What Aggravates Lupus?

Lupus is a complex disease, but there are some known triggers that are known to worsen the symptoms. As Lupus is a chronic problem, making appropriate lifestyle adjustments can help control the condition and keep down unwanted symptoms.

Sun Exposure:

Although lupus is often unpredictable, sun exposure has a strong correlation with many of the key skin symptoms of lupus. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus occurs almost exclusively on sun-exposed skin, and many people with the condition report a correlation between sun exposure and lupus.

If you have lupus, you need to avoid the sun as much as possible, and for the times that exposure is unavoidable, wear sunscreen. Sunscreens should provide broad spectrum protection (protection from both UVA and UVB light), and have an SPF of at least 30. Your dermatologist should be able to provide you with a quality sunscreen that protects your skin adequately.

Smoking:

Several studies have made links between smoking and increased risk of developing cutaneous lesions of lupus. Although exact causal relations are difficult to establish in multi-factorial conditions like lupus, smoking does weaken the body and make it more susceptible to all sorts of problems. It specifically reduces the ability of drug treatment, which can aggravate lupus.

Trauma:

Damage to the skin can sometimes trigger cutaneous legions to form in the damaged area. While nobody looks to get hurt, taking extra care can reduce the chances of getting the skin injured. Also, picking at or scratching lesions aggressively can open up the wound and worsen them. These are behaviors that you want to avoid at all costs.

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