Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

March 2009 in “ The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine ”

Suraj Panjwani

discoid lupus erythematosus DLE scarring hair loss hyperpigmentation photoprotective measures topical steroids antimalarials retinoids thalidomide topical tacrolimus immunosuppressives azathioprine cyclosporine mycophenolate mofetil methotrexate

TLDR Early diagnosis and treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus improve outcomes.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic skin disease that can cause scarring, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation if not treated early. Early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes, typically made through clinical examination and sometimes confirmed with histopathology. Effective treatment options include photoprotective measures, potent topical steroids, and antimalarials. For cases resistant to standard therapy, alternatives like retinoids, thalidomide, topical tacrolimus, and immunosuppressives (azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate) are available.

View this study on jabfm.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

1 / 1 results

$Management of Refractory Skin Disease in Patients with Lupus Erythematosus$

research Management of Refractory Skin Disease in Patients with Lupus Erythematosus

30 citations, September 2005 in “Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology”

The document concludes that treating tough skin disease in lupus involves sun protection, steroids, antimalarials, and various other therapies chosen based on individual risks and benefits.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 106 results

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 4 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community This is what Six years of DUT looks like

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 791 upvotes 1 year ago

User had success with dutasteride for hair loss after finasteride didn't work. Some experienced increased cholesterol and debated its relation to DHT.

community is there a pyrilutamide group/discord to discuss results?

in Research/Science 21 upvotes 2 years ago

Discussing results, side effects and potential sources of pyrilutamide for hair loss treatment alongside RU58841 and other treatments such as Minoxidil and finasteride.

community HMI 115 Phase 2 - Leaked pics from Discord

in Research/Science 366 upvotes 7 months ago

The conversation discusses HMI 115, a new hair loss treatment with promising results, showing a significant increase in hair density after two months. Some users are skeptical, while others are hopeful for its release and potential affordability.

community We need to create a Discord KX-826 Monotheray group:

in Research/Science 29 upvotes 2 years ago

The conversation is about starting a Discord group for people using KX-826 as their only treatment for hair loss, excluding those who are not serious or use multiple treatments. Someone agrees with the idea but mentions "GP :3," which is unclear.

community Update: A New Therapeutic Channel - Hair Follicle Glucose Metabolism

in Research/Science 11 upvotes 2 years ago

Hair loss can be treated by correcting glucose metabolism in hair follicles and using equol as a safer DHT blocker. Production of these treatments is starting soon, and a Discord channel is available for more information.

Similar Research

6 / 964 results

research Hair and Nail Involvement in Lupus Erythematosus

18 citations, March 2004 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Lupus can cause hair loss and nail changes, with treatments available for both.

research A Clinical and Histopathological Study of Cicatricial Alopecia

5 citations, July 2013 in “Our Dermatology Online”

Lichen planopilaris is the most common type of scarring hair loss observed, with a variety of symptoms and tissue changes.

research Cutaneous Manifestations of Lupus Erythematosus

January 2012 in “Springer eBooks”

Lupus can cause different skin problems, and treatments like quitting smoking and using certain creams or medicines can help.

research Involvement of Scalp and Nails in Lupus Erythematosus

44 citations, August 2010 in “Lupus”

Lupus can affect the scalp and nails, often causing hair loss and nail damage, and needs early aggressive treatment to prevent permanent damage.

research Scalp Biopsy and Diagnosis of Common Hair Loss Problems

2 citations, July 2013 in “InTech eBooks”

Scalp biopsy helps tell apart permanent and temporary hair loss types and guides treatment.

research Overview of Common, Rare, and Atypical Manifestations of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus and Histopathological Correlates

157 citations, August 2010 in “Lupus”

The document concludes that recognizing and treating cutaneous lupus erythematosus early is crucial for managing the skin and potential systemic symptoms.