Autoimmune skin disorders are difficult to diagnosis because their symptoms can mirror other skin conditions and they can themselves be a symptom of a larger autoimmune condition. When the immune system attacks otherwise healthy tissue, when it is supposed to target illnesses and foreign invaders, it is viewed as an autoimmune disorder. These skin conditions are numerous and are regularly diagnosed incorrectly or go undiagnosed since the initial impacts copy more prevalent skin diseases. As with any skin disease, it is vital to properly treat it because damaged skin can worsen the condition and cause infections.
Autoimmune blistering conditions, or bullous skin diseases, are the most common variety of autoimmune diseases that affect the skin. With these diseases, an individual’s immune system erroneously assaults the proteins the body needs to hold skin cells together. Lesions and blisters are the consequence. Although skin issues are commonly associated with lupus, only 5 percent of lupus patients have bullous skin symptoms. Females between twenty and forty years old are most in jeopardy for bullous disorders.
Fluid filled blisters on the body is a condition referred to as bullous pemphigoid. Blisters usually appear on the arms, legs or torso and older adults are at the highest risk for the condition. It’s a chronic condition meaning it lasts throughout one’s lifetime, commonly with intervals with no blisters followed by flair-ups when blisters appear. Immune suppressants are used in situations where the disease is severe enough to help curb the immune system’s assaults on the person’s skin. The side effects can be that your immune system gets too weakened to fight off everyday threats like germs and bacteria. Less severe cases can be treated with corticosteroids to minimize inflammation.
The autoimmune skin condition dermatitis herpetiformis affects people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body’s digestive tract is not able to process gluten, (gluten is a protein present in wheat, rye and barley). Dermatitis herpetiformis is indicated by itchy blisters and hives that tend to cluster on the back and buttocks. The only way for a person with celiac disease to eradicate the symptoms is to eliminate all products with gluten from their lives. People with hypothyroidism, Sjogren’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis are also known to have this skin disorder.
Lichen planus happens together with other autoimmune disorders. This skin disorder can show up people with alopecia (hair loss), scleroderma, autoimmune hepatitis, lupus and any number of other diseases. The condition causes small purplish lesions that can be erosive. The skin lesions commonly cluster together and commonly appear on the insides of the wrists and forearms or on the shins, ankles and heels. Oral lesions are found in about 75% of those with the disorder.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by the rapid increase in skin cell production. This leaves what is referred to as “plaque” where patches of raised skin appear. These patches appear like red skin with silvery white dead dry skin on top. These lesions tend to appear on the the scalp, elbows, lower back and knees. In the U.S., there are 4.5 million adults with psoriasis with the people of European ancestry being most at risk.
Anything from ointments to antibiotics to steroids are taken to handle autoimmune skin diseases. It is essential to get an accurate diagnosis with any skin disease so make sure you tell your health care provider everything about your health since your medical history and other disorders that you may have will help with an accurate diagnosis. Besides applying the treatment a dermatologist prescribes for you, you will have to take extra good care of your skin. This involves using gentle cleansers, unscented moisturizers and not spending long amounts of time in the sun.
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