How to treat lupus erythematosus better

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a relatively common skin disease. The impact of this disease is very serious. It can cause patients to have broken and red and swollen skin. It also causes great itching to the patient, making the patient feel very uncomfortable. The cause of lupus erythematosus is very complicated, so it takes a lot of effort to diagnose and treat this disease. There are many types of lupus erythematosus, and they must be carefully identified during treatment, otherwise it will bring certain difficulties to the treatment. Let’s take a look at the treatment methods for lupus erythematosus. I hope patients can understand this.

1. General treatment

(1) We should have strong confidence in fighting the disease.

(2) Avoid sun exposure, especially those who are sensitive to sunlight. When going out, you should pay attention to sun protection and avoid using photosensitizing drugs such as phenothiazines, hydrochlorothiazide, sulfonamides and griseofulvin.

(3) Avoid overwork. Patients with acute or active SLE should rest in bed. Avoid pregnancy and do not take contraceptives. Those with renal damage or multiple system damage should have early therapeutic abortion if contraception fails.

(4) Avoid catching cold or other infections.

(5) Enhance immunity and pay attention to nutrition and vitamin supplementation.

2. Treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus

(1) Systemic treatment: ① Antimalarial drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, reduce the dose to half after the condition improves. The total course of treatment is generally 2 to 3 years. ② Thalidomide can be tried. After the therapeutic effect is shown, the drug dosage can be reduced and the treatment can be continued for 3 to 5 months. It is effective in most patients, but relapse is likely to occur when the drug is stopped. ③For generalized cases, small doses of hormones can be taken orally.

(2) Local treatment: Apply topical glucocorticoid ointment twice a day or seal the area. Or intralesional injection of corticosteroids.

3. Treatment of SLE

Personalization is very important. Before starting treatment for SLE patients, the disease activity of SLE patients must be evaluated, such as antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA antibodies and hypocomplementemia, and the degree of organ damage, such as heart, kidney, lung lesions, skin and serositis, etc., and a correct evaluation must be made before treatment is started. Currently, the "Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Index" (SLEDAI) is widely used, which uses the patient's clinical manifestations 10 points ago as the evaluation basis. It is recommended that when SLEDAI>12 points, double the original dose of corticosteroids can be used or hospitalization is required.