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Hair Loss Lupus - Information and ResourcesSystemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or Lupus) is an auto-immune disease which causes inflammation of multiple organ systems including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain. Skin eruptions on the face and neck area, hands and arms are the main signs and about half those affected with lupus suffer hair loss. The auto-immune mechanism results in antibodies being produced against the body's own cells and tissue. These antibodies are characteristically found in the DNA itself, the basic genetic material.
They are also often found in blood cells and various proteins in the blood circulatory system. This pinpoints a main difference between hair loss Lupus and the hair loss condition known as alopecia areata, where antibodies are found in specific components in the hair follicle itself. Hair loss Lupus mainly affects women aged between 20 and 50 and the ratio of women to men affected is about 10 to 1. The characteristic skin rash is a pink, butterfly-shaped eruption over the nose and cheeks, although a similar rash, bruising, hives, blisters or ulcers may be manifest in other areas. Hair loss Lupus is a result of the heavy infiltration of immune cells in the skin, a generalized immune response throughout the body. The severity of hair loss Lupus may vary. A patient might sometimes recover spontaneously, and then later suffer a relapse depending on the severity of the disease. Because of scarring that results, hair loss Lupus may in some cases cause permanent hair loss. Medications used to treat hair loss Lupus include Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants. It is wise to check out the side effects of these strong medications. Hair transplants may be used to cover small patches of scarring. Wigs are another alternative, with a great variety of synthetic and natural hair pieces now available. |
