Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Rosaceaandlupusare both inflammatory conditions that can cause rashes and redness on the face. Because of the similarities in their effects on the skin, they can be mistaken for one another.

However, lupus is an autoimmune disease that can also affect other parts of the body, such as the blood, joints, heart, lungs, and other organs.

Rosacea mainly affects the skin but can also affect the eyes, causing them to appear watery or bloodshot and producing dry or burning sensations.Eye symptoms may separate lupus from rosacea.

This article will explore the differences between rosacea and lupus, including their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

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Woman covering her eyes to the sun with redness on her face.

Symptoms of lupus and rosacea can resemble one another. Flushing, redness, and rashes on the skin of the face are common in both conditions. However, there are distinct differences in each condition.

Lupus

Lupus symptomsspan the entire body and include:

A distinctive red butterfly-shaped rash across the bridge nose and cheeks (but not in the nasolabial folds from the nostrils to the lips), called amalar rash, may be seen insystemic lupus erythematosus.

Rosacea

Rosacea symptomsmainly affect the face. They include:

Although scientists know that inflammation contributes to the symptoms of rosacea, the exact cause is unknown. Genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role in the development of the disease.

Heightened skin sensitivity to environmental factors such as the sun or microbes that live on the skin may be the cause of the inflammation that triggers symptoms.

While lupus and rosacea can be mistaken for one another, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider about your symptoms to receive a proper diagnosis.

There isno specific test for rosacea. Your healthcare provider will take a complete medical history and may conduct tests to rule out other causes of skin rashes and eye symptoms.

Alupus diagnosisrequires both symptoms and positive markers on certain clinical tests. Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, take a full medical history, and conduct various blood and urine tests.

Because lupus can cause many different symptoms, your healthcare provider may conduct further tests to rule out other diseases.

Proper diagnosis for rosacea and lupus are important because treatment for each varies.

While there is no cure for rosacea there are treatments to improve symptoms and prevent further complications.Treatment for rosaceaincludes lifestyle modifications such as avoiding triggers like the sun, treating the skin with gentle cleansers, and using sunscreen regularly.

Medications such as topical retinoid creams, lubricating eye drops, antibiotics, and other oral medications may also be used in a treatment plan.

Treatment for lupusdepends on the severity of the disease. People with mild-to-moderate lupus may be prescribed antimalarials like Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine sulfate) or corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. In addition, they may use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) to help with pain and inflammation.

In people with more severe disease, high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants like methotrexate may also be prescribed.

While there is no cure for lupus, the goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the disease and prevent further damage to the body’s tissues.

There are steps you can take to minimize the impact of rosacea and lupus symptoms on your life.

Identifying and then avoiding the triggers of your rosacea symptoms can help prevent symptoms from worsening.

Keeping a diary of when symptoms worsen and what you consumed or did before exacerbating symptoms can help identify triggers.

Common rosacea triggers are:

Life with lupus can be physically and emotionally difficult; however, there are steps you can take to minimize its effects on your life.

Learning to recognize the signs of a flare, or worsening of symptoms, such as increased fatigue, pain, or fever, can help you learn to scale back on your activities and seek the help of your healthcare provider to prevent the flare or help you come out of it faster.

Quitting smoking, eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, and regular exercise can also help with symptoms. Avoid the sun and do your best to lower stress in your life.

Some people may also find that talking to a professional mental healthcare provider or joining a support group can help with the emotional aspects of living with the disease.

Summary

While lupus and rosacea are both inflammatory diseases that can cause rashes and redness on the face, they are distinctly different.

Rosacea affects the skin, while lupus is a systemic (whole-body) disease. Diagnosis requires a careful review of symptoms and various tests to rule out other conditions.

Treatment for each varies based on symptoms and severity and may include medications and lifestyle changes.

Recognizing the triggers for rosacea can help minimize symptoms, while lupus prevention requires a more comprehensive plan that includes medications, avoidance of triggers, and lifestyle modifications such as quitting smoking.

A Word From Verywell

If you are experiencing redness, flushing, or rashes on your face and think you may have lupus or rosacea, you must speak to your healthcare provider to determine the exact cause.

A proper diagnosis can help minimize symptoms and prevent further damage and complications from either disease.

While seeking a diagnosis for any disease can be scary, talking to your healthcare provider about your concerns can help you understand your symptoms and learn to live well with your condition.

9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Rosacea Society.Ocular rosacea.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.Uva L, Miguel D, Pinheiro C, Freitas JP, Marques Gomes M, Filipe P.Cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.Autoimmune Dis. 2012;2012:834291. doi:10.1155/2012/834291National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Fava A, Petri M.Systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and clinical management.J Autoimmun. 2019;96:1-13. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2018.11.001Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240-249.InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Preventing rosacea flare-ups.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Rosacea Society.Ocular rosacea.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.Uva L, Miguel D, Pinheiro C, Freitas JP, Marques Gomes M, Filipe P.Cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.Autoimmune Dis. 2012;2012:834291. doi:10.1155/2012/834291National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Fava A, Petri M.Systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and clinical management.J Autoimmun. 2019;96:1-13. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2018.11.001Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240-249.InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Preventing rosacea flare-ups.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Rosacea Society.Ocular rosacea.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.Uva L, Miguel D, Pinheiro C, Freitas JP, Marques Gomes M, Filipe P.Cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.Autoimmune Dis. 2012;2012:834291. doi:10.1155/2012/834291National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Fava A, Petri M.Systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and clinical management.J Autoimmun. 2019;96:1-13. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2018.11.001Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240-249.InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Preventing rosacea flare-ups.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.

National Rosacea Society.Ocular rosacea.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.

Uva L, Miguel D, Pinheiro C, Freitas JP, Marques Gomes M, Filipe P.Cutaneous manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.Autoimmune Dis. 2012;2012:834291. doi:10.1155/2012/834291

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.

Fava A, Petri M.Systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and clinical management.J Autoimmun. 2019;96:1-13. doi:10.1016/j.jaut.2018.11.001

Maidhof W, Hilas O.Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options.P T. 2012;37(4):240-249.

InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Preventing rosacea flare-ups.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.

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