Rash on the scalp may cause hair loss that is usually permanent. Discoid lupus Erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that causes red, raised, coin shaped (discoid) lesions usually on the face, or scalp. These lesions can appear elsewhere on the body also.
LE is classified as autoimmune, as it is associated with antibodies directed against components of cell nuclei. Lupus may affect any tissue, but in this article we describe the skin manifestations of lupus. These are often provoked by sun exposure. It tends to be more severe in smokers.
Subacute cutaneous lupus is a distinct rash that usually occurs in sun-exposed areas of the body.