Discoid Rash

Discoid rash or discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chornic skin problem resulting due to lupus disease. Lupus is a medical condition that is very unpredictable and different people show different symptoms. Lupus, an autoimmune disease, affects the working of the immune system that can impair the body's resistance against foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. Since the body and its tissues are unable to fight with external agents, it causes inflammation of tissues and organs.

Moreover, severe forms of lupus can cause problems to the internal organs like kidneys, heart, lungs, nervous system and blood cells that is medically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Discoid rash is symptom of discoid lupus disease that is a benign form of lupus disease and does not cause any problem to internal organs. It only affects the skin, causing various complications. Mostly, these rashes are a form of skin rashes on face or any other body part, which can be embarrassing for an individual.

Symptoms
Discoid rashes occur mostly on face, neck, scalp and chest area. These rashes are marked by red skin rashes that can be flaky, itchy, or scaly. At times the rash on the skin can become very hard too. The symptoms of this disease are similar to skin problems that are caused on exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun or due to fluorescent lights. The lupus discoid rashes are generally oval or round (discoid means round) in shape. Presence of rashes on the scalp lead to hair loss or alopecia from specific parts of the scalp. If these rashes occur underneath hair follicles, it can lead to inflammation, causing bleeding if scabs are created due to these rashes. Often white rashes on tongues and mouth sores are also caused due to discoid lupus.

Diagnosis
Detecting discoid rash or to say, any autoimmune disease is very challenging. For such skin issue, rash on the skin is the only symptom and so it becomes difficult to find the root cause. Even various types of blood tests are unable to find the root cause of the problem. Biopsy is seen as the only option for confirming the presence of such rashes due to lupus disease.

Treatment
Generally, these forms of skin rashes take time to heal. For lupus rash treatment, cortisone ointments have been found to have relieving effects on lesions, and are also effective in checking the further progression of lesions. These creams help in reducing swelling and redness of the area. People with skin sensitive to the UV rays of sun must take preventive measures to apply suitable sunscreen lotions before stepping out in the sun. This helps in preventing the breakage of consistent rashes on the skin.

To control the spread of skin rashes to various parts of the body, you need to take certain preventive measures. As mentioned, avoid excessive exposure to sunlight, use sunscreens and wear protective clothing. Besides that, a healthy lifestyle that includes exercises, yoga, a healthy diet, proper skin care and suitable amount of rest is necessary to keep the signs of this disease at bay.