10 Lupus Symptoms In Women
Article Sources
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10. Photosensitivity
At least half of people with SLE experience photosensitivity or extreme sensitivity to UV rays from the sun and other sources (i.e. artificial lighting). As a result, exposure to light sources can cause severe sunburn-like lesions and skin rashes in people with lupus. However, beyond those manifestations, excess light exposure is a common trigger for lupus flares, increasing disease activity in many cases. For instance, symptoms such as fatigue and joint pains can be precipitated by photosensitivity.
Given the impact of photosensitivity in patients with lupus, sun protection is very important. Adequate sunscreen for these patients should have broad-spectrum UV skin protection (including both UV-A and UV-B protection) and a minimum SPF of 70. If photosensitivity is an issue for you, be sure to apply sunscreen everywhere (even underneath clothes) and reapply constantly as directed in the bottle.
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