2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43
Causes, symptoms and treatment of lupus on the face
Definition of disease
Lupus on the face is often mistakenly classified as a form of skin tuberculosis. As a rule, the disease develops in childhood and can be latent for a long period of time. Most often it manifests itself on the skin of the face: on the zygomatic arches and in the area of the nose, it can lead to severe deformations of the cartilaginous and bone tissue with residual cicatricial changes.
Causes of lupus on the face
The cause of the disease is considered to be a violation of autoimmune processes in the body, as a result of which the immune system destroys healthy tissues. The opinion that lupus on the face is a contagious disease is considered erroneous. It does not pass from person to person, but develops under the influence of external provoking factors, such as viral diseases, ultraviolet radiation, hypothermia. Lupus on the face can be caused by a hereditary predisposition or certain medications.
Symptoms of lupus on the face
Lupus on the face is considered a classic form of the disease, but the discs of lupus erythematosus initially appear on the skin of the neck, ears; can be found as limited lesions on the scalp.
On the face, you can see a characteristic butterfly-shaped formation, consisting of many merged pink or reddish erythema.
As the disease progresses in the affected areas, a process of deep infiltration begins, leading to paralysis of the skin vessels. Follicular hyperkeratosis develops, gradually turning into hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum. All this leads to irreversible atrophy of the epidermis of the skin and disruption of tissue trophism.
As a result, there are disturbances in the processes of pigment formation, the skin vessels expand significantly - telangiectasia, and irreversible atrophic changes can form in the form of depigmented scars. Lupus on the face can manifest itself in an erosive and ulcerative form with limited localization on the red border of the lips or in the oral cavity.
A typical manifestation in this case is the appearance of cracks, ulcerations, which are later covered with crusts. Patients often complain of discomfort, soreness, and a burning sensation when talking or eating.
If the process proceeds according to the type of discoid lupus erythematosus, then most often two or three pathological foci are formed. The process involves the nasal folds, the auricles, the red border of the lips and sometimes the scalp. As the disease progresses, it can spread to the exposed areas of the skin of the chest, back, and arms.
The disease begins with the appearance of small pinkish or reddish specks, which slowly increase in size and gradually merge into different shapes. As a rule, this process is localized on the skin of the cheeks and nose and with its outlines vaguely resembles the figure of a butterfly.
With the development of the disease, erythemal formations become covered with whitish scales, which cause painful sensations when trying to remove them. As a rule, the disease is accompanied by cicatricial changes leading to cosmetic defects.
Diagnosing lupus on the face
As a rule, atypical localizations of the disease cause difficulty. In the early period, the diagnosis is made on the basis of the characteristic pattern of the "lupus butterfly", even when there is still no morphological confirmation. It is necessary to differentiate the diagnosis with vascular skin diseases, symptoms similar to lupus.
In very rare cases, lupus can manifest itself only in the form of single localized lesions on the scalp, which should also be considered when making a diagnosis. The main research methods are histological and microscopic, which make it possible to determine the presence of lupus cells on the affected skin areas.
Treatment for lupus on the face
Treatment should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist doctor. It is necessary to observe preventive measures aimed at eliminating or reducing the impact of provoking factors. During the period of remission, it is important to prevent an exacerbation of the process as long as possible. A dermatologist may recommend special protective creams and ointments to help protect your skin from external irritants.
During an exacerbation of the disease, corticosteroid ointments are used locally, and only as directed by the attending physician. Complex therapy includes antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs. According to the indications, symptomatic treatment is carried out. The use of physical therapy can reduce the dose of drugs and reduce side effects.
Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist
Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.
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