Lupus erythematosus is a disease characterized by abnormalities in connective tissue. The skin becomes red; Scaly patches large bumps and lime occurring in the face, cheeks, neck, ears, scalp, chest or back.
Autoimmune Diseases
There are many types of lupus erythematosus and type of patches and the areas affecting vary with each type. But in essence, lupus is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body s own individual body.
The immune system normally attacks the invaders such as bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that enter the system. However, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, the immune system targets the skin and various other organs including the joints, blood cells, heart, liver, kidney, skin and lungs.
What is lupus? What are the types of lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease from the acute and chronic inflammation of body tissues. Autoimmune diseases are known, when body tissues are attacked by it’s own immune system to occur. The immune system is a complex system within the organization, the fight against infectious pathogens such as bacteria and other microbes to foreign destinations. One way the immune system fight infections is the production of antibodies that bind to microbes. Patients with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood that target tissues in your own body rather than foreign infectious agents. Since the antibodies and accompanying cells of inflammation of the tissues throughout the body can relate, Lupus has the potential to affect a variety of areas.
Sometimes lupus can cause skin diseases, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and / or nervous system. In fact, only the skin is the condition called lupus dermatitis or lupus erythematosus. A form of lupus dermatitis, which is isolated from the skin, without internal disease is known as lupus can. When it comes to internal organs, it is called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Both lupus and systemic lupus are more common in women than men (about eight times more frequently). The disease can affect all age groups, but begins most often between 20 and 45 years. Statistics show that lupus is more common among blacks and Chinese and Japanese.
What causes lupus? Is it hereditary?
The exact reason for the abnormal autoimmunity that causes lupus is not known. Inherited genes, viruses, ultraviolet light, and that all medications can play a role.
Genetic factors increase the tendency to autoimmune diseases and develop autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune thyroid diseases are more common in relatives of patients with lupus than the general population.
Some scientists believe that the immune system in lupus is more easily stimulated by external factors like viruses or ultraviolet light.
Sometimes symptoms of lupus are caused or exacerbated by a very short period of sun exposure.
We also know that some women with SLE experience worsening of their symptoms before their time. This phenomenon with the female predominance of SLE, suggest that female hormones play an important role in the expression of SLE. This hormonal relationship is an active area of ongoing study by scientists.
More recently, research has shown that lack of evidence of a key enzyme for the removal of dead cells in order to contribute to the development of SLE. The enzyme normally DNase1 eliminated the so called junk DNA and other cellular debris by grinding it into small pieces for easy removal. The researchers DNase1 deactivated the gene in mice. The mice appeared healthy at birth, but after six to eight months, which showed most DNase1 mice lupus erythematosus. This could interfere with a genetic mutation in a gene that allowed the cellular arrangement of the body is involved in the development of SLE.
Sun damage & Lupus
Individuals who develop subacute lupus erythematosus show a rash on the back and chest. They are more susceptible to sun exposure and sun damage. This rash appears as ring shaped, scaly shock that sometimes can become nodules.
Confined to the skin
Discoid lupus erythematosus is the most common form of lupus and is directed exclusively to the skin. It results in ugly patches that become inflamed and leave scars.
Discoid lupus erythematosus may be limited to the particular body area, or can take the entire skin. But the hypertrophic type produces warts.
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