This article will discuss autoimmune skin disease types and symptoms.
It will also address causes and treatment.
In 2013, psoriasis affected 7.4 million American adults and that number continues to grow.
Anupong Thongchan / EyeEm / Getty Images
Skin plaques from psoriasis will heal and then come back at various times throughout your life.
Triggers could be infections, skin injuries, sun exposure, medications, alcohol, and stress.
Scleroderma is either localized or systemic (throughout the body).
With localized scleroderma, the disease affects mostly the skin, but it can also affect bones and muscles.
The severity and outcome of scleroderma differ from person to person.
Skin symptoms include discoloration, itching, pain, and scarring.
While cutaneous lupus cannot be cured, it can be effectively treated.
Treatment includes medications, skin protection, andlifestyle changes.
Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositisis an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects muscles, but it also affects the skin.
It is related topolymyositis, another autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness, soreness, and stiffness.
People with these types of muscle disorders may also have difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath.
Behcet’s Disease
Behcet’sdiseaseis a rare disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout the body.
The condition causes mouth sores, eye inflammation, skin rashes, and genital lesions.
Behcets severity varies from person to person.
While the condition cannot be cured, various treatments can help to manage it.
People with OCP will develop blistering of their skin and scarring of the conjunctiva.
Eye symptoms include redness, tearing, burning, light sensitivity, and foreign body sensation.
OCP is a systemic autoimmune disease that needs long-term treatment.
It is treated with medications to calm the immune system and stop or slow down the autoimmune process.
Treatment is important so the condition doesnt cause conjunctiva scarring and vision loss.
Pemphigus blisters are fragile and tend to burst, causing crusty sores.
They can be painful, itchy, and ooze fluid.
Pemphigus can affect anyone of any age, but it is mostly diagnosed in people ages 4060.
Pemphigus can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Treatment, most commonly with corticosteroids, can manage the condition.
EBA causes blisters on the hands and feet as well as in the mucous membranes.
The underlying cause of EBA is unknown.
Bullous Pemphigoid
Bullous pemphigoidis a rare autoimmune skin condition that causes large, fluid blisters.
These blisters often develop on the arms, legs, torso, and in the mouth.
Bullous pemphigoid triggers when the immune system attacks the thin layer of skin tissue just below the outer layer.
Sometimes, the condition goes away on its own, but it could also take many years to resolve.
Treatment can help heal blisters, ease itching, reduce skin inflammation, and suppress the immune system.
But bullous pemphigoid can lead to a serious infection or other life-threatening medical condition.
Autoimmune Skin Condition Symptoms
The skin is the largest organ of your body.
The top layer is called the epidermis and it is the outermost layer.
The underlying layer is the dermis and it contains vital cells, tissues, and structures.
These two layers are held together with proteins and other structures.
When there is a separation of the two layers, blisters may form.
Theseblisterscan be small or large and contain fluid that contains dead or damaged skin.
Some blisters result from injury to the skin.
Blisters can also causegastrointestinal bleedingand problems with swallowing and breathing.
Conditions like psoriasis cause an overgrowth of skin cells that pile up on the surface of the skin.
These plaques can burn, sting, and itch.
Other symptoms of autoimmune skin diseases include:
What Causes Autoimmune Skin Disorders?
Autoimmune skin diseases occur because the bodys immune system attacks its own healthy tissues.
The immune system would normally produceantibodiesproteins that react against bacteria, viruses, and toxins.
The exact reasons for why the immune system malfunctions in autoimmune skin diseases are unknown.
Some prescription drugs may play a part in the development of these disorders.
Stress can also trigger autoimmune skin conditions.
How Are Autoimmune Skin Disorders Diagnosed?
A diagnosis can be confirmed with bloodwork and/or a skin biopsy.
Blood tests can reveal autoantibodies associated with a specific autoimmune skin disease.
By revealing which autoantibody protein has caused the skin symptoms, an exact diagnosis can be made.
Many autoimmune skin conditions are diagnosed using direct immunofluorescence (DIF) for testing a skin biopsy sample.
By confirming the specific antibody present, the correct autoimmune skin disease can be diagnosed.
The most commonly prescribed treatments for autoimmune skin disorders arecorticosteroids, such as prednisone.
These drugs will mimic the effects of hormones your body naturally produces to suppress inflammation.
Immunosuppressant drugs can be given alone, or they can be combined.
They are usually diagnosed through detailed medical history, physical exam, bloodwork, and/or a skin biopsy.
Treatment involves managing symptoms, slowing the overactive immune system, and preventing complications associated with these conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, eczema is an autoimmune disease.
These diseases are because of the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking itself in response to an outside stimulus.
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