What Are the Signs of Lupus?
7. Mouth Ulcers
Lupus-related mouth ulcers differ from canker or cold sores. They resemble canker sores in that they are red in the middle and white around the perimeter but also have white streaks that radiate out from the center. Lupus mouth sores are occasionally on the bottom lip but most often occur on the roof of the mouth or in the nose. A major difference from cold sores is that the sores are usually painless. Another type of mouth lesions are white patches of rough, keratinized skin on the inside of the cheek.
Sometimes people develop sores in the corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis) due to a condition associated with lupus called Sjögren’s syndrome, or xerostomia, that causes the body to produce less saliva than normal. Other complications associated with lack of saliva are discomfort in swallowing and talking, reduced sense of taste, recurrent oral yeast infections, dental cavities, and a cracked and bumpy tongue. Sjögren’s syndrome also affects tear-producing glands, resulting in dry eyes.
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