupus erythematosus? Discoid lupus erythematosus is an uncommon skin rash, usually made worse by exposure to sunlight. The term ‘lupus erythematosus’ is applied to a range of related disorders.

What are the symptoms of lupus erythematosus?

Discoid lupus erythematosus usually affects the face and scalp, but is occasionally more widespread. The rash consists of red scaly patches, which tend to clear eventually, leaving some thinning, scarring or colour change in the skin. The scaling can sometimes be quite thick and warty.

Why does discoid lupus erythematosus get worse in sunlight?

The mistake made by the immune system in discoid lupus erythematosus is to view the cells in our skin as ‘foreign’ and to make antibodies that damage them. These antibodies that attack parts of our own body are called ‘autoantibodies’. Most patients find their rash gets worse in sunlight and may be triggered by sunshine.

Can more than one member of a family have discoid lupus erythematosus?

It is rare for more than one member of a family to have discoid lupus erythematosus; 4 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 5HQ Tel: 020 7383 0266 Fax: 020 7388 5263 e-mail: [email protected] Registered Charity No. 258474