Rosacea vs. lupus rash

Skin conditions such as rosacea and lupus can cause redness across your face. This typically occurs in the central portion of your face, forming a butterfly shape.

Rosacea and lupus rashes can appear very similar, and this often causes people to easily confuse one for the other.

Both rashes may look smooth in texture. In the early stages, though, rosacea rashes may present as bumps and pimples. This would rarely occur during a lupus flare-up.

If you’re concerned about a rash that has developed across your face, it may be helpful to speak with a healthcare professional. They can diagnose the skin condition and create a treatment plan to help reduce symptoms.

How can you tell the difference between a rosacea and a lupus rash?

The symptoms of lupus and rosacea can seem similar. Both conditions may cause redness or discoloration and skin rashes on the face. Yet, they have several differences that can help you distinguish one condition from another.

Symptoms of rosacea

The main symptoms of rosacea may include:

• persistent facial redness or discolouration
• flushing
• papules and pustules
• visible blood vessels
• thickened skin
• facial swelling
• dry, thickened skin, in particular on the nose
• stinging, itching, or burning sensation on the skin

Rosacea may appear as dusky brown discoloration on dark skin tones and redness on light skin tones.

Skin rashes that occur due to rosacea often present as red or pus-filled bumps that look similar to acne. People with this condition typically experience eye irritation.

Eye symptoms of rosacea may include:

• itchiness
• dryness
• bloodshot eyes
• watery eyes

Symptoms of lupus rash

People with a lupus rash typically develop a butterfly-shaped red rash across their nose and cheeks. Depending on the type of lupus, you may also develop round, scaly lesions on your scalp and other body parts. The rash may also occur after exposure to sunlight.

Other symptoms that a person with lupus may experience can include:

• fatigue
• fever
• pain or swelling in the joints
• muscle pain
• headache
• mouth ulcers
• hair and weight loss
• abdominal or chest pain
• swollen lymph nodes
• depression and anxiety

What can cause rosacea and lupus?

Both lupus and rosacea rashes may occur after sunlight exposure. Other underlying factors may also cause a rash to occur.

Causes of rosacea

The exact cause of rosacea is currently unknown. Doctors think rosacea rashes may develop due to certain irregularities in the blood vessels. It can cause an increased sensitivity to a number of things, such as:

• stress
• hot and cold weather
• hot drinks
• strenuous exercise
• caffeine and alcohol consumption
• spicy foods

Causes of lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues of your body, causing inflammation. Doctors do not know the exact causes of lupus. Experts suspect that multiple factors can trigger lupus, including genetics.

Other possible causes of lupus may include:

• puberty
• pregnancy and childbirth
• menopause
• viral infections
• reactions to certain medications

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Treatment options

The treatment for both lupus and rosacea rashes depends on their underlying causes.

Treatment for rosacea

There is no cure for rosacea. Instead, treatment options aim to manage its symptoms. People with this condition typically need long-term treatment.

The treatment options for rosacea usually include:

• avoiding known triggers, such as caffeine or alcohol
• topical creams and gels to reduce spots and redness, such as azelaic acid (Azelex) and metronidazole (Metrogel)
• oral medications, including antibiotics, to treat severe spots of rosacea — for example, minocycline (Ximino) and doxycycline (Adoxa)

Doctors may also recommend undergoing procedures such as laser and intense pulsed light therapy. These treatments involve the use of light beams aimed at the visible blood vessels to shrink them and make them less visible.

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Treatment for lupus

There is no cure for lupus. Treatment mainly aims to manage symptoms and reduce the frequency of lupus flare-ups. The treatment for lupus may include:

• anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve)
• antirheumatic drugs to treat skin and joint symptoms and fatigue, such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
• steroid creams for reducing inflammation and skin rashes, such as prednisone (Prelone)

In the most severe lupus cases, doctors may recommend taking biological medications and immunosuppressants to reduce or suppress the activity of your immune system and improve your symptoms.

Diagnosis

While people may confuse lupus and rosacea for one another, it is important you report your symptoms to a doctor to help them diagnose the underlying cause of your rash.

Currently, there is no specific test for rosacea. A doctor will take into account your full medical history and your symptoms to make a diagnosis. They may also perform tests to rule out other potential underlying conditions linked to your skin rash or eye symptoms.

To diagnose lupus, doctors will ask you questions about your full medical history and symptoms. They may perform tests to check whether you are positive for certain markers on specific clinical trials. You may need additional blood and urine tests to rule out other health conditions.

Once you receive a lupus diagnosis, doctors may recommend you undergo imaging tests, including X-rays and a kidney and heart scan, to check whether it has led to any complications.

Summary

Both lupus and rosacea are inflammatory conditions that can cause redness and a rash on your face. While both rashes may look similar, they can have several differences.

One difference is that rosacea affects only your skin, while lupus is a systemic condition that involves your immune system.

No specific tests can definitively diagnose lupus or rosacea, and neither condition currently has a cure. Doctors base their diagnosis on:

• your symptoms
• your medical history
• several tests, such as blood and urine tests

The treatments for both rosacea and lupus aim to help improve and manage your symptoms. Lupus treatment also aims to prevent and reduce the frequency of flare-ups.