Discover Treatments For Your Autoimmune Skin Disease Today!
What Are Autoimmune Skin Diseases?
Autoimmune skin diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. Our immune system functions with the help of antibodies and white blood cells, which are produced to help defend against foreign substances that cause disease. In the case of autoimmune disease, our body’s natural defenses turn and attack its cells instead of an outside invader. There are a variety of autoimmune diseases that affect different parts of the body, and some will affect several parts of the body at once. Common symptoms include disorders of internal organs, joints, muscles, and the skin. In this article, we will look to explore autoimmune skin diseases and provide an understanding of the best ways to keep them under control.
What Autoimmune Diseases Affect the Skin?
Skin disorders are often the first sign of an autoimmune disease and signal that treatment is likely needed. We’ve listed some of the most common autoimmune diseases that cause skin problems, but keep in mind this does not cover the entire range of autoimmune skin diseases. We recommend you always see your doctor if you experience any unusual skin symptoms.
This chronic skin condition causes severe itching, redness, crusting, scaling, and even blistering. This skin disease typically occurs in early childhood and appears to have a strong genetic link.
This skin condition will cause similar symptoms to atopic dermatitis, but its root cause relates to immune system malfunctions from eating gluten. Commonly known as Celiac Disease, the skin injuries that arise from dermatitis herpetiformis can largely be controlled with a proper diet plan.
This chronic autoimmune disease causes inflammation of the skin muscles and may sometimes affect the lungs.
The autoimmune condition scleroderma is usually associated with skin defects that are hard and tight. Another sign of scleroderma is Raynaud’s, a phenomenon in which fingers turn white when exposed to cold temperatures. Localized scleroderma will only affect skin cells on the outer layer. On the other hand, systemic scleroderma will affect the skin and tissues underneath, such as blood vessels and vital organs.
Vitiligo causes patches of uneven skin coloration due to loss of skin pigment. They are benign and do not cause pain. Vitiligo can affect skin cells in the ear and cause hearing loss. It’s also important to limit sun exposure to the affected tissue as it is more susceptible to sunburn.
In pemphigus, the body attacks a vital protein for your skin’s protective barrier. This rare disorder is one of several autoimmune blistering skin diseases, and the fluid-filled blisters tend to rupture easily. Bullous pemphigoid will cause blisters to form in the underlying layer of the skin between the dermis and epidermis. Mucous membrane pemphigoid affects mucous membranes in the mouth, eyes, and nose.
Lichen planus is an autoimmune disease that will cause itchy and purple bumps on the skin or may cause white patches in the mouth.
Over half of those affected by lupus will develop round sores that primarily affect the face and scalp. Also known as cutaneous lupus, these sores will develop more often when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
What Causes Common Autoimmune Skin Diseases?
Unfortunately, the exact cause of autoimmune diseases is not yet understood. Some research points to a genetic predisposition that may involve a mutation in specific genes and affect mucous membranes, which signal the immune system to attack healthy tissue. There is not one particular gene that causes these autoimmune conditions but rather a combination of several genes. Most clinical dermatology specialists believe that lifestyle and environmental risk factors play a role in bringing these genetic factors to the surface. This includes exposure to certain viruses and bacteria or the use of particular drugs.
Are Autoimmune Skin Diseases Contagious?
We know that autoimmune diseases are not contagious, and therefore, the skin lesions and rashes they cause are not contagious either. Even if you make direct skin-to-skin contact with someone that has a chronic autoimmune disorder, you will not be affected or experience skin rashes yourself. Again, these rare disorders arise from a combination of hereditary and environmental factors, and are not spread from person to person like the common cold.
How Can I Identify an Autoimmune Rash?
The best way to diagnose your symptoms is by going to your doctor and having them perform a skin biopsy. They may also likely run blood tests to get a look at the whole picture. Multiple tests are required as science does not have a single test to confirm an autoimmune disease. This is why it’s important to look at different variables such as white blood cells, the immune response, and the skin biopsy sample.
Treatments for Autoimmune Skin Disease
The best way to treat your skin lesions is by treating the underlying cause, which is the autoimmune disorder itself. As symptoms can range from very mild to severe, doctors will usually prescribe medications to alleviate the symptoms and decrease inflammation in order to make patients more comfortable. Here are some common treatment methods for calming down symptoms.
Topical Steroids:
These consist of creams aimed at reducing inflammation and irritation of the skin. You can get prescription-strength topical steroids from your doctor or go with a lower strength over-the-counter option such as hydrocortisone.
Oral Steroids and Immunosuppressive Drugs:
These medications reduce inflammation by altering the immune response to combat autoimmune diseases. They are more effective than topical steroids, but come with a greater chance of side effects.
IV Immunoglobulin Therapy:
Some autoimmune diseases, such as dermatomyositis, will require IVIG therapy. This treatment consists of infusing a combination of antibodies and other soluble proteins to neutralize the immune responses that cause inflammation. If your doctor determines that this is the best course of action, you may need to visit a facility for regular treatments over time.
Diet:
While a change in your diet won’t cure your autoimmune disease, it can help alleviate symptoms. It’s best to limit foods and beverages known to cause inflammation, such as dairy, alcohol, grains, and red meat. Foods with anti-inflammatory properties are encouraged. This includes fish, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.
Exercise:
Consistent daily exercise has numerous benefits for the body, including being a natural anti-inflammatory. It’s not necessary to go to the gym if you are not comfortable in this type of setting. Instead, find creative ways to get some extra movement throughout your day.
Sleep:
Perhaps the simplest but most ignored remedy for dealing with autoimmune disease is getting adequate sleep. Sleeping for at least 7 to 8 hours a night will reduce stress, inflammation, and cravings for high sugar foods.
Learning to Live With an Autoimmune Disease that Affects the Skin
Living with autoimmune skin diseases can not only affect you physically, but emotionally as well. It can be extremely frustrating knowing that there is no cure, and it can hurt your confidence to be dealing with a skin rash constantly. The best thing you can do to live a happier and healthier life with any one of these rare diseases is to see your physician and start getting your immune system under control. Once the autoimmune process becomes more regulated, you will see fewer blisters form, and healthy tissues will have a chance to heal. It’s important not to get too discouraged when you have flare-ups and understand that healthy skin is possible with the right treatments in place.
Autoimmune Skin Disease Treatment in Ashland, Kentucky
At Azalea Health and Skin Treatment Center, Dr. Basedow offers all patients unique and customized treatment plans. He can help you identify the internal and external triggers that are causing autoimmune skin disease. He will also discuss affordable and modern treatments to help alleviate your symptoms.
Dr. Basedow is now accepting patients from the following cities:
Greenup, Worthington, Hamilton, Russell, Raceland, Wurtland, Bellefonte, Ironville, Flatwoods, Ironton, Coal Grove, Westwood, Perry, Catlettsburg, South Point, Ceredo, Fayette, Canonsburg, Union, and Huntington.
If your autoimmune skin disease is causing you discomfort, or pain, you don’t need to suffer any longer. We are here to help.
Call Azalea Health and Skin Treatment Center today at 606-467-2360 and schedule your consultation.
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