Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that results in a state of chronic systemic inflammation, which can affect and damage various organs and systems, including the skin.
The name of the disease is related to the reddened patches that can transiently appear on the face of sufferers, much like the scars left by the bite of wolves.
In fact, this type of lesion, called “discoid lupus,” rarely appears in SLE patients, while bland reddened patches, which are completely reversible, are much more often observed.
SLE can occur in different forms (Source: Gruppo LES Italiano – ONLUS), characterized by varying manifestations and levels of severity, depending on the target organs of the autoimmune reaction and the intensity of the associated systemic inflammatory reaction.
