World Lupus Day

May 10, 2028

World Lupus Day

Wear Purple for World Lupus Day on May 10! Whether it’s a purple shirt, hat, pin, wristband, fabric ribbon, sunglasses or more, wear your favorite purple gear to help make lupus visible. Support efforts to advance lupus research by either raising funds or making a donation. Tell your friends and family how to get involved! We can’t fight this disease alone, we need your help. Wear a purple enamel pin, fabric ribbon or wristband to raise awareness for lupus and the way it affects everyone differently. Personalized Cause was founded on the need for more awareness about lupus. It has subsequently included multiple causes that also were lacking in awareness.

What is Lupus? Learn More on World Lupus Day

Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system, the body system that usually fights infections, attacks healthy tissue instead.

Lupus most commonly affects the skin, joints, and internal organs such as the kidneys and heart. Because lupus affects many parts of the body, it can cause a lot of different symptoms.

Lupus Symptoms and World Lupus Day

Because lupus can affect so many different parts of the body, it can cause a lot of different symptoms. And many people with lupus don’t have all the symptoms.

Common signs and symptoms of lupus – Things to Know on World Lupus Day

The most common lupus symptoms (which are the same for men and women) are:

Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time).
Pain or swelling in the joints.
Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes.
Headaches.
Low fevers.
Sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light.
Chest pain when breathing deeply.

Many people with lupus also have problems that affect their skin and hair, like:

A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose.
Hair loss.
Sores in the mouth or nose
Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when a person is cold or stressed (Raynaud’s Disease).
Lupus symptoms may come and go — and they can change over time.

If I have these symptoms, does that mean I have lupus?

Not necessarily. Lupus shares a lot of symptoms with other diseases, like arthritis and diabetes. So if you have these common lupus symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor and find out whether you have lupus or a different health problem. That way, you can get the treatment you need.

How can I find the right treatments for me?

Treating lupus can be difficult. It can take months, or even years, to find the right combination of treatment options. Your treatment plan may depend on things like your age, lifestyle, and any other health conditions you have. A special doctor called a rheumatologist can help you find the right treatment plan and refer you to other types of doctors to treat specific symptoms.

What medicines can treat lupus?

Because lupus can cause a lot of different symptoms, there are many different kinds of medicines that can treat it. A doctor will need to prescribe some of them. Others are available over the counter. The most common medicines used to treat lupus include:

Anticoagulants to help prevent blood clots.
Anti-inflammatories to help with inflammation.
Antimalarials to protect skin from rashes and UV light.
Biologics to help your immune system work correctly.
Immunosuppressives to help keep your immune system from attacking your body.
Steroids to help with inflammation.

Doctors who treat lupus

Many people who have (or suspect they have) lupus see a rheumatologist (or pediatric rheumatologist if a child or teen). This type of doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the joints and muscles.

Since lupus can cause damage to many different parts of the body, you may see other types of doctors too, such as a:

Dermatologist– a doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin such as cutaneous lupus.
Cardiologist – a doctor who specializes in diseases of the heart.
Nephrologist – a doctor who specializes in diseases of the kidney.
Neurologist – a doctor who specializes in diseases of the brain and nervous system.
Gastroenterologist – a doctor who specializes in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Pulmonologist – a doctor who specializes in diseases of the lungs.
Perinatologist – a specialized obstetrician/gynecologist who focuses on complicated and high-risk pregnancies.

The Lupus Foundation of America has a national network of local chapters that can provide a list of physicians in their service area who diagnose and treat lupus.