My wife has had a rough time this summer for a number of reasons, but I know that one of the contributing factors was sun exposure. I was wondering how some other lupus patients deal with sun sensitivity? My wife is not only extremely sun sensitive, but she is also very sensitive to some artificial light sources, like the kind that are found in large department stores or office buildings.

According to the Arthritis Pain Cure Center,

Scientists think that ultraviolet light (which is in sunlight, fluorescent lights, photocopiers, and VDUs) create antigens (protein molecules) on the skin surface which react with antibodies. The antibodies cause white blood cells to be drawn to the skin and attack it and a rash appears. (more…)

I recently found an excellent article online about the stress that lupus causes for not only the lupus patient, but their support system as well. Lupus Patients in Relation to Family and Friends, written by Steven J. Schostal, M.D., begins with an overview of seven types of psychological stress that are common for someone with an acute and chronic illness like lupus. (more…)