closely resemble a sunburn. If the rash appears on both cheeks and across the bridge of the nose it’s commonly referred to as the “butterfly rash”. This rash can appear on other parts of the body and is also sensitive to light.
3.) Kidney Damage
The National Kidney Foundation says that lupus comes in two forms: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and “discoid” lupus erythematosus. Systemic lupus erythematosus has an effect on various parts of the body including the skin, brain, joints, and kidneys, while discoid lupus only affects the skin.
SLE’s effect on the kidneys is called lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis damages the kidneys by inflaming the small blood vessels that filter waste in the kidneys and attacking them as if they were foreign invaders.
Some symptoms of lupus nephritis are blood in the urine (hematuria), protein in the urine (proteinuria), edema (swelling), weight gain and high blood pressure.
4.) Heart Complications
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for people with lupus according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus causes inflammation in the pericardium (the sac around your heart). Pericarditis symptoms include sharp pains in the chest and shortness of breath.
Chronic inflammation of the pericardium can interfere with the heart’s ability to pump blood to the rest of the body.
5.) Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom for many people with lupus. Anemia, kidney failure and hypothyroidism caused by lupus are the major things doctors look for when examining a patient’s fatigue, but they aren’t always the cause.
Although there’s no exact reason why fatigue occurs specifically, a variety of factors play a role. Many experts say that pain, age, medication, poor physical and mental health, activity of the disease itself and lack of social support are key determinants of this disease.
6.) Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common side effect of lupus. The disease itself causes damage to the hair follicles, but the medication that