| Discoid lupus erythematosus is a condition of the skin | | | | or nervous systems.Discoid lupus erythematosus is |
| that generates localized or widespread circular lesions. | | | | very common in women with ages between 18 and |
| Discoid lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune | | | | 50 and it rarely occurs in men. The skin disorder has |
| condition. Instead of protecting the body against | | | | the highest incidence in African American women, |
| infectious organisms, certain dysfunctions of the | | | | who commonly experience more intense symptoms |
| immune system cause it to attack healthy body cells | | | | of discoid lupus erythematosus. Although the actual |
| and tissues, producing lesions on the surface of the | | | | causes of the disorder have not been identified, |
| skin. The skin lesions caused by discoid lupus | | | | multiple inter-related factors are suspected for |
| erythematosus can aggravate due to prolonged | | | | triggering the condition: genetic factors (inherited |
| exposure to the sun. Most patients have localized | | | | genetic abnormalities), hormonal factors (excessive |
| skin lesions, predominantly on the body regions | | | | levels of estrogen seem to facilitate the |
| exposed to sunlight: scalp, face, neck and arms. | | | | development of the disorder) and environmental |
| However, some patients have skin lesions on | | | | factors (prolonged medical treatments with |
| unexposed regions of the body: chest, back or legs. | | | | antibiotics). Discoid lupus erythematosus has a |
| These lesions can indicate the development of | | | | pronounced hereditary character, as the majority of |
| systemic lupus erythematosus, which involves serious | | | | affected people have a family history of the |
| abnormalities of the immune system.While people | | | | disorder.The process of diagnosing discoid lupus |
| with discoid lupus erythematosus mostly present | | | | erythematosus involves physical examination, |
| recurring skin disorders, patients diagnosed with | | | | laboratory analysis of skin samples and elaborate |
| systemic lupus erythematosus can develop a wide | | | | blood tests. If laboratory tests reveal dysfunctions of |
| range of diseases: cardiovascular diseases, | | | | the immune system and the skin lesions are linked to |
| tuberculosis, pneumonia, disorders of the | | | | discoid lupus erythematosus, the patients will be |
| gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the musculoskeletal | | | | prescribed an appropriate medical treatment. |