The name lupus erythematosus sounds very scary, reminding people of a wolf with a ferocious nature. At present, the public lacks a correct understanding of the disease and has various negative views of lupus patients, which often brings great psychological pressure to the patients. Many patients do not know how to explain their disease and develop an inferiority complex, gradually withdrawing from the social circle, and the quality of life is seriously reduced. In fact, with the advancement of medical science and technology, there are various treatment options for lupus, and most patients’ conditions can be well controlled. In order to improve the quality of life of patients, today we will tell the majority of lupus patients how to explain their disease to people around them and rebuild self-confidence. Lv Liangjing, Rheumatology Department, Shanghai Renji Hospital, first of all, let’s make it clear what lupus is not. Lupus is not contagious. We don’t catch lupus from someone around us or pass it on to someone else. Lupus is different from cancer. Cancer is a malignant disease in which abnormal tissue grows rapidly and spreads to surrounding tissues, whereas lupus is an immune-related disease that typically alternates between remission and acute flare-ups. Lupus is not the same as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). After HIV infection or in the case of AIDS patients, the immune system is in a suppressed state, whereas lupus, on the contrary, has an overactive immune system. Then you can talk about what lupus is. Lupus is an autoimmune disease. In some ways, lupus can be understood as an organic allergic reaction where the immune system treats its own healthy tissues and cells as if they were foreign invaders. Lupus is a chronic disease. This means that anyone who has lupus will live with it for the rest of their lives. Like other chronic diseases such as diabetes or asthma, lupus cannot be cured. However, with medication and lifestyle modifications, most people can improve their quality of life and still live a happy life. There are many different symptoms of lupus and, as a result, everyone is affected differently. Lupus can cause rashes or joint pain and can involve the kidneys, heart, lungs, brain or other internal organs. Although most people probably don’t realize it, you learn that lupus gradually affects your body when you have to deal with extreme fatigue, chronic pain, memory loss, medication side effects, and/or skin lesions. Lupus is unpredictable: when it’s active, symptoms worsen and you feel uncomfortable; when it’s in remission, symptoms improve and your discomfort lessens. It is because of the ups and downs of your body and emotions as your condition changes that you may often have to change plans or commitments that you have made. Understanding this feature of lupus can make your friends more understanding.2015-04-20 Luliangjing Rheumatic and immune diseases doctor and patient communication platform (micro signal luliangjing920) (Editor: Liu Xinying Wang Suli) (The pictures in the article are transferred from the network, the above content for the rheumatic and immune diseases doctor and patient communication platform exclusively for the production of the other WeChat public account or the media, if you are reproduced, please mark the (Source or Provenance!)