Lupus

Lupus can affect people of all ages (including children), but it disproportionately appears in women, making them 10 times more likely than men to develop the disease. Constantine K. Saadeh, MD, FAAAAI, FACP, FACR, Nicole Davey-Ranasinghe, MD, FACP, FACR, and the experienced team at Allergy A.R.T.S. in Amarillo, Texas, focus on relieving your symptoms and protecting your body from permanent damage. Don’t wait to seek help for signs like skin rashes and muscle pain. Call Allergy A.R.T.S. today or use online booking to schedule an appointment for lupus care.

What is lupus? 

Lupus occurs when your immune system attacks healthy tissues, resulting in chronic inflammation that can affect many parts of your body. Long-lasting inflammation also results in permanent organ damage.

Many people experience inflammation in their skin, muscles, and joints. But lupus inflammation can occur in any organ or tissue, including your lungs, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and brain. 

What symptoms does lupus cause? 

Most people experience fatigue and have a low-grade fever (due to the inflammation). You also develop other symptoms that depend on the affected body part. 

Common lupus symptoms include: 

• Butterfly rash (on your face)
• Skin rashes (coin-shaped and widespread)
• Chest pain
• Muscle aches
• Dry eyes
• Headaches
• Mouth sores
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Confusion or memory loss
• Joint pain and stiffness 
• White or blue fingers and toes (in the cold or when you’re stressed)

Skin problems affect more than 80% of people with lupus. A butterfly rash is the most common, but many people also develop a generic-looking rash. 

What triggers lupus flare-ups? 

Lupus symptoms sometimes flare up. Other times your symptoms improve and go into temporary remission. The flare-ups usually begin in response to triggers, such as:

• Sunlight and tanning beds (ultraviolet light)
• Viral infections (common cold and flu)
• Traumatic injury
• Emotional stress
• Physical stress
• Exhaustion
• Penicillin and other antibiotics
• Medications that make you sensitive to the sun (sulfa and tetracycline drugs) 

When a trigger causes a lupus flare, it means that inflammation somewhere in your body has also flared up.

How is lupus treated? 

When developing your lupus treatment plan, your Allergy A.R.T.S. provider considers which medications work best for putting your symptoms into remission. In many cases, they prescribe immune suppressants, but you may also need medications that help with symptoms like pain.

In addition to taking medications, protecting your skin from exposure to ultraviolet light is essential.

Your provider also closely monitors your health for signs of complications. For example, active lupus increases your risk of developing kidney disease and atherosclerosis (a fatty buildup blocking your arteries).

With expert medical care from Allergy A.R.T.S., you can get relief from lupus and protect your health. Call the office or use online booking to schedule a lupus evaluation.