LUPUS



Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.

Lupus for Hamilton, Grimsby and Stoney Creek

Diagnosis:

Lupus is diagnosed based on several symptoms and signs being present in the same patient. These include.

  • Facial rash (butterfly rash).
  • Specific skin spots (discoid lesions).
  • Skin biopsy.
  • Blood tests. (e.g. ANA, Anti-DNA, ENA)
  • Arthritis.
  • Kidney problems.
  • Blood problems. (e.g. low white count)
  • Chronic sores in the mouth (canker sores).
  • Sensitivity to the sun.
  • The facial rash of lupus is NOT the same as rosacea. In rosacea patients often get pimples which are NOT associated with lupus.
  • Just because a person has one of these signs does not mean that he or she has lupus.  Several of these must be present to make a diagnosis.

Treatment:

Sun Protection:

  • Sun exposure clearly causes lupus to flare or worsen.
  • Wear a hat with a broad brim and protective clothing (e.g. long sleeves).
  • Avoid the outdoors when the sun is strongest between the hours of 10 am to 3 pm.
  • Wear a sunscreen which resists water and sweating and which protects against both UVA and UVB.
  • Reapply sunscreen every hour if you are in water or sweating heavily.
  • Wear sunscreen even if you are in the shade, it is still possible to burn.
  • Avoid tanning beds. The ultraviolet light they produce causes skin cancer and may cause lupus to flare.

Topical Corticosteroids (Steroids, Cortisone):

  • Cortisone creams (topical corticosteroids), lotions and gels are moderately effective.
  • They are used twice daily on the affected areas until the spots disappear or turn brown.  At that point the steroids should be stopped.
  • Topical corticosteroids must be used for at least a month to see if they are going to be effective.
  • The most common side effect would include, but not be limited to:  thinning of the skin in the area to which they are being applied.  This may appear as stretch marks, dimpling of the skin or bruising.

Intralesional Kenalog (Cortisone Injections):

  • Cortisone injections work much better than the creams, gels and lotions.
  • Injections are primarily use when people suffer from "discoid" lesions on the skin.
  • The cortisone is injected directly into the affected areas.
  • A lesion 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter would require about 8 injections.
  • The injections are repeated at monthly intervals.
  • The main side effect from the injections includes, but is not limited to: thinning of the skin.  This may appear as stretch marks, dimpling of the skin or bruising.
  • Skin thinning will usually resolve spontaneously once treatment is stopped.

Pills:

  • A variety of pills are available.
  • Please discuss your treatment options with your doctor.