not only wear sunscreen but cover up your skin with long sleeves and a hat.
Alternative therapies
There are no proven alternative ways to treat lupus, although many complementary therapies can give your immunity a boost and lower your stress level.
Mind-body techniques such as yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, and guided imagery may help you relax and feel more positive.
Acupuncture helps some people cope with joint and muscle pain.
Fish oil may have anti-inflammatory properties, and some doctors recommend eating fish several times a week. If your lupus is mild, it may be worth looking into natural anti-inflammatory supplements such as fish oil capsules, black currant oil or grapeseed oil, ginger, feverfew, and turmeric. (These are not proven remedies, however.) It’s important to consult with your doctor before trying any of these supplements because they might interact with your medications.
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With the right lifestyle and medication, most people can get their condition under control and live normal, active lives.
If your lupus is relatively mild, you’ll live about as long as someone without lupus. Even if you have an active, organ-threatening case, you’re likely to live a long time once you make it past the critical first two to three years.
Unfortunately, taking high doses of steroids for 10 to 15 years can take a toll on your body and cause complications such as osteoporosis and fractures, thick skin, cataracts, easy bruising, and diabetes. That’s why medical researchers are striving to develop more targeted, less toxic drugs for lupus.