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Dermatologist Christopher Hansen explains…
Speaker
Christopher Hansen, MD Date Recorded
July 02, 2019 Transcription
Hello, my name is Dr. Christopher Hansen. I work at the University of Utah Department of Dermatology, and for the next few minutes I'm going to be talking about Skin Lupus. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition that can damage different organs in our body, including the skin. Here at the Autoimmune Skin Disease Clinic at the University of Utah, we focus on the diagnosis and management of patients with Lupus in their skin. No one is sure what causes the immune system to act abnormally in Lupus, but it seems there are both genetic and environmental factors. Patients with Lupus may be classified as having systemic Lupus, meaning Lupus involving internal organs, including involvement in their skin. However, patients with Lupus involvement in the skin may not have any involvement of internal organs, and those patients that are said to have skin-only Lupus or cutaneous-only Lupus. Lupus in the skin can manifest in many different areas and in many different ways. It often causes rashes that itch, sting, burn, and eventually may discolor the skin or even cause scarring. Because Skin Lupus is often in visible areas, it can be difficult to hide with clothing and may greatly impact quality of life. Treatment of Skin Lupus focuses on prevention. As we know that the sun worsens Lupus lesions in the skin, patients are encouraged, if they're outdoors, to wear protective clothing and sunscreen that would block UVA and UVB. As some studies have indicated, smoking can cause or worsen Lupus skin lesions, patients are also advised to attempt to stop smoking. The goals of treatment of Skin Lupus are to decrease inflammation and to prevent scarring and skin pigment changes. Treatment options include creams, pills, or sometimes injections or IV treatments. A common treatment for Lupus in the skin is a medication called an antimalarial. These are pills taken once or twice a day and are generally well-tolerated and effective in the majority of patients with Skin Lupus. Antimalarials have been a mainstay of Lupus treatment for over 50 years. For patients who do not respond to antimalarials alone, stronger medications that target the immune system are available. There are several resources for patients with Lupus, including the Lupus Foundation, as well as the Rheumatologic Dermatology Society website. These websites contain patient information and both educational and information on ongoing clinical trials that you may find useful. We hope this informational video has been useful for you and we look forward to seeing you in-clinic soon. Thank you. MetaDescription
Patient education video discussing the symptoms and treatments of skin lupus
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