Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiseases and SymptomsRash as a First SignDiagnosisSkin Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diseases and Symptoms
Rash as a First Sign
Diagnosis
Skin Care
Autoimmune disease rashes can occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s cells, tissues, and organs. An autoimmune disease rash can indicate a flare-up (times of increased disease activity that cause worsened symptoms) or may be the first symptom a person experiences before a diagnosis.
Several autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, lupus, andSjögren’sdisease, can cause rashes. You should be able to manage your rash with proper skin care and medication.
SDI Productions / Getty Images
List of Autoimmune Diseases With Rash Symptoms
The followingautoimmune diseaseshave rash symptoms.
Psoriasis
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPsoriasis.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Psoriasisis an inflammatory skin condition in which an overactive immune system causes rashes or plaques to form on the skin. These rashes can occur anywhere on the body.
Different types of psoriasis—plaque, flexural, guttate, erythrodermic, and pustular—have different types of rashes.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand and © Waikato Hospitalwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Lupus
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet NZ
DermNet NZ
Lupusis a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs. An unpredictable illness, lupus can many body areas, including the skin, the joints, the kidneys, blood cells, the heart, and the lungs.Rashes occur in lupuswhen the immune system targets skin cells.
Symptoms of lupus rashes include:
Malar rash is a distinct sign of lupus and is one of the more common lupus rashes. It is red and /or has raised papules. The malar rash can be mistaken forrosacea, which is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. However, the malar rash spares the nasolabial folds (the creases on the face extending from the nose down to both sides of the mouth), which rosacea does not.
Sjögren’s Disease
Jodi Jacobson / Getty Images
Sjögren’s diseaseis a systemic autoimmune disease that typically causes dry eyes and dry mouth but can also cause rashes.
Symptoms of Sjögren’s disease rashes include:
Vasculitis
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Vasculitiscauses inflammation of the vascular system, or blood vessels, of the body. Rash is one of the most common symptoms of vasculitis.
Symptoms of vasculitis rashes include:
Bullous Pemphigoid
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoC5C / Getty Images
C5C / Getty Images
Bullous pemphigoidis a rare disease that affects the skin and causes blistering. It typically occurs in people over the age of 70.
Symptoms of bullous pemphigoid rashes include:
Dermatomyositis
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Symptoms of dermatomyositis rashes include:
Multiple Sclerosis
Inmultiple sclerosis(MS), the immune system attacks the myelin sheath (protective covering of the nerves). Although people with MS do not typically experience a visible rash, they may experience chronic itching. MS symptoms include itching, mainly on the hands, feet, face, and scalp.
Why Rash Can Be a First Sign of Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases affect the entire body. The skin often reflects what is occurring internally. A body that is inflamed from the immune system attacking it may develop rashes as an outward sign of widespread inflammation.
When a rash occurs that appears to be autoimmune or has no other explanation, a healthcare provider will examine it along with other symptoms and may run tests to determine its cause.
Autoimmune diseases, like lupus or bullous pemphigoid, are known to affect the skin. Their associated rashes are part of the disease symptoms and can occur with flares or be the first noticeable symptoms. Sudden blistering may be a sign of bullous pemphigoid, and tests will be run accordingly.
Someone who experiences the butterfly rash will likely betested for lupus.People with dermatomyositis will experience rashes before experiencing muscle weakness.
Psoriasis rashes are distinct enough that when a healthcare provider views them, they can often make a diagnosis based on skin symptoms only.
Thyroid Hormones and RashesThe thyroid produces hormones that regulate skin cell production and turnover. There is some evidence that the thyroid mayplay a part in autoimmune rashes, especially in the case of autoimmune diseases like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
Thyroid Hormones and Rashes
The thyroid produces hormones that regulate skin cell production and turnover. There is some evidence that the thyroid mayplay a part in autoimmune rashes, especially in the case of autoimmune diseases like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
Testing Rash for Diagnosis
Autoimmune diseases are not always easy to diagnose. Whileblood testsand a health history can often narrow down the cause of symptoms and point to certain autoimmune diseases, sometimes a biopsy may be necessary to help determine the cause of the rash.
Skin biopsy teststake a sample of tissue to analyze in the lab. They may include:
People with autoimmune diseases that cause rashes can take skincare steps to lessen symptoms and prevent further flares.
In general, treating the underlying disease can help prevent flares, which can lead to a recurrence of symptoms like rashes.
