TUESDAY, April 25, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Skin conditions may be the first sign that a person has a rheumatic disease that will also affect the joints, muscles or ligaments.
Knowing what to look for is essential, said Dr. Kathryn Dao, an associate professor of internal medicine in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases at UT Southwestern in Dallas.
“Skin lesions can occur at any time,” Dao said in a university news release. “If they are associated with an autoimmune disease, they will manifest when the disease is active. When autoimmune diseases are treated, skin lesions often improve.”
People should see their doctors if the skin lesions are painful or if they are combined with other symptoms, such as fever, weight loss, diarrhea, or swollen joints. It’s okay to monitor skin conditions to see if they resolve on their own if there aren’t any of these other symptoms, Dao said.
“If the lesions get progressively worse, patients should try to see their doctor sooner for evaluation,” he said.
Dao said it’s important to avoid scratching skin lesions, which can worsen or cause infection. He also urged people to protect themselves from the sun and get regular skin checks.
Dao and his colleague, Dr. Benjamin Chong, an associate professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern, highlighted some common skin problems that they say could predict a serious rheumatic condition.
Photosensitivity can be an early symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or dermatomyositis, a rare disease that can cause muscle weakness and skin rashes. Direct exposure to the sun or ultraviolet light could damage the skin, they said.
Sun exposure can cause rashes, including those on the bridge of the nose and cheekbones in people with SLE.
Some lesions may look like ringworm with rough, red patches. This may indicate subacute cutaneous lupus. Damage, such as scarring, hair loss, and lighter and darker skin, can be permanent in cases of discoid lupus.
Redness and itching on the scalp, chest, neck, eyelids, hands, arms, and other sun-exposed areas may appear with dermatomyositis. Patients may also have red, thickened plaques on the knuckles. It is important to wear sun protection when you are outdoors, including wearing hats, long-sleeved shirts, and pants.
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