Different Types of Lupus and How They’re Treated
Autoimmune DiseasesLupus

Is It Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or Another Type of Lupus?

Is It Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or Another Type of Lupus?
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Updated on January 27, 2026
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Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body produces proteins called autoantibodies that attack one’s own cells and tissues. The resulting inflammation can lead to arthritis and rash, among other symptoms, and can damage organs such as the kidneys, heart, and brain.

 Up to 1.5 million Americans may have lupus

 and about 9 in 10 women are diagnosed with lupus in ages 15 to 44 — but anyone can develop the disease.

While about 70 percent of people diagnosed with lupus have what is called systemic lupus erythematosus, several other subtypes exist.

 Here are some of the most important differences between the various types of the disease.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

SLE can affect the whole body, but not always, and not in every individual. “No two patients are the same,” says Stuart D. Kaplan, MD, a rheumatologist who practices in Hewlett, New York. Some people may have mild lupus, while others may have a more severe form of the disease.

Common SLE Symptoms

Common SLE symptoms include a rash, arthritis, fever, and fatigue, says Roberto Caricchio, MD, the chair of rheumatology and the chief of the division at the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Headaches and sun sensitivity are other common symptoms. People with lupus may also have anemia (low red blood cell count) and a condition called edema (swelling of the hands, arms, feet, legs, and around the eyes).

More serious complications can include:

  • Kidney inflammation, or lupus nephritis, which can lead to kidney failure
  • Heart disease, including pericarditis and myocarditis
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Stroke
  • Confusion, seizures, and psychosis
  • Depression
  • Problems with short-term memory
  • A higher risk of miscarriage and preterm labor in pregnant women

How Doctors Test for It

Rheumatologists use a combination approach, the symptoms you are experiencing plus the use various laboratory tests and criteria to diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus and prescribe a personalized medication regimen based on the patient’s symptoms, says Dr. Caricchio.

SLE Treatment

Medications include hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a first-line treatment — which may modulate the immune system — with additional medications like corticosteroids, immunotherapies, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as needed to manage inflammation and support active flares. While HCL use should continue indefinitely as long as it’s tolerated, corticosteroids should only be used for symptom control and be tapered and withdrawn as soon as possible.

With proper management and treatment, most patients with lupus can live healthy, fulfilling lives, or what healthcare providers refer to as “remission on drug.”

“What I tell patients is that my job is to help them get to the place where they can participate in the activities they like,” says Stacy Ardoin, MD, a rheumatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

In addition to recommending that patients regularly visit their rheumatologist to manage the disease, she encourages them to get enough sleep and exercise regularly — at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week — to boost heart health as well as mental health.

Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE)

CLE is an autoimmune disease that produces symptoms that solely affect the skin. It can occur with or without SLE.

 But about 2 in 3 people who have systemic lupus also have some CLE symptoms. Around 1 in 10 people who have lupus have only CLE.

If you do have CLE, it is important to see your doctor regularly and adhere to any treatment instructions, Caricchio notes, so that treatment can be altered as necessary (and as early as possible) to identify and manage symptoms that do progress.

Discoid Lupus

A common type of cutaneous lupus is discoid lupus, which refers to the appearance of a round, raised, red, and scaly rash that does not itch. The rash typically appears on the face and scalp and can cause scarring and hair loss.

“A dermatologist typically manages discoid lupus,” says Caricchio. Patients with this type of lupus also need to be carefully monitored for the development of systemic disease.

Treatment for CLE can include antimalarial drugs, topical steroids, or steroids injected directly into rash lesions.

 Topical creams such as tacrolimus (Prograf) or pimecrolimus (Elidel) that modulate the skin’s immune response, may also help manage discoid lupus.

 Oral thalidomide, which affects the immune response, may be an effective treatment in severe cases, says Caricchio. People with discoid lupus have a good life expectancy.

Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is another form of cutaneous erythematosus. The skin rash is red and scaly or can appear with ringed edges. Patients can have organ involvement such as fluid around the heart and lungs, but this is generally milder than with SLE, says Caricchio.

The same topical remedies used for discoid lupus tend to be used to manage subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. People with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus usually have a good prognosis, but they need to be monitored for problems with their organs.

Because both forms of cutaneous lupus can be aggravated by sunlight, patients also need to avoid sun exposure.

Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus

Some drugs can cause lupus, resulting in symptoms such as rash, joint pain and inflammation, hair loss, and fever. This form of lupus, called drug-induced lupus erythematosus (where the immune system reacts to the medication), is temporary. Typically, symptoms appear after taking a drug for at least three to six months.

