SLE is an autoimmune disease with multi-system damage and has a variety of clinical manifestations, skin and mucosal lesions being one of the common clinical manifestations. Here we will talk about what are the common skin and mucous membrane lesions and how to self-care in daily life?
1. Rash: Rash is one of the most common symptoms of SLE, commonly seen as butterfly-shaped red spots on the cheeks and nose, but also on exposed parts of the body, such as the neck, arms, ears and forehead. In some patients, red papules appear on exposed areas or aggravate existing rashes after exposure to sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light, a phenomenon known as “photoallergy”. The rash may be accompanied by itching, burning or pain, and may spread from exposed to non-exposed areas. Why does this phenomenon occur? Because ultraviolet light can stimulate the body’s immune system and produce a systemic immune response, thus triggering a lupus flare. Therefore, patients with SLE should pay attention to avoid sunlight and ultraviolet radiation to avoid triggering or aggravating the disease. The following are some simple methods on how to take care of the skin in daily life.
(1) Wash your face with water frequently to keep it clean. When bathing without alkaline soap, you can use a good quality cleanser and neutral bath, try not to use cosmetics and ointments. When choosing skin care products, try first to see if you are allergic to reduce the stimulation of the skin and to reduce or avoid inducing rashes.
(2).Wet compress the red spot with 30℃ warm water three times a day for 30 minutes each time, which can promote local blood circulation.
(3).Avoid direct sunlight on skin in all seasons. When the sunlight is strongest, try not to go out. Wear a sun hat or umbrella when you go out normally, wear long-sleeved clothes and pay attention to the collar not to be too big to prevent excessive skin exposure. Pay attention to arm protection when driving.
(4), you can use anti-UV skin care products to reduce the exposure to UV rays.
(5), work, living environment to avoid direct sunlight. Commonly used tools and furniture should not be placed next to windows.
(6), wear hats and scarves when going out in winter to prevent frostbite on the facial skin and reduce triggering factors.
Hair loss: Hair loss is also one of the common symptoms of SLE. Hair loss is most common in the forehead, and patients’ hair becomes more brittle, lusterless and easily broken, resulting in diffuse hair loss, called “lupus hair”. In daily life to keep hair clean, shampoo should not use too much shampoo, do not dye hair, do not perm, reduce the damage of chemicals on the hair, to prevent allergies to hair dyes cause rash or make the rash aggravated and perm damage to the hair quality.
3, Raynaud’s phenomenon: patients appear nail bed, fingers and toes pale, purple and then red phenomenon called Raynaud’s phenomenon, which is caused by the end of the extremities small artery spasm. Raynaud’s phenomenon is often triggered by cold, emotional changes and other factors. So patients should usually pay attention to.
(1), maintain a calm state of mind, calmly deal with things, to prevent emotional changes.
(2) Prevent cold, wear cotton clothes and thick socks in winter to prevent frostbite on hands and feet. When going out, pay attention to keep warm, wear hats, scarves, long down or cotton clothing, so as not to affect the blood circulation of the hands and feet due to cold.
(3), the hands and feet can be soaked in warm water 1-2 times a day, 20 minutes each time, or daily warm bath to promote blood circulation in the hands and feet and the whole body.
(4), can do heat therapy, available in winter, such as hot treasure.
(5), the living room should be warm, as far as possible in the summer indoor natural wind, such as the use of air conditioning, indoor temperature should be above 28 ℃.
(6), smoking, drinking coffee can make the blood vessel contraction, should be avoided.
(7) Use drugs to dilate blood vessels and improve microcirculation as prescribed by the doctor when necessary.
What should be done when oral ulcers appear in SLE patients?
Oral mucosal ulcers About 18% to 54% of patients have oral mucosal ulcers, which can be the first symptom of SLE. They can also occur on the hard or soft palate, the nasal mucosa and even the respiratory mucosa. The ulcers are often painless and are detected only during careful physical examination. In some patients, the ulcers may develop from small and red to large and deep painful ulcers, and there may be several ulcers, and in a few patients, there are ulcers all over the mouth and lips, which are painful and affect eating. The methods of self-care are:
(1), usually keep your mouth clean, brush your teeth in the morning and evening, and rinse your mouth with saline after eating to prevent food residues from staying in the mouth and fermenting, which can aggravate mouth ulcers or cause new mouth ulcers.
(2), mouth ulcers are more serious, painful patients must go to the hospital, follow the doctor’s instructions to take some vitamin drugs orally, or spray watermelon cream, oral ulcers and the use of mouthwash, these can play anti-inflammatory pain, promote ulcer healing effect.
(3), diet should pay attention to food to warm, soft, avoid overheating, harder food, such as hot drinks, nuts, etc., to avoid irritation, touching the ulcer site, causing pain or aggravate the ulcer.
(4) Strengthen nutrition. Yellow and green vegetables with more vitamin B and C content can prevent or reduce the occurrence of mouth ulcers if consumed appropriately.
The above are the common skin and mucous membrane lesions of SLE and simple care methods. As long as patients keep a good attitude and actively cooperate with doctors for treatment, these symptoms will be reduced or completely relieved as the disease is controlled.