Topical creams canhelp with psoriasis symptomsalong with oral medications. In some cases, ultraviolet (UV) light exposure can also help lessen plaques.
For sun-sensitive autoimmune diseases such as lupus, avoid direct sunlight, especially during the sun’s peak hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wear protective clothing such as hats or clothes made with high-quality fabrics, and use sunscreen.
Blisters associated with bullous pemphigoid may resolve on their own, but topical creams can help with itching and heal the blisters.
Summary
Autoimmune rashes may indicate a flare of an autoimmune disease or may be the first sign that someone has an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases associated with rashes include psoriasis, lupus, Sjögren’s disease, vasculitis, dermatomyositis, and bullous pemphigoid.
In many cases, rashes are an outward sign of internal inflammation and are often the first sign of an autoimmune disease. Tests to determine the rash origin include blood tests and skin biopsies. Medications and topical creams can treat autoimmune rashes and the underlying disease. Avoiding the sun can also help with symptoms in some instances.
21 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 Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Autoimmune diseases.Raharja A, Mahil SK, Barker JN.Psoriasis: A brief overview.Clin Med (Lond). 2021;21(3):170-173. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0257American Academy of Dermatology.Can you get psoriasis if you have skin of color?National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.Gisondi P, Bellinato F, Girolomoni G.Clinical characteristics of patients with pustular psoriasis: a single-center retrospective observational study.Vaccines. 2022;10(8):1171. doi:10.3390/vaccines10081171Cooper EE, Pisano CE, Shapiro SC.Cutaneous manifestations of “lupus”: systemic lupus erythematosus and beyond.Int J Rheumatol. 2021;2021:6610509. doi:10.1155/2021/6610509Hile GA, Lowe L, Kahlenberg JM.Cutaneous purpura of Sjögren syndrome successfully treated with hydroxychloroquine.JAAD Case Rep. 2017;3(4):326-328. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2017.04.011Rawlings CR, Fremlin GA, Nash J, Harding K.A rheumatology perspective on cutaneous vasculitis: assessment and investigation for the non-rheumatologist.Int Wound J. 2016;13(1):17-21. doi:10.1111/iwj.12437NHS.Vasculitis.Oren-Shabtai M, Mimouni D, Nosrati A, et al.Biological treatment for bullous pemphigoid.Front Immunol. 2023;14:1157250. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157250National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.Ezeofor AJ, O’Connell KA, Cobos GA, Vleugels RA, LaChance AH, Nambudiri VE.Distinctive cutaneous features of dermatomyositis in Black adults: a case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2023;37:106-109. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2023.05.019Davuluri S, Duvvuri B, Lood C, Faghihi-Kashani S, Chung L.Calcinosis in dermatomyositis: origins and possible therapeutic avenues.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2022;36(2):101768. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2022.101768Ingrasci G, Tornes L, Brown A, et al.Chronic pruritus in multiple sclerosis and clinical correlates.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37(1):154-159. doi:10.1111/jdv.18561Leal JM, de Souza GH, Marsillac PF, Gripp AC.Skin manifestations associated with systemic diseases - part II.An Bras Dermatol. 2021;96(6):672-687. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2021.06.003Cohen B, Cadesky A, Jaggi S.Dermatologic manifestations of thyroid disease: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1167890. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1167890MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.Gilvetti C, Collyer J, Gulati A, Barrett AW.What is the optimal site and biopsy technique for the diagnosis of oral mucosal autoimmune blistering disease?J Oral Pathol Med. 2019;48(3):239-243. doi:10.1111/jop.12817Merola JF, Wang W, Wager CG, et al.RNA tape sampling in cutaneous lupus erythematosus discriminates affected from unaffected and healthy volunteer skin.Lupus Sci Med. 2021;8(1):e000428. doi:10.1136/lupus-2020-000428Kim WB, Jerome D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(4):278-285.Estadt SN, Maz MP, Musai J, Kahlenberg JM.Mechanisms of photosensitivity in autoimmunity.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(3 Pt B):849-856. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2021.05.007
21 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 Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Autoimmune diseases.Raharja A, Mahil SK, Barker JN.Psoriasis: A brief overview.Clin Med (Lond). 2021;21(3):170-173. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0257American Academy of Dermatology.Can you get psoriasis if you have skin of color?National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.Gisondi P, Bellinato F, Girolomoni G.Clinical characteristics of patients with pustular psoriasis: a single-center retrospective observational study.Vaccines. 2022;10(8):1171. doi:10.3390/vaccines10081171Cooper EE, Pisano CE, Shapiro SC.Cutaneous manifestations of “lupus”: systemic lupus erythematosus and beyond.Int J Rheumatol. 2021;2021:6610509. doi:10.1155/2021/6610509Hile GA, Lowe L, Kahlenberg JM.Cutaneous purpura of Sjögren syndrome successfully treated with hydroxychloroquine.JAAD Case Rep. 2017;3(4):326-328. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2017.04.011Rawlings CR, Fremlin GA, Nash J, Harding K.A rheumatology perspective on cutaneous vasculitis: assessment and investigation for the non-rheumatologist.Int Wound J. 2016;13(1):17-21. doi:10.1111/iwj.12437NHS.Vasculitis.Oren-Shabtai M, Mimouni D, Nosrati A, et al.Biological treatment for bullous pemphigoid.Front Immunol. 