Cutaneous lupus is limited to the skin. Approximately two-thirds of people with lupus will develop some type of skin disease (i.e., cutaneous lupus erythematosus). Skin disease in lupus can cause rashes or sores (lesions), most of which will appear the face, ears, neck, arms, and legs or on areas exposed to the sun. Lupus skin problems are not contagious — you can’t catch them or give them to someone else.
There are 3 main types:
- Chronic causes round, disc-shaped sores, usually on the face and scalp. The sores can cause scars or changes in skin color.
- Subacute causes a red scaly rash or red ring-shaped sores. It usually happens on skin that gets sunlight, like the neck and arms.
- Acute causes a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose that looks like a sunburn. Sometimes it affects other body parts, like the arms and legs.