This image displays the red, slightly scaly, and elevated lesions on the cheeks and nose in systemic lupus erythematosus. This image displays redness and deep red-purple lesions on the cheeks and nose in a "butterfly" distribution typical of systemic lupus erythematosus. This image displays bleeding from small capillaries under the nail in a person with systemic lupus. This image displays deep red and purple skin lesions due to inflammation of blood vessels with systemic lupus erythematosus. This image displays how inflammation in systemic lupus can be intense, causing very red skin lesions. This image displays the cheeks and nose of a patient affected by systemic lupus that has been aggravated by exposure to the sun. The rash of systemic lupus often involves the hands, as displayed in this image. This image displays a case of lupus on the backs of the hands, worsened by sun exposure. The dull red patches of systemic lupus are prominent in sun-exposed areas. When these patches are seen on the cheeks, one can imagine why the term “butterfly rash” is used.
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus  Information for adults

Picture of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: This image displays the red, slightly scaly, and elevated lesions on the cheeks and nose in systemic lupus erythematosus. Divider line
This image displays the red, slightly scaly, and elevated lesions on the cheeks and nose in systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Overview
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), also called lupus, is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect almost any part of the body, especially the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, bones, blood, or brain. Systemic lupus erythematosus is considered an autoimmune disorder, meaning that a person's own immune system attacks his or her own healthy cells and tissues, causing inflammation and damage.

Because systemic lupus erythematosus can affect any organ system, no two people have identical forms of the disease. However, most people with systemic lupus erythematosus report periods of time in which their symptoms seem to be mild or absent (remission) and other periods of time when the inflammation is more severe (flare or relapse).
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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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