Symptoms
Symptoms can be mild or very severe. For some people, only part of the body (eg, skin) is affected. For others, many parts are affected. Though symptoms can be chronic, they can flare up and get better on and off.
Common symptoms:
- Swollen and/or painful joints
- Fever
- Skin rashes over areas exposed to sunlight (especially on the nose and cheeks)
- Extreme fatigue
Common Lupus Rash Sites

Other symptoms may include:
- Hair loss
- Chest pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
- Kidney inflammation
- High blood pressure
- Anemia or other blood disorders
- Sensitivity to sunlight
- Raynaud's phenomenon
- Ulcers in nose or mouth
- Swollen glands
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Inflamed heart, heart vessels, or membrane surrounding the heart
- Blood clots
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2025 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.