2023;14:1157250. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157250National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.Ezeofor AJ, O’Connell KA, Cobos GA, Vleugels RA, LaChance AH, Nambudiri VE.Distinctive cutaneous features of dermatomyositis in Black adults: a case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2023;37:106-109. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2023.05.019Davuluri S, Duvvuri B, Lood C, Faghihi-Kashani S, Chung L.Calcinosis in dermatomyositis: origins and possible therapeutic avenues.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2022;36(2):101768. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2022.101768Ingrasci G, Tornes L, Brown A, et al.Chronic pruritus in multiple sclerosis and clinical correlates.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37(1):154-159. doi:10.1111/jdv.18561Leal JM, de Souza GH, Marsillac PF, Gripp AC.Skin manifestations associated with systemic diseases - part II.An Bras Dermatol. 2021;96(6):672-687. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2021.06.003Cohen B, Cadesky A, Jaggi S.Dermatologic manifestations of thyroid disease: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1167890. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1167890MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.Gilvetti C, Collyer J, Gulati A, Barrett AW.What is the optimal site and biopsy technique for the diagnosis of oral mucosal autoimmune blistering disease?J Oral Pathol Med. 2019;48(3):239-243. doi:10.1111/jop.12817Merola JF, Wang W, Wager CG, et al.RNA tape sampling in cutaneous lupus erythematosus discriminates affected from unaffected and healthy volunteer skin.Lupus Sci Med. 2021;8(1):e000428. doi:10.1136/lupus-2020-000428Kim WB, Jerome D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(4):278-285.Estadt SN, Maz MP, Musai J, Kahlenberg JM.Mechanisms of photosensitivity in autoimmunity.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(3 Pt B):849-856. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2021.05.007
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 Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Autoimmune diseases.Raharja A, Mahil SK, Barker JN.Psoriasis: A brief overview.Clin Med (Lond). 2021;21(3):170-173. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0257American Academy of Dermatology.Can you get psoriasis if you have skin of color?National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.Gisondi P, Bellinato F, Girolomoni G.Clinical characteristics of patients with pustular psoriasis: a single-center retrospective observational study.Vaccines. 2022;10(8):1171. doi:10.3390/vaccines10081171Cooper EE, Pisano CE, Shapiro SC.Cutaneous manifestations of “lupus”: systemic lupus erythematosus and beyond.Int J Rheumatol. 2021;2021:6610509. doi:10.1155/2021/6610509Hile GA, Lowe L, Kahlenberg JM.Cutaneous purpura of Sjögren syndrome successfully treated with hydroxychloroquine.JAAD Case Rep. 2017;3(4):326-328. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2017.04.011Rawlings CR, Fremlin GA, Nash J, Harding K.A rheumatology perspective on cutaneous vasculitis: assessment and investigation for the non-rheumatologist.Int Wound J. 2016;13(1):17-21. doi:10.1111/iwj.12437NHS.Vasculitis.Oren-Shabtai M, Mimouni D, Nosrati A, et al.Biological treatment for bullous pemphigoid.Front Immunol. 2023;14:1157250. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157250National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.Ezeofor AJ, O’Connell KA, Cobos GA, Vleugels RA, LaChance AH, Nambudiri VE.Distinctive cutaneous features of dermatomyositis in Black adults: a case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2023;37:106-109. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2023.05.019Davuluri S, Duvvuri B, Lood C, Faghihi-Kashani S, Chung L.Calcinosis in dermatomyositis: origins and possible therapeutic avenues.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2022;36(2):101768. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2022.101768Ingrasci G, Tornes L, Brown A, et al.Chronic pruritus in multiple sclerosis and clinical correlates.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37(1):154-159. doi:10.1111/jdv.18561Leal JM, de Souza GH, Marsillac PF, Gripp AC.Skin manifestations associated with systemic diseases - part II.An Bras Dermatol. 2021;96(6):672-687. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2021.06.003Cohen B, Cadesky A, Jaggi S.Dermatologic manifestations of thyroid disease: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1167890. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1167890MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.Gilvetti C, Collyer J, Gulati A, Barrett AW.What is the optimal site and biopsy technique for the diagnosis of oral mucosal autoimmune blistering disease?J Oral Pathol Med. 2019;48(3):239-243. doi:10.1111/jop.12817Merola JF, Wang W, Wager CG, et al.RNA tape sampling in cutaneous lupus erythematosus discriminates affected from unaffected and healthy volunteer skin.Lupus Sci Med. 2021;8(1):e000428. doi:10.1136/lupus-2020-000428Kim WB, Jerome D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(4):278-285.Estadt SN, Maz MP, Musai J, Kahlenberg JM.Mechanisms of photosensitivity in autoimmunity.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(3 Pt B):849-856. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2021.05.007
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.Autoimmune diseases.
