Periorbital and facial swelling occurs in dermatomyositis and systemic lupus, but it has been rarely reported as a manifestation of exclusively cutaneous lupus.
Lupus can also drastically change one's appearance. Patients can have hair loss, rashes and scarring, as well as medication side effects like weight gain, hair loss and stretch marks,” says Dr. Jolly, who has led a number of studies on body image in people with lupus.
Lupus and the abdomen
Lupus can also cause other problems in the abdomen, including peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) and ascites (a build-up of fluids in the abdomen). Symptoms of peritonitis and ascites include: Abdominal pain and swelling. Nausea and vomiting.
Acquired angioedema (AAE) is a rare disorder that causes recurrent episodes of swelling (edema) of the face or body, lasting several days. People with AAE may have swelling of the face, lips, tongue, limbs, or genitals.
Lupus nephritis develops when inflammation affects portions of the kidneys, often causing difficulties with releasing urine and therefore producing swelling in areas of the body such as the face, hands, legs, and feet due to fluid retention.
For some people, living with and managing lupus can cause weight gain. Weight gain may also lead to worsening lupus symptoms and complications associated with obesity. Some potential causes of weight gain that relate to lupus may include: being a side effect of medications such as corticosteroids.
A butterfly-shaped rash on your face — called a malar rash — often occurs. This rash reaches across your nose, from cheek to cheek, in a shape that resembles a butterfly. In addition to the malar rash, lupus skin rashes can appear anywhere on your body.
The most common causes of facial swelling arise from a dental or skin infection, or an allergic reaction which can also cause hives, wheezing, and vomiting. Other causes of face swelling include dehydration, hormonal imbalance, or physical trauma to the face.
Individuals with Fountain syndrome may also exhibit several physical abnormalities. For example, fluid may abnormally accumulate under the skin (edema) of the face, especially the lips and cheeks. As a result, the face may appear coarse, abnormally “full,” and swollen.
Inflammation from lupus can also cause fluid to accumulate in the abdominal cavity. This condition, known as ascites, can cause severe abdominal pain, tenderness of the belly, nausea, vomiting, fever, and the lack of bowel movements.
Swelling causes
When the inflammation of lupus attacks the kidneys, it prevents the kidneys from working well. This can cause a variety of problems, including fluid build-up and high blood pressure. When fluid builds in the body it is called edema, which means swelling.
Lower limb swelling occurs in approximately half of all people with lupus. Lupus frequently damages the kidneys, which are responsible for maintaining the correct quantities of fluid in the body. When the kidneys don't work properly, fluid can build up in the lower limbs and lead to painful swelling.
There are different types of lupus, and each can affect the skin differently. You may see a rash, sores, swelling, or other changes. These changes often appear on skin that gets sun like the: Face.
Chronic cutaneous lupus (also called discoid lupus) causes round, disc-shaped sores, usually on the face and scalp. The sores can cause scars or changes in skin color. Subacute cutaneous lupus causes a red scaly rash or red ring-shaped sores. It usually happens on skin that gets sunlight, like the neck and arms.
It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
A typical sign of lupus is a red, butterfly-shaped rash over your cheeks and nose, often following exposure to sunlight. No two cases of lupus are exactly alike. Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly, may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent.
Weight change can be a problem when you're living with lupus. The disease itself, along with many of the medicines used to treat it, can cause your weight to rise or fall beyond your control.
No one test can diagnose lupus. The combination of blood and urine tests, signs and symptoms, and physical examination findings leads to the diagnosis.
Lupus causes inflammation throughout the body, which can cause problems in organs, including: Kidney damage that can lead to changes in kidney function, including kidney failure. This is called lupus nephritis. Seizures and memory problems due to changes in the brain and central nervous system.