You notice a butterfly-shaped rash on your face
If lupus has a calling card, it’s a sunburn-like rash that stretches across the nose and cheeks, in a shape resembling a butterfly. Its unique appearance is “highly suggestive” of lupus.
You have a fever that just won't go away
Fever can be a sign of inflammation, and some patients may be feverish during a lupus flareup. While having a fever isn’t unique to lupus, if you have a fever that you just can’t shake or it keeps returning, it’s best to see a doctor.
You get rashes or sores on your skin after going outside
Very often, people with lupus are photosensitive, meaning their skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet light. Breakouts typically occur on sun-exposed areas of the body, including the face, neckline, and arms. UV light exposure can also set off lupus symptoms or trigger a flare-up of the disease.
Your joints are sore or stiff
Sometimes lupus is mistaken for rheumatoid because both diseases can cause joint pain and stiffness, often in the hands, wrists, and ankles. Joints symptoms are the main feature of RA but one of many, many signs of lupus.
You have swelling
Swollen lymph nodes? Puffiness around your eyes? These can be a sign of lupus, too. “Some people will present with swelling in the legs, and the very first thing they’re getting is kidney failure.
You’re losing your hair
lupus can be patchy, leaving little bald spots on your head. Or, it can be diffuse, causing thinning all over the scalp. Sometimes a rash develops in a balding area.
Your finger or toes blanch and go numb
Raynaud’s can cause the tips of the fingers to turn white.
You’re totally wiped out
Profound fatigue is a common complaint of people with lupus. It is not the kind of exhaustion you get after exercising or playing a sport.
Fatigue isn’t specific to lupus but may provide another clue if someone has other lupus symptoms.
Your chest hurts
If it hurts to cough or breathe deeply, it could be pleurisy—inflammation of the lining of the lungs. It’s a common symptom of lupus. “If you cough and the lung tissue gets pushed out against the lining, it hurts because it’s inflamed.
You have mouth sores
Red dots appear on your skin
Petechiae may occur in some lupus patients.
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Lupus can attack your platelets, blood cells that help your body form clots to stop bleeding. And when you have low levels of platelets, you can develop tiny red dots called petechiae.
Your head hurts, and you can’t think straight
It’s not all in your head: lupus can attack the brain and nervous system. Up to 50 percent of people with lupus report problems with memory, concentration, and other cognitive issues dubbed “lupus fog,” . People with lupus may be twice as likely to develop migraine-like headaches due to inflammation of the blood vessels. And when lupus attacks the nerves, they can experience numbness or tingling in the motor and sensory nerves.
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