Skin Lesions
Another organ that is very frequently affected is the skin. Up to 80% of patients with lupus have some type of skin involvement, especially in areas exposed to the sun.
Typical injuries include malar rash or butterfly wing rash [4]. It is a reddish area that covers the cheeks and nose. The malar rash appears in at least 50% of patients [5], usually lasts for a few days, and recurs whenever there is sun exposure. Prolonged exposure to fluorescent lights can also trigger skin lesions.
Another common dermatological lesion is discoid lupus, which is characterized by rounded and reddish plaques, most common on the face, neck, and scalp.
Discoid lupus may be part of the systemic lupus picture or be the only manifestation of the disease. In the latter case, the prognosis is better, since there is no involvement of other organs. Patients with isolated discoid lupus have a 10% chance of progressing to systemic lupus erythematosus. The more numerous the discoid lesions, the greater the risk of progressing to other organs.
Other common dermatological lesions are hair loss, which can affect not only the scalp but also eyebrows, eyelashes, and beards.
Oral ulcers similar to thrush are common, however, with the difference that they are usually painless.