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Do Not Despair, Lupus Treatment Is Available

By Hans Lazenby

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 13Mar2012 Word count: 1455 Viewed: 41 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple organs and the body's connective tissues. The disease mainly affects women, but men are also affected by the disease.

Lupus comes in two main forms known as discoid lupus and systemic lupus. Discoid lupus is limited to the skin where it causes a red rash on the face and across the bridge of the nose. Systemic lupus can cause inflammation throughout the body.

Thankfully, lupus treatment is possible. While the disease is considered chronic, the lupus sufferer can experience relief of symptoms through various methods.

Discoid lupus treatment usually consists of using anti-inflammatory treatments to reduce the appearance of the skin rash. Topical corticosteroid preparations are often used to treat discoid lupus. However, the long term use of corticosteroids can lead to complications such as thinning of the skin in the treatment area.

Sometimes, doctors will prescibe medications commonly used to treat malaria to help clear the skin. The most common anti-malarial drug used for this purpose is hydroxychloroquine. Dapsone, a drug often employed in the treatment of Hansen's disease, is another treatment sometimes used in the treatment of recalcitrant cases of discoid lupus.

Those affected by the skin symptoms of lupus, whether discoid or systemic, are advised to use sunscreen when outside. Also, try to stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Sunlight is known to irritate the skin rash associated with lupus.

While a more serious disease than discoid lupus, systemic lupus treatment is also available. The treatment for lupus skin rash is the same for both types of lupus.

One of the main systemic lupus symptoms is inflammation and pain in the joints and connective tissues. To reduce this pain and inflammation, doctors will use over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for mild cases. If the joint pain and inflammation is more severe, a physician may prescribe a stronger NSAID.

Often, flares of systemic lupus need to be treated with corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone. Some lupus sufferers need several courses of these type of drugs throughout their life. Often, small doses of corticosteroids are used on a regular basis to maintain symptom relief. Using corticosteroid drugs for an extended period may lead to severe side-effects such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Lupus symptoms can reach a serious state, and when this occurs, immunosuppressant drugs are used to stop the body's own immune system from inflicting further damage on itself. Medications such as azathioprine and methotrexate are useful in halting the damaging inflammatory process lupus causes within the body.

Besides these more conventional treatments, there are some alternative treatments available. According to the Mayo Clinic, flaxseed oil is effective in reducing inflammation in the body. Also, fish oil and Vitamin D have been shown to be of some benefit.

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