Lupus can affect your body in many different ways. Without proper treatment, it can affect your quality of life, too.
But lupus isn’t something you need to face alone. With the right health care and guidance, you can live a comfortable and healthy life with lupus. We’ll help bring together the resources you need to feel your best by keeping your care coordinated, offering support and much more.
Lupus basics
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. That means your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s healthy tissue instead of germs like viruses or bacteria. The resulting damage and inflammation can affect your skin, joints, organs, blood and other areas.
It’s not known what causes lupus, but it’s likely that hormones, genes, environmental factors and your health history can all play a role. Anyone can be diagnosed with lupus. But it tends to be more common in women, non-White people, young and middle-aged adults, and people with a family history of lupus.
Most people who are diagnosed with lupus have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which can affect your whole body. Other types of lupus include:
- Cutaneous lupus erythematous (CLE) – This form of lupus only affects the skin. There are three types of CLE, and each type causes a different rash:
- Acute cutaneous lupus – This form of CLE causes a “butterfly rash” that looks like a sunburn across the cheeks and nose.
- Discoid lupus – This form of CLE causes circular patches of thick, inflamed skin on the nose, cheeks or ears.
- Subacute cutaneous lupus – This form of CLE causes ring-shaped or scaly rashes to appear on the neck, back and chest.
- Drug-induced lupus – Some medicines can trigger lupus symptoms as a side effect. But it’s usually temporary.
- Neonatal lupus – Babies can sometimes be born with lupus.
Get customized resources, guidance and support from a nurse experienced with lupus – confidentially and at no extra cost. We’ll work with you and your care team to help control your lupus symptoms through the right combination of treatments for you.
Additional information and resources
Find out more about living with lupus, including first steps to take after a diagnosis, treatment options and other lupus resources: