Rosacea vs. Lupus: What is the Difference?

The redness and rashes on your face might have you panicking about the condition you have. But what can be the reason for the redness on your skin? Lupus and rosacea can lead to these results. Oftentimes, due to the similarity of these inflammatory conditions, people mistake lupus for rosacea and vice versa. To clear the confusion, read this blog on rosacea vs. lupus and learn the difference.

Rosacea vs. Lupus: What is it?

When it comes to rosacea vs. lupus, they’re different conditions. You can define rosacea as a skin disease or an inflammatory condition. People with rosacea will notice that their cheeks, nose, chin, eyes, and forehead might have vibrant red flushing. Lupus, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disorder. Therefore, the symptoms it presents result from the body’s immune system attacking the healthy tissue as foreign. Consequently, the immune system starts attacking the tissue, leading to damage and inflammation.

Difference Between Rosacea vs. Lupus

1. Symptoms

The symptoms of both conditions are quite similar. For instance, you’ll see redness, rashes, and flushing in both conditions. Still, there are distinct symptoms in each condition that set them apart.

The signs of lupus include the following:

Fever
Hair loss
Sun sensitivity
Mouth or nose sores
Fatigue
Arthritis, along with swollen or painful joints
Pain while taking deep breaths due to inflammation around the hearts or lung
Heart problems
Kidney damage
Infection
Inflammation of blood vessels
A butterfly rash (malar) or round, scaly red lesions

If you have rosacea, you’ll notice these symptoms:

Redness on face that might seem like hot blushing in the beginning but turn rough and scaly with time
Rashes developing into red or pus-filled bumps that resemble acne
Skin that thickens usually around the nose, making it appear larger
Irritation in eyes

2. Causes

Sunlight can trigger both lupus and rosacea. However, the underlying for each condition varies.

The exact reason why rosacea occurs is unknown. Nevertheless, it is known that inflammation plays a major role. Moreover, genetic and environmental factors are also believed to contribute to the symptoms of rosacea. Other than this, increased skin sensitivity to sun or microbes that dwell on the skin and other environmental factors might cause inflammation, leading to the occurrence of symptoms.

The exact cause of lupus, too, is unknown. According to scientists, it’s possible that genetic, environmental, immune, and inflammatory influences trigger the immune system. This leads to the immune system attacking the healthy tissues.

3. Treatment

The treatment for each condition is different, so you’ll need to have a proper diagnosis. Although rosacea has no cure, you can still improve the symptoms and prevent complications. Lifestyle changes like avoiding the sun, using gentle skin cleansers, and more are included in the treatment. Furthermore, your doctor might suggest using medications like lubricating eye drops.

Treating lupus will depend on how severe your condition is. Hence, mild-to-moderate lupus would require antimalarials or corticosteroids. Besides this, they may use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil for pain and inflammation. High-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are usually prescribed to people with a severe condition. Although there’s no cure, treatment can help slow down the progression.

What Should I Do?

After learning the difference between rosacea vs. lupus, you know that both conditions are different with some similar symptoms. If you notice the symptoms of lupus or suspect any other rheumatic disease, contact Rheumatology Care at (832) 532-9779. Yu can also visit our clinic at 13688 Breton Ridge St, STE H, Houston, TX 77070 for consultations and treatments by the best rheumatologists.