Lupus Rash on Legs

In a healthy condition, the immune system produces antibodies that helps the body to fight against harmful viruses and diseases that can cause infections in our body. Lupus is a health condition where the immune system fail to distinguish between infected cells and healthy cells. As a result, the antibodies start attacking the healthy cells of our body. Lupus have three different forms: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), discoid (or cutaneous) lupus and drug-induced lupus. Among the three, it is the discoid lupus or cutaneous lupus which most adversely affects the skin and are mainly responsible for causing lupus rash on legs.

The cause of lupus rash has not yet been ascertained. It is found more commonly in women than in men. Research studies suggest that lupus could be hereditary. It is also indicated that other factors like emotional stress, side effects of some medications and estrogen hormone can trigger up this condition. Lupus rash in legs can happen to babies as well, which is often called neonatal lupus. Drug induced lupus can be found in those children who take anti-seizure medications. It can also happen to adults who are on thyroid medications.

Characteristics

There are different forms of lupus rash on legs. These rashes mostly break out in the lower part of the legs. The best part is once the lupus rash is healed up, it does not leave behind any scar. The shape of lupus rash on legs caused by acute discoid lupus disease is similar to a butterfly and is often referred to as butterfly rash. It could be flat or flared up and appears in deep red or pink color. Some of the rashes due to discoid lupus gives severe itching sensation, which results in scaly patches all over the legs. The skin condition that leads to this form of lupus rash is quite different from the skin condition that causes butterfly rash. Another form of lupus rash are those that erupt in the form of tiny red spots. Lupus skin rash in small babies mostly appear in the form of circles and are very scaly. Some of the lupus rash may take the form of lesion in certain conditions. It is believed that the lesions develop when lupus rash absorbs the harmful UV rays due to exposure to sun.

Treatment

Treatment is not very easy. The rashes tend to appear again and again and the condition needs treatment after regular interval of time. The treatment depends on the symptoms. Initially, the treatment for lupus rash involves application of corticosteroid creams. It helps to bring down the inflammation of the rashes and the redness also starts disappearing. However, creams and ointments can prove to be effective, only if the treatment starts at an early stage. If this does not produce results and the rash turns serious then doctors prescribe steroid injections. For oral intake antimalarial drug is also administered. Under severe conditions, doctor recommend laser treatment for lupus rash treatments.

Those with Lupus rash on legs can control frequent breakouts of the rash, by avoiding sun. Lupus rash tends to worsen further and becomes very prominent with sunbathe or with the use of tanning salons. Continuous use of sunscreen every time, before going out in the sun can prevent eruption of rash on legs to some extent. Stress plays a major role on the eruption of lupus rash. Hence, it needs to be checked in order to get rid of lupus rash. One should maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper diet, regular exercise and adequate amount of rest. All these preventive measures, if followed properly, can stop occurrence of lupus rash on legs.