“Lab tests can often confirm the diagnosis,” says Caricchio, adding that once medications are discontinued, the symptoms usually go away. Patients usually make a full recovery.

The most common medications that cause the condition are isoniazid (an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis), hydralazine (Apresoline, used for high blood pressure and heart failure), and procainamide (Pronestyl, a drug prescribed for heart rhythm problems). Other drugs that may lead to drug-induced lupus include the acne medication minocycline (Minocin) and some antiseizure medications, Dr. Ardoin adds.

If symptoms persist, doctors may prescribe NSAIDs for arthritis, steroid creams to treat skin rashes, and antimalarial drugs for both the skin and arthritis.

More rarely, doctors will prescribe high doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants if drug-induced lupus erythematosus is causing nephritis or inflammation around the heart or lungs. Physicians may also recommend avoiding sun exposure, which can exacerbate symptoms.

Neonatal Lupus

Neonatal lupus is a condition resulting from autoantibodies passing from a pregnant woman who has lupus or a related condition through the placenta to the baby developing in the womb, explains Virginia Pascual, MD, the director of the Drukier Institute for Children’s Health at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Not all pregnancies in women with lupus or a related condition, though, will necessarily result in a baby being born with neonatal lupus.

The symptoms newborns with neonatal lupus experience, such as decreased platelets and rash, are temporary. But a rare condition called heart block, or abnormal heart rhythm, can result in heart problems or even death, Dr. Pascual says.

Doctors don’t know how to prevent neonatal lupus, but if you do have lupus and get pregnant, Kaplan suggests seeing a high-risk maternal-fetal medicine specialist to monitor your risk through your pregnancy. Your doctor should order a fetal echocardiogram 18 to 24 weeks into your pregnancy to detect heart block (which they can treat with a pacemaker implanted in utero or at birth), Kaplan explains.

The Takeaway

  • Several types of lupus exist, but SLE is the most common and the one people most often refer to when they talk about lupus.
  • While SLE affects various parts of the body, including many essential organs and systems, CLE is limited to the skin.
  • When you understand the different types of lupus, you or your loved one can better manage the disease and get the treatment you need.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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  4. Lupus Facts and Statistics. Lupus Foundation of America. April 11, 2025.
  5. Lupus. MedlinePlus. July 1, 2024.
  6. Reid P. Lupus. American College of Rheumatology. February 2025.
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  8. Prognosis and Life Expectancy. Lupus Foundation of America. November 14, 2024.
  9. Lee H et al. Cutaneous Lupus and Lupus Rashes: What You Need to Know. Hospital for Special Surgery. July 10, 2022.
  10. Acute Cutaneous Lupus. Cleveland Clinic. June 30, 2021.
  11. Alharbi A et al. Discoid Lupus Erythematosus and Its Progression To Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Across Age Groups: A Systematic Review. Journal of Medicine and Life. September 18, 2025.
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  13. Discoid Lupus. Cleveland Clinic. September 13, 2021.
  14. Jatwani S et al. Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. StatPearls. December 11, 2024.
  15. Drug-induced Lupus Erythematosus. MedlinePlus. April 1, 2025.
  16. Solhjoo M et al. Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus. StatPearls. April 3, 2023.
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Alexa Meara, MD

Medical Reviewer

Alexa Meara, MD, is an assistant professor of immunology and rheumatology at The Ohio State University. She maintains a multidisciplinary vasculitis clinic and supervises a longitudinal registry of lupus nephritis and vasculitis patients. Her clinical research is in improving patient–physician communication. She is involved in the medical school and the Lead-Serve-Inspire (LSI) curriculum and serves on the medical school admissions committee; she also teaches multiple aspects of the Part One curriculum. Her interests in medical-education research include remediation and work with struggling learners.

Dr. Meara received her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC.  She completed her internal medicine training at East Carolina University (ECU) at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, then spent two more years at ECU, first as chief resident in internal medicine, then as the associate training program director for internal medicine. She pursued further training in rheumatology at The Ohio State University in Columbus, completing a four-year clinical and research fellowship there in 2015. 

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Heather Lindsey

Heather Lindsey

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Heather Lindsey is a freelance health and medical writer who covers topics such as cancer, digestive disorders, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, allergies, nutrition, fitness, pregnancy, pediatrics, aging, and complementary medicine. In addition to contributing to Everyday Health, she writes and edits patient and academic web content for NYU Langone Health, covers research news for Weill Cornell Medicine, and reports on healthcare trends for Business Insider. She has also blogged for UCLA Health Connect and Johns Hopkins Healthy Aging and Healthy Mind. Heather lives in the New York metropolitan area.
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