Raharja A, Mahil SK, Barker JN.Psoriasis: A brief overview.Clin Med (Lond). 2021;21(3):170-173. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0257
American Academy of Dermatology.Can you get psoriasis if you have skin of color?
National Psoriasis Foundation.Inverse psoriasis.
Gisondi P, Bellinato F, Girolomoni G.Clinical characteristics of patients with pustular psoriasis: a single-center retrospective observational study.Vaccines. 2022;10(8):1171. doi:10.3390/vaccines10081171
Cooper EE, Pisano CE, Shapiro SC.Cutaneous manifestations of “lupus”: systemic lupus erythematosus and beyond.Int J Rheumatol. 2021;2021:6610509. doi:10.1155/2021/6610509
Hile GA, Lowe L, Kahlenberg JM.Cutaneous purpura of Sjögren syndrome successfully treated with hydroxychloroquine.JAAD Case Rep. 2017;3(4):326-328. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2017.04.011
Rawlings CR, Fremlin GA, Nash J, Harding K.A rheumatology perspective on cutaneous vasculitis: assessment and investigation for the non-rheumatologist.Int Wound J. 2016;13(1):17-21. doi:10.1111/iwj.12437
NHS.Vasculitis.
Oren-Shabtai M, Mimouni D, Nosrati A, et al.Biological treatment for bullous pemphigoid.Front Immunol. 2023;14:1157250. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157250
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.
Ezeofor AJ, O’Connell KA, Cobos GA, Vleugels RA, LaChance AH, Nambudiri VE.Distinctive cutaneous features of dermatomyositis in Black adults: a case series.JAAD Case Rep. 2023;37:106-109. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2023.05.019
Davuluri S, Duvvuri B, Lood C, Faghihi-Kashani S, Chung L.Calcinosis in dermatomyositis: origins and possible therapeutic avenues.Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2022;36(2):101768. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2022.101768
Ingrasci G, Tornes L, Brown A, et al.Chronic pruritus in multiple sclerosis and clinical correlates.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37(1):154-159. doi:10.1111/jdv.18561
Leal JM, de Souza GH, Marsillac PF, Gripp AC.Skin manifestations associated with systemic diseases - part II.An Bras Dermatol. 2021;96(6):672-687. doi:10.1016/j.abd.2021.06.003
Cohen B, Cadesky A, Jaggi S.Dermatologic manifestations of thyroid disease: a literature review.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1167890. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1167890
MedlinePlus.Skin biopsy.
Gilvetti C, Collyer J, Gulati A, Barrett AW.What is the optimal site and biopsy technique for the diagnosis of oral mucosal autoimmune blistering disease?J Oral Pathol Med. 2019;48(3):239-243. doi:10.1111/jop.12817
Merola JF, Wang W, Wager CG, et al.RNA tape sampling in cutaneous lupus erythematosus discriminates affected from unaffected and healthy volunteer skin.Lupus Sci Med. 2021;8(1):e000428. doi:10.1136/lupus-2020-000428
Kim WB, Jerome D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(4):278-285.
Estadt SN, Maz MP, Musai J, Kahlenberg JM.Mechanisms of photosensitivity in autoimmunity.J Invest Dermatol. 2022;142(3 Pt B):849-856. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2021.05.007
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