Last Updated on 10th May 2022 by Caroline Haye
In considering possible links between vitiligo and other diseases, I didn’t want to leave out lupus. Because some of the medical literature suggests an association between the two conditions. And also for the altogether less scientific reason that Michael Jackson, who famously suffered from vitiligo for a large portion of his life, also had lupus.
What is lupus?
Before discussing whether or not there actually is any link between the two conditions it would, of course, be useful to know what lupus is.
Lupus is yet another autoimmune disease (one of around 80). Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s defence system produces antibodies that attack its own cells. This results in inflammation and disease. There are two main types of lupus. Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) – which only affects the skin. And systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – which can also affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system. Up to 10% of people with discoid lupus (lupus limited to the skin) eventually develop the systemic form of lupus.
Lupus symptoms
SLE can cause various – often intermittent – symptoms in many different parts of the body. Most common are joint pains, skin rashes and extreme fatigue. Its severity can range from very mild to extremely serious. This depends on which of the body’s organs are affected. And it is 8 – 9 times more common in women than in men.
Higher instances of other autoimmune disorders among those with vitiligo, as compared to the general population, have been very widely reported. In particular, autoimmune thyroid disease, pernicious anaemia and Addison’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease. But, whereas autoimmune thyroid disease can quite often occur with systemic lupus erythematosus, instances of SLE existing alongside vitiligo are not especially common. And cases of vitiligo coexisting with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) are even more rare.
So, although vitiligo and lupus are both autoimmune diseases, the likelihood of having both lupus and vitiligo is relatively low.
9 thoughts on “Vitiligo and Lupus”
I was diagnosed with vitiligo approx 15 years ago, recently through blood tests, there were some raised markers that indicated I may have Lupus. I am waiting for an appointment with a Rheumatologist (it is not until August 29, 2016) 4 months from the time the blood test was taken. I will be in the dark until further testing is done.
Well, its not all that rare to have BOTH vitiligo and Lupus because I have them both.
Sorry to hear that you have to wait and wonder about this for so long. At least it will be good to know one way or the other. I think that knowledge is power when it comes to health – and with lupus, as with vitiligo and autoimmunity in general, there is a lot you can do to improve your condition and quality of life. Good luck with the appointment. Let us know what happens.
I am so sorry. .i have both …vitiligo and SEL….I hope u will find the strength..i didn’t..i am so furious…good luck!
What is SEL
Probably SLE
I’m sure you have done a lot of online searches for solutions that may help, Adelina. This site looks as if it has some good, natural therapies for Lupus: http://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/autoimmune-disorders/lupus-a-natural-approach/
I also wonder if the Vitix Tablets that I recently blogged about (designed to promote re-pigmentation in vitiligo) might help both conditions. This is the background info on them: http://www.vitiligostore.com/vitix-tablets.html
I think it is reasonable to assume that if you can improve one condition, the other will improve too.
The thing is that i am white….i do not want to recive the spots again…it would be for me the horror ….and due medication i’ve recived already some brown spots….i hate it….i’ve waited for so long to have the same colour and now…sorry. …?
I had vitiligo showing up as early as 8 years old on my knees where they would skin and heal, but never regained color. Finally, at about 15 years old (1978), with more skin color loss, my parents decided to look into it just to find out if I had some kind of cancer or debilitating disease. That’s when I learned the term vitiligo, but not much was known about it at that time. It just helped our curiousity and we didn’t seek further treatment. At age 30, my first pregnancy was lost in miscarriage, then again at the age of 31, both ending around 20 weeks, so blood tests were run to determine that I had SLE (lupus). No one at the time connected the vitiligo with the lupus for me. It was determined that blood thinning shots (heparin) were needed for me to complete a pregnancy. Five children later with relatively few complications (lupus-related) I am blessed to have lived to age 54. I did have one last pregnancy at the age of 48, where our baby past away at 23 weeks. While in the emergency room with this loss, the doctor informed me that I tested for hypothyroidism. So prior to the age of 50, most of this article played out in my life.