The skin is the largest organ of our body. Several factors may contribute to skin allergies, including disorders of the immune system.
Autoimmune diseases are caused when the immune system mistakenly attacks your body. Sometimes, these autoimmune diseases might affect your skin. It may affect other body parts too. Generally, the first sign you will notice is a skin allergy caused by immune system disorders.
When Does An Autoimmune Rash Occur All Over The Skin?
A skin allergy known as autoimmune rash occurs when your immune system attacks your healthy cells. This condition occurs when your immune system becomes overly active. There may be no underlying cause of this condition, and you might not even have symptoms.
Some symptoms you might have are skin rash with scaly red patches, purple-coloured bumps, etc. You might also experience itchy skin, open sores, blisters, and other skin changes. The rashes might be different for different autoimmune conditions affecting a person. If you develop this skin allergy, consult a dermatologist or a healthcare professional at the earliest opportunity. It will help you get the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Different Types Of Skin Allergy Caused By Immune System Disorders
Various autoimmune diseases can have different impacts on the skin. The symptoms that appear if you are suffering from immune system disorders are itchy skin, red rashes, blisters, open sores, and scaly patches.
1. Rashes Appearing On The Face
The skin of your face is likely to get affected due to immune system disorders like Lupus and Dermatomyositis.
a. Lupus
This chronic immune system disorder is likely to affect females between the ages of 15 to 44. Cutaneous Lupus affects the skin. Other body parts which can be affected due to this skin condition are the heart, kidneys, joints, and blood vessels.
The first symptom you will likely develop is the butterfly rash across your cheeks and the bridge of your nose. The rash patterns occurring on your skin are also different. For some, it might appear as red, round, and scaly patches on the exposed part of your skin. It may also manifest as thick, scaly, discoloured patches on the scalp, face, or ears. It can cause hair loss too.
B. Dermatomyositis
This condition is rare and causes skin changes, muscle weakness, and difficulty breathing properly. It may affect children as well as adults. One is likely to develop a reddish-purple rash on their eyelids if they are prone to this condition. Other skin changes can be red, discoloured skin on the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
2. Blisters In The Skin
Certain autoimmune disorders can also cause blisters on the skin.
a. Pemphigoid
This condition is rare and can cause skin blisters, usually affecting people over the age of 70. Also known as Bullous Pemphigoid, this skin allergy causes firm and itchy blisters all over the skin. Your genitals and mouth are also prone to get affected by this disease.
b. Pemphigus
Though this condition is also rare and causes skin blisters, it is different from Pemphigoid. It commonly affects adults who have crossed their middle age. For some people, blisters are likely to develop throughout the skin. These are not itchy, but they break easily, causing ulcers. These ulcers come in contact with each other, which gives rise to extreme pain. Also, the affected areas vary from person to person. If not treated urgently, Pemphigus can turn deadly.
3. Firm Or Solid Skin
In Scleroderma, your body generates too much collagen, a protein found in your skin and body tissues. This condition usually affects people between the ages of 30 to 50. In localized Scleroderma, the condition affects your skin and the tissues beneath it. In the case of Systemic Scleroderma, your skin, heart, kidneys, blood vessels, and lungs are likely to be affected.
You will notice thick, hard and dark patches all over your skin, which feel solid when touched. Though there is no cure for this condition, treating it will minimize the symptoms.
The Bottom Line
Disorders of the immune system cause skin allergies. Red or purple rashes, patches on the skin, blisters as well as scaling skin are the reactions to these allergies. Different types of autoimmune conditions have different effects on the skin.