Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I am 51 years old and have been managing eczema for nearly twelve years, but recently my flare-ups have tripled in frequency and intensity without any obvious reason. Around the same time, I was also diagnosed with borderline lupus, and my rheumatologist mentioned these two conditions might be immunologically connected.
Can an internal medicine doctor help a 51-year-old eczema patient understand whether an autoimmune condition like lupus is directly worsening her skin disease?
Are there systemic medications that can address both conditions without suppressing my immune system too aggressively?
I feel like each specialist I visit only sees their own piece, and nobody is actually connecting all the dots for me properly
Please help.
Thank you.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Like many other autoimmune disorders, there is an overlapping nature between the two kinds of diseases because of a similar genetic makeup. It means that both groups of diseases need similar measures of treatment and management with regard to systemic treatment.
It is essential to have follow-ups with both dermatologists and rheumatologists, as they look at the diseases differently.
Usually, rheumatic disorders are systemic diseases with varying involvement of organs. Even though we try to treat our disorder as a whole, it is necessary to get a multi-disciplinary treatment from other specialists to obtain the best results possible.
For example, when a rheumatic disorder affects the skin, a consultation with a dermatologist is necessary in order to receive some additional advice that might not be provided by a rheumatologist.
The first-line treatment of systemic lupus usually involves steroids at varying doses depending on the health condition of the patient, antimalarials such as Hydroxychloroquine, and immunosuppressive treatment depending on the severity of the systemic disease.
In case of skin involvement, Methotrexate or Azathioprine might help control skin involvement, and steroids will assist in improving allergic skin reactions such as eczema.
Feel free to contact me for any other questions.
Thank